To Be Continued...

These internships have been life changing experiences which have only strengthened my cardiac surgery pursuits. In addition to the direct impact all of these medical disciplines have on improving so many lives, I found cardiovascular surgery to be the most incredible and beautiful process to watch. I am so grateful to the doctors whom have not only let me follow them around, but have also patiently answered my never-ending questions, and taken the time to truly teach me as much as possible. I desperately want to return to Bordeaux as soon as possible, for it is so rare to find such an incredible learning environment as a student!

To Dr. Laurent Barandon, Dr. Lisa Dabney, Dr. Craig Nobert, and Dr. Julia Polke, I cannot thank you enough.

Different Departments

By the end of this week, I had spent at least one day in the gynecology, urology and obstetrics departments. My favorite day at Mt. Sinai so far has been the one spent on the Labor and Delivery (L & D) floor. I got to see a vaginal delivery (and helped by holding one of the woman’s legs!), as well as C-Section of twins!! I have never seen anything like that before, and I can’t get over the emotional presence in the experience of seeing childbirth.

First Day

My first day with Dr. Dabney was slightly insane. I went to both her clinics (114th and 59th St.), and they were much busier than I expected. Dr. Dabney told me it was one of the busiest days she has seen in weeks. The clinic on 114th St. was short staffed, so after spending the morning chaperoning exams there, Dr. Dabney and I went to her 59th street clinic for the afternoon. I am beginning to learn what the each instrument used in a basic pelvic exam is called. Additionally, due to a high density of patients with prolapses, I am beginning to immediately recognize when a patient has a prolapse, as well as the different kinds of treatments for prolapses. 

I have never seen so many vaginas in my life.

Le Deuxième Stage

My second internship is in New York, at Mount Sinai West, with gynecologist Dr. Lisa Dabney. This internship is primarily observatory.

Mon deuxième stage est dans New York, à Mount Sinai Ouest, avec la gynécologue Dr. Lisa Dabney. Ce stage sera principalement pour l’observation.

UPDATE

Aujourd’hui, j'ai rencontré avec l'ingénieur biomédical, Mohammad Haddadi (Ph.D), qui a conçu le cœur artificial. J’ai apporté des designs plus détaillés et il semblait assez impressionné! Il m’a dit que ils ont un autre modèle ils vont essayer, mais si ça ne marche pas ils vont faire  un prototype de la mienne! j’espère beaucoup que je peux revenir à Bordeaux et travaillez avec il et son équipe.

Today I met with the biomed engineer, Mohammad Haddadi (Ph.D), who designed the ventricular pump. I brought more detailed designs and he seemed very impressed! He said that they already have another model lined up to try, but if it doesn’t work they will make a prototype of mine! I really hope I get to go back to Bordeaux and work on it with him and his team.

Spent the day at the research extension of the hospital! They were testing a left ventricular heart pump (artificial heart), and a suture-less delivery system. The delivery system didn’t work, so I drew some improvements, and they asked to meet with me again tomorrow! Extremely exciting!

Je ne peux pas croire j'ai appris à faire des points de suture sur une personne aujourd’hui!!! Le premier croquis est la façon de faire des points de suture, et le deuxième est comment faire un noeud chirurgie.

I can’t believe I learned how to do stitches on a person today!!! The first sketch is how to do stitches, and the second is how to do a surgical knot.

Penelope et moi prenons du café. J’aime beaucoup passer du temps avec mon hôte incroyable au centre-ville Bordeaux!

Penelope and I getting some coffee. I love spending time with my amazing host in downtown Bordeaux!

L’élargissement d’une artère fémorale calcifiée.

The enlargement of a calcified femoral artery.

La Technique du Parachute

The Parachute Technique

Aujourd’hui, j’ai étudié le fermeture du thorax.

Today, I studied the closing of the thorax.

Le première jour! J'ai mis des gommages et j'ai été laissé dans un contournement de l'artère coronaire! Voici quelques croquis de ce que j'ai essayé de me rappeler. C'était absolument incroyable.

The first day! I put on some scrubs, and was let right into a coronary artery bypass! Here are some sketches of what I tried to remember. It was absolutely incredible.

C’est Penelope! Elle est ma correspondante, et je l’adore. 

This is Penelope! She is my host buddy, and I adore her!