This is the first week of the 7-week summer immersion period. My clinical mentor is Dr. Theodore Schwartz. He is specialized in brain tumor, pituitary tumors and epilepsy, and is renowned for minimally-invasive endonasal endoscopic skull base and pituitary surgery. It has been a pleasure meeting him. I first shadowed him in a clinic when he gives consultation to the patients. It is fascinating how he can relieve the worries of the patients by reassuring them the surgery will make them better. I still remember there is one patient that turns to me suddenly and asked me "What do you think?" I was absolutely speechless, part of it is because I am simply not a professional to say anything and the other part is that I do not know how to bear the consequence if I say anything wrong or improper. At that time I also realize the burden on the surgeon when every patient's life depends on him.
I have also been in the operating room for the first time as an inspector. Frankly speaking, it is more exciting than I have ever expected. I always wonder how can a surgeon be in an operating room for hours without even taking a break. But when I was in there, I looked at the surgery and didn't realize hours have passed already. It is also a delight when you see a tumor is removed from a patient and knowing she will get better and do all the tasks after 4-weeks of post-op.
I visited the lab and will be starting an optogenetic project. We are eager to see how epilepsy will affect the activation of neurons using optogenetics, a technique to activate individual neurons using blue light. I hope I can contribute to the lab with my experience in an optogenetics project that I take part in before.
I look forward to the coming 6 weeks in the hospital and in the lab!
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