Here is an old post that I never got around to publishing. Now, finished with the third year of medical school, I really like what I had to say. It is crazy how far I have come. But it's also wonderful to read back to the days when I was learning so intensely and know how it was impacting my life. Hope you enjoy it.
Spring is finally here. I am so thankful for the warmer weather and longer days. I am currently on my surgery clerkship in my third year of medical school. Mornings are very early and days can get pretty long. But it has been an amazing experience to witness lives being changed and patients leaving cancer-free thanks to the hands of a surgeon and the assistance of so many other health care professionals.
The operating room is a place like no other. You only see the eyes of your peers and are restricted in your movements for hours. It is an adjustment. You learn to function and think earlier in the morning than you ever thought you might have to before. Your feet get tired. Your arm starts to hurt after holding the retractor for just ten minutes. Your tummy rumbles. But you know that it is your duty to stay focused as a medical student to learn from the best.
As a future family medicine physician, I take every opportunity I can to learn during this surgery rotation. Although I will probably never be running my own operating room someday, it is important to understand the procedures my patients will receive and how each incision will affect their health. It's important to know who and when to refer them to a surgeon to maximize their disease outcomes. At West Virginia University SOM, we are allowed to choose elective rotations in surgery based on our interests. I chose to spend one week with breast surgery and one week with bariatric surgery.
I thought both of my elective choices were excellent experiences for my future as a primary care physician. Breast surgery allowed me to meet patients in all phases of their disease. Some patients were in for their first exam and extremely nervous about what might lie ahead. Some were ready for surgery and awaiting a good prognosis after biopsies. And others were returning once again to visit their favorite surgeon - due for another exam and mammogram after years of being cancer free. The amazing thing about this specialty is that the surgeons have to be so sensitive and caring towards the women they are caring for. Dealing with cancer is one thing. But tampering with femininity is another.
As far as bariatrics go, I really had no idea how remarkable the weight loss outcomes were for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgeries or gastric sleeves. I have always been interested in nutrition and lifestyle changes but never explored surgical options for treating obesity. West Virginia has one of the highest obesity rates in the country. The Morgantown bariatric service is so busy to help combat that statistic and make for healthier Mountaineers. The one thing that amazed me about this specialty is that the patients are not only motivated to lose weight and comply with their vitamins and diets after surgery, but they also are driven to quit smoking and drinking alcohol prior to the operation. After surgery, smoking and alcohol can exacerbate and spark medical problems due to changes in both anatomy and physiology.
All in all, I am enjoying my surgery rotation. I believe the hardest part is finding the right time of day to focus and study the material when I leave the hospital. Fitting school, studies, sleep, and wellness into one day is quite the task. But it sure does make each day fly by fast.
Advice to future med students on their surgery rotation: get some fresh air when you can, always have a snack in your pocket, stay hydrated (water is preferred), and ALWAYS read up on the patients before you go into their operating room!
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