Summer Surgery Program Success Stories

Baylor Medical Student Eileen Smith discusses her experience in the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program.

Q: What were your expectations coming into the DeBakey Program?

When I applied, I was interested in medicine (I loved science and community service); but to be honest, I was afraid I was a bit too squeamish for most of it. I wanted to get to chance to get in the OR, see how I liked it, and figure out if medical school would be a good fit.

Q: What kind of experiences did you gain from this program?

I shadowed two different surgeons while a DeBakey student, Dr. William Fisher, a general surgeon at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and Dr. Panagiotis Kougias, a vascular surgeon at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. At Baylor St. Luke’s, I shadowed Dr. Fisher during surgeries and helped out in clinic. At the VA, I spent most of my time in the OR observing and scrubbing in on a huge variety of vascular surgeries.

What was the most meaningful moment during your time in the program?

Getting to be first-assist with the vascular surgery fellow, every Thursday, when the rest of the team had to be in clinic.

How is this program different from other shadowing programs?

At least when I participated, most students got the opportunity to scrub in. I think this is really what sets this program apart. Students get a chance to get into the OR, participate, and see surgical care first hand. Most people aren’t able to get this kind of access to the OR until they are halfway through medical school.

Did this experience change your view of surgery as a specialty?

This summer not only made me want to be physician, it made me want to be a surgeon. The surgeons I met were an amazing group of people, who loved what they did and took amazing care of their patients.

How did the experience that you acquired during your time in this program translate to you being a medical student?

I think generally I am comfortable in an OR, whereas students who have never spent any time there can have a pretty steep learning curve getting used to scrubbing in, where to stand, and who does what.

In the fall of my junior year at The University of Texas at Austin, I was perusing the internet, looking for a valuable way to spend my summer. When I stumbled across the Baylor College of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program, my jaw dropped. I could not believe there was an opportunity for undergraduates to gain eight weeks of surgical exposure in the world’s largest medical center. I submitted my application in January, and was thrilled to receive an acceptance e-mail in March. With limited previous hospital experience, I had no idea what the summer would hold. My thoughts ranged from excitement to fear, but I knew I would gain valuable exposure to the world of surgery, medical education, and total patient care.

My good fortune continued as I soon found out I had been assigned to the Surgery Department at Texas Children’s Hospital. Not only was I extremely interested in pediatrics, but I had also been a surgical patient at that exact hospital when I was just seven years old. The two months I spent at Texas Children’s were truly unbelievable. I gained over 400 hours of shadowing, most of which was spent in the OR, watching every general surgery procedure imaginable.

I saw the full spectrum of general surgical cases, from countless fundoplications and appendectomies, to a hepatectomy and a thoracotomy/lung resection that captivated me for upwards of nine hours. I also went on rounds, spent time in the clinic, and followed residents as they ran the floor and took consults. Every experience was immensely valuable, as they allowed me to see the full scope of what it means to be a surgeon.

Other perks of the program were the educational opportunities provided by Baylor College of Medicine. We had weekly brown bag lunches with surgeons from various fields who gave us valuable insight into a surgical career. It was fascinating to hear about every surgeon’s individual path to success. They each had a different story to tell and unique motivations that got them where they are today. We also spent time in the Simulation Center where we got to test our focus and dexterity using simulations and learning to suture. Friday mornings were especially exciting because the Surgery Department at Baylor had Grand Rounds, where we had the chance to listen to world-renowned surgeons present their breakthrough research, case studies or latest surgical techniques.

No matter where life takes me, I will always look back on those eight weeks and see how my passion flourished and knowledge expanded exponentially. Though my days mostly consisted of observing and admiring work done by far more qualified individuals, the program still challenged me in ways I never imagined. Firstly, against all odds, I became a morning person. I didn’t mind waking up at 4 or 5 a.m. because there was something really special about being at the hospital when the day began. I learned so much by just listening to morning rounds and Googling words I didn’t recognize. It was also challenging because every moment I spent in the hospital, I wanted to be present, engaged, and learning as much as I possibly could. This required focus, determination, and energy. Finally, I had to learn confidence. I was constantly asking questions, even if I was afraid they sounded simple or unintelligent.

One of the scariest parts was asking a surgeon if I could scrub in with them. I felt like I would get in the way or they wouldn’t want to teach me, but I was always welcomed with open arms. The Baylor surgeons went out of their way to make sure I knew what was going on and made me feel welcome to ask questions and contribute to the conversation. It was incredible.

I am truly astounded at how much I learned from the DeBakey Summer Surgery Program. However, for every one fact I’ve learned, there are 10,000 others that I still don’t know. My thirst for knowledge dramatically increased every day and it further motivated me to continue to vehemently pursue my dreams of becoming a doctor. I may not know what the future will bring, but I do know that I am more prepared and excited than I have ever been in my life. I am beyond grateful for this program and can’t wait to see what lies ahead!

As a Baylor Business fellow and pre-medicine student I recognize the importance of seeking experience that makes a positive impression. Through the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program I found, and thoroughly enjoyed, that experience over this past summer. I worked within the Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.

The Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program is designed to give undergraduate students the opportunity to gain a small glimpse into the life of a surgeon. One aspect of the program allowed me to become familiar with the clinic and the operating room by routinely observing physicians, working with their surgical teams, and actually scrubbing in to observe surgical procedures. For eight weeks I worked at the hospital 7-10 hours per day in order to learn more about the field of surgery. Another aspect of the program was the weekly brown bag lunches. During these meetings, special guests would discuss their respective fields of surgery including reconstructive and plastic, trauma, cardiothoracic, and orthopedic surgeries. Besides this, the discussions would often include current events in medicine and healthcare policy, academic surgery, and public versus private practice. I was also able to participate in basic simulation labs. These labs provided a practical way to hone my dexterity skills, basic suturing techniques, and microsurgery applications.

It was an honor to be assigned to the Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, an area that I have a strong interest in. Within the department, the work week began at 7 a.m. sharp on Monday mornings where case conferences were held to discuss the cases and treatment plans for the week. I listened, fascinated, as the cases unfolded. I chuckle now as I think back on the first few weeks. Initially, I only observed due to my limited knowledge of the cases discussed. As I interacted with the staff and patients, my knowledge increased along with my understanding of procedures and case studies. I began to ask questions regarding particularly interesting cases and to my surprise, the physicians readily answered.

What I sought from this program was the opportunity to work within a team and garner wisdom from seasoned physicians. What I discovered was how relational medicine can be. This relational aspect became my favorite part of the program. I had the privilege of working with a multitude of brilliant physicians, PAs, nurses and techs who made this experience the highlight of my summer. We shared laughter, and sometimes sobering moments. I remember one particularly vivid OR experience that involved an infant who needed surgery. I walked through the OR doors and stepped near the physician to gain a better view, as per usual. I was astonished as I saw the patient before me because the patient was blind, having anophthalmia (the absence of one or both eyes). It broke my heart to see an infant with such a condition. I later talked with the doctor regarding the future of this child. As I listened, the future did not sound too bright for the child, but the doctor had hope. She was determined to do everything in her power to ease the burden of this patient and their family.

The DeBakey Summer Surgery Program was like a breath of fresh air. Over the course of two months I gained the confidence to interact with medical professionals, converse about medical topics and assist other medical staff members when needed (which was frequently well received by the staff). I was also able to witness people selflessly working their hardest to make tangible impacts in the lives of their patients, which inspired me even further to continue my course in the field of medicine.