So is that a scalpel or a Metzenbaum?

Today I began my month of General Surgery. I'm once again back at the Veterans Affairs hospital in the same general area as I was in for Vascular, but with a whole new team. The fact that I'm on familiar territory is comforting, in as much as it won't be the headache of confusion The Methodist was on my first day. I'm already familiar with some of our residents as well from seeing them rounding with last month's group. There are four of us students from Baylor on the Team along with an international student from Italy, and I think we're going to be able to get along just fine and learn a lot along the way.

I definitely like the fact that we're going to have more involvement with the patients' care outside of the operating room. I missed that about the Vascular service. In CT surgery, pretty much my only involvement with patients was while they were asleep and sterile, and then I never saw them again. I never got to know them as people and individuals, rather than just the anatomy before me. So in that aspect I'm looking forward to the month to come. It won't be easy though. We have a lot of work in front of us, and I'm sure the team will be somewhat demanding. But it will be challenging and rewarding, and hopefully a lot of fun.