Fifth Week of Internship (Cont'd)

Sometimes the good things in life must come to an end. Whether we are ending our careless time in kindergarten; reveling at the prospect of attaining our driver’s license; or graduating from the university, we find ourselves longing for these times of joy and content. As such, I ended my internship having gained important lessons for the future, and seeing how a real surgical department operates.

I could not have asked for a better time to spend my summer. I would definitely do it all over again because it showed me the amount of time, dedication, skill, leadership, and teamwork that is required by everyone: nurses, technicians, doctors, and administration. Part of my experience would not have been possible without the guidance of my mentor Maria Cabrera RN, BA, MA. She taught me about everything, literally from “A” to “Z.” And more importantly, she allowed me to enter the OR and see how professional surgeons perform their procedures and pass down knowledge to the next generation. After I had shown her what I was capable of during my first week, she said that I would not learn about surgeons behind a desk shoving papers. She wanted to treat me as an intern attending medical school. I still cannot believe that I saw cases that most people do not see unless they are part of this profession. Mrs. Cabrera is one of the best directors I have seen, exemplifying the true qualities of a great leader. As a surgeon, having leadership is important because he or she is the director that coordinates everyone else. They are given the instruments, asked where they want the patient to be placed, and are made sure that the job gets done well. I see it as having a balance in that a surgeon recognizes his or her positions but does not go overboard and order people around for no reason. I am going to try to work on my leadership and see the benefits it can have for me now and later.

In addition, I want to thank all the doctors that have allowed me to watch their procedures and take a few photos. They place education as the primary goal for anyone thinking of a career in healthcare. They taught me so many things about anatomy, diagnosing patients, and learning to think in different ways. They are all equally an inspiration, and I hope to one day emulate them, teaching a young high school intern or college graduate. For example, my last days were spent learning about plastics with Dr. Zubin Panthaki, Assistant Program Director for Plastic Surgery Residency Program. He was willing to let me observe a breast reduction procedure which was an incredible opportunity to learn about cosmetic surgery. And let me tell you, it is not easy because it requires the same amount of skill that any cardiologist or neurologist possesses. Any medical profession does not undermine the other because if everyone went through the same amount of work and study, the least one can do is respect the specialty he or she chose. Dr. Panthaki took a breast, held it in place and sliced mammary tissue as though it were a cake. I wondered how long it took him to perfect his skill, but I guess one’s job is never complete. Studying and continuing to gain knowledge even after receiving that college diploma is integral to the medical field.

Equally as skilled and intelligent was Dr. Joseph Pearson, Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, who performed a trachelectomy, a removal of the cervix. It involved intricately cutting around it and removing the malignant muscle. His hands were still and calm during the course of the procedure; I would have been nervous about working in such a delicate area. It was so precise and careful that I do not think a better specimen could have been achieved. He is the type of surgeon that has quick timing and excellent accuracy. It is good to be slow and cautious, do not get me wrong. But something like this should not take two hours. He explained that punctuality is essential in the OR because believe or not there are other doctors waiting in line to start their procedures. Nevertheless, quality should not be sacrificed at the sake of getting out early. He explained it is a skill that few surgeons learn to harness and develop. Looks like I have another technique to work on from here on out!

This last week proved to be one of the most interesting and exciting. The people I have met, the things seen, and the experience earned could not have been any less excellent. Thank you University of Miami Hospital and Clinics for giving me this great opportunity to gain a first look at life in the OR at Sylvester. Surgery’s challenges encompass a scope of patient-relation trust and care, the need to always improve oneself, and the occasional clean up of blood that spewed across the room.