Surgery is a specialty best shown by doing.

Fifteen medical students, five in each of the first three class years, received hands-on experience during the second General Surgery Interest Group Procedure Night this year in the Surgery Residency Skills Lab. It was led by Tiffany Killblane and Faith Kim, both fourth-year medical students, in addition to surgery and anesthesia residents, and surgical attendings.

“The benefit of introducing students to surgery allows them to explore this specialty prior to the required third-year clerkship,” said Marilee McBoyle, M.D., FACS, clinical professor of surgery and surgical director of the residency skills lab. “The students’ enthusiasm and appreciation has proven this to be an exciting and beneficial undertaking." 

Procedure stations included airway maintenance, chest X-ray interpretation, chest tube insertion, and laparoscopic and colonoscopic skills aided with simulation.

This event, in addition to the inaugural procedure night in August 2022, brings the total outreach to 31 medical students.

“The response to participate in these events has been exciting to see since attendance is purely voluntary," said Mary Thompson, CHSOS, simulation coordinator for the Surgical Skills Lab.

“I loved the GSIG event,” said Abbey Fischer-Michel, second-year medical student. “I felt that it was very beneficial to me to be able to get some hands-on experience with intubation, chest tubes, colonoscopies and laparoscopic surgery techniques before I go on to my surgery rotation.

“At each station, the teachers were more than willing to answer any questions that our group had. I also really enjoyed that each station had a new and different challenge with it.”

In addition to receiving hands-on training and practice, students had the opportunity to work with and start building relationships with third- and fourth-year medical students, residents and attendings. That is one of the benefits of the community-based education at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

“The GSIG event was a highlight of my semester,” said Blaine Wertz, second-year medical student. “The opportunity to connect to residents and faculty while training in basic surgical techniques was invaluable and very enjoyable!”

“I think that events like this one should continue," added Fischer-Michel. “They allow students to get more experience in a low stress environment as well as connect students with mentors in the surgical field.”

“Dr. McBoyle and I are thrilled to work with the leadership of the GSIG, especially Tiffany Killblane and Faith Kim,” Thompson said. “Their recognition of the need to form a group such as the GSIG should be commended. “

Killblane was a college professor before she began medical school. In her undergraduate physics class, her professor left a major impact on her that she now calls her “educational philosophy.”

“He knew we all did not want to become physicists, but he was an ‘ambassador for his people’ who wanted to show us the wonders of his field.”

She emulated this philosophy and passion for her biology students and now with those beginning their medical education, especially those in the surgery rotation.

“Surgery is often a required field of study that students are wary of when they enter the rotation as there are lots of preconceived notions out there about the specialty and/or surgeons themselves,” she explained.

Killblane believes the benefit of mentoring is forming connections and demonstrating her passion for the specialty.

“Even if it isn't ultimately what they choose,” she said, “they get insight into some of the things surgeons do and have someone they feel comfortable contacting with questions.”

Current simulations in the curriculum are fantastic, but the specialized simulators available in the Surgical Residency Skills Lab allow exposure to surgery-specific training modules.

“It’s a fun night to show off the different kinds of hands-on training our skills lab has to offer,” said Thompson, “and to build their confidence for their upcoming surgical clerkship.”

“I don't know that students can evaluate if they would enjoy it or not unless they get their hands on things that we get to do,” she said. “My hope is that all of these things make for a less daunting clerkship experience.”

“It moved my needle toward pursuing general surgery as a specialty,” said Wertz. “It was simply one of the best student interest group events of the year.”