Day in the Life: Surgery Preceptorship

Hello and welcome to another Medical Mondays! I’m here to talk about….my Surgery Preceptorship rotation!

If you recall wayyy back when I first started residency, my very first rotation was on the surgical floor. This time around, I was on outpatient surgery!

I don’t want the surgeon lifestyle, but my general surgery rotation as a 3rd-year medical student was definitely one of my favorite rotations, and I love outpatient clinic, and it wasn’t just because I had a little more free time to go out an have a life over these two weeks! Since I’m not about to share any photos of butts or hernias, you’re getting “excerpt of life” photos instead!

Day in the Life: Surgery Preceptorship

8 a.m. – 12 a.m.

I worked with a different surgery attending every day and would see their patients and present to them before we’d go in together to see the patient. Most of the surgeons dictated their own notes so I only got to write notes for one of them–I kinda felt like a medical student again, but it made me happy when they told me I was making their day run a whole lot smoother!

With general surgery, I’d see patients for all kinds of hernias (hiatal, ventral, umbilical, inguinal hernias), cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), cholelithiasis (gallstones), choledocholethiasis (gallstone[s] in the common bile duct), breast lumps, lipomas, hidradenitis suppurativa (skin condition that causes abscesses/lesions usually in the armpits/groin) and post-operative visits!.

I went out for bubble tea with my friend and happened upon these post-its on the wall. Whatever you do, don’t listen to that GPA one. You are more than your GPA!

With colorectal surgery, the majority of the cases I’d see would be for hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal condylomas, constipation, colonoscopies, or follow-ups for any/all of the above. As you might perhaps have guessed, there were a whole lot of rectal exams involved, so I feel like I’ve definitely improved in the realms of digital rectal exams and anoscopies (I’d never done the latter prior to this rotation).

One of the colorectal surgery preceptors I worked with was super old-school–he reminded me a lot of the preceptor I had for Allergy/Immunology in med school! His nurse suggested that I work with him, prefacing that he “wasn’t usually a favorite to work with among residents” but that he was a great teacher and that I could learn a lot from him. (She was right, and he was super nice!)

To be fair, all the preceptors I worked with during this rotation were very pleasant to work with. I’ve actually lucked out in all the surgery rotations I’ve ever done (General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Adult Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery) because none of em’ have been the standard surgery stereotype you hear about (and for that, I’m super grateful)!

I went out for lunch with my friend who was moving away and came across this–it made me snicker. :D…

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Second semester of intern year (January to June) is where we’ve officially “graduated” to seeing about 7 patients per half-day session! Truth be told, I’ve been doing that since September. (Our program keeps tabs on our numbers because we have a minimum required number of patient visits required for graduation.)

I think every class has surpassed it by about 300-500+ patient visits per resident, so I like to think we’ll be okay!

It’s still strange to think that I actually have “regular” patients now–I have a few patients that I’ve been following since I first started seeing them back in August!

I recently acquired a patient at the office whose family has decided they only want to see me because I’m “really nice and actually listen.” :]! But this is also kinda bad because she doesn’t show up for any other provider and my schedule is often kinda terrible and never under my control so no one ends up checking on her. :[ I got her set up with a cardiologist though and call to check in and make sure things are okay though (and to tell her to come in for follow-ups)!

I do have a fair share of somewhat difficult ones as well, the newest of which would be the new patients I keep getting who I incidentally find to be pregnant. They’re very pleasant and I like them a lot, but stahhhhp. (In case you missed previous memos, I am absolutely not a fan of obstetrics.)

All things considered, however, I’m still generally happiest when I’m at the office. :]! (Good thing, because this is what I signed up for!)

I got to go to my 3rd(!) Yelp Elite event and went to The DIY Joint + made my own wooden serving tray!

• Have you ever had to get surgery for anything?
• Did you stress out about grades a lot when you were in school?
• Totally not related to my post, but have you ever done woodworking? I haven’t seen junior high and I really missed it!
• Check out previous Day in the Life’s!