SOSA Newsletter

STUDENT OSTEOPATHIC SURGICAL ASSOCIATION

May 19, 2013

SOSA NEWSLETTER Post Spring Conference Newsletter 2013

2013 SPRING CONFERENCE: PCOM

Contents: Keynote Speaker.... 2 Spring Conference Highlights......3-5 Scholarship Winners...6 Presentation links....6 New SOSA Board Members.....7-9 2012-2013 Financial Wrap up.............9 Looking for a Mentor...10 Cut-THROAT.......11

!

This past March, over 200 SOSA members convened at the Philadelphia College of Medicine for the Spring 2013 SOSA Conference. Members were welcomed on Friday, March 1st by Arthur Sesso, DO, FACOS, Director of the PCOM General Surgery Residency. Â The morning continued with very informative lectures on applying to general surgery residency, vascular surgery case presentations, and burn surgery. A variety of workshops wrapped up the day. Fun was had by all at the evening semi formal and social outing. Saturday, March 2nd came early with the business

meeting at 8 a.m. sharp followed by lectures on trauma surgery, urology, and workshops with a concluding celebration at Xfinity Live! We sincerely appreciate all the members who traveled from near and far to attend as well as the PCOM SOSA Chapter and the surgeons and residents who lectured or helped with the workshops. We could not have had such a successful convention without all of your help!

Mark your calendars for our Fall 2013 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada November 15-16th, 2013.

More information will be sent out closer to the date—we look forward to seeing you all in Vegas!

PAGE 1

SPRING CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS “GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY” BY CARMEN PICCOLO, D.O. CHIEF RESIDENT, PCOM GENERAL SURGERY

How to become a resident? For all medical students, that is the million dollar question with no clear cut answer. Dr. Piccolo, PCOM general surgery resident, offered some helpful tips on earning a position as a general surgery resident.

As an M1, he emphasized doing well on your current courses, initiating or continuing research opportunities in the basic or clinical sciences, and shadowing in your free time. Continuing to read as an M2, excelling in your medical school classes, pursuing research, shadowing and most important of all studying smart and hard for your Step 1 board exam. A common theme in medical education, as an M3 taking the initiative to read becomes even more important. On your surgery clerkship, take any call opportunity you can, be the first one in the hospital each day and the last one to leave, know your patients extremely well and read up on the patients and their surgical case ahead of time. If you have an opportunity to take an elective, critical care is strongly recommended. Also, continuing active research is key. As an M4, you should have a surgical

textbook picked out to reference often. All have their strengths and weaknesses so finding the text that works best for you is important. For planning rotations, timing, type, exposure and wise use of your electives is important. Your dedication to a career in surgery is evident in everything you do.

Do your best to perform well on Step II boards, continue research and read as much as you can.

Some textbooks recommended by Dr. Piccolo included The ICU Book by Paul L. Marino, Essentials of General Surgery by Peter F. Lawrence, Sabiston’s Textbook of Surgery, Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery, and Greefield’s Surgery, Evidence-Based Practice of Critical Care by Clifford S. Deutschman is also a great read.

Carmen Piccolo, D.O. Medical School: NYCOM Residency: PCOM General Surgery

OTHER SPRING CONFERENCE SPEAKERS Carmen Piccolo, DO - Chief Resident, PCOM General Surgery Program

"Residency Considerations and How to Make Yourself a Strong Applicant” Douglas Troutman, DO - Vascular Surgery Fellow, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System

“Vascular Surgery Case Presentations, Introduction to the Vascular Surgery Specialty, and How to Obtain a Vascular Fellowship"

Leigh Ann Price, MD - Director, Burn Surgery Fellowship Program, Johns Hopkins University

“Burn Surgery” Joshua Hazelton, DO -Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellow, Cooper University Hospital

"The ABCs of Trauma and Case Presentations" Laurence Belkoff, DO, FACOS - Urologic Consultants of Southeastern Pennsylvania Chairman, Dept of Speciality Surgeries and the Division of Urology at PCOM Past-President, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons

“Urology” (links to presentations can be found on page 6)

!

PAGE 2

SPRING CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS WORKSHOPS: Suturing Participants learned a variety of different suturing techniques with SurgiReal technology.

Simulator Workshop 1- LapMentor and AccuTouch Students practiced cholecystectomy with the LapMentor laparoscopic simulator which gave real life feedback during the operation along with the instruction of a PCOM resident. The AccuTouch: Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal simulator allowed for a realistic feel in the areas of upper and lower gastrointestinal procedures such as bronchoscopy, colonoscopy and endoscopy, while also including cases in Trans bronchial ultrasonography (TBNA). Simulator Workshop 2- Angiomentor: Cardiac Simulator and ArthroMentor: Arthroscopic/Orthopedic Simulator The AngioMentor guided students and residents through a series of coronary, iliac, and renal interventions while using a fluoroscopic image to ensure proper placement of cardiac stents, balloons or for dye injection. !

PAGE 3

SPRING CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS The ArthroMentor system allowed for students to practice arthroscopic surgery procedures on both knees and shoulders while developing basic camera, optic, and instrument handling skills.

Skin Grafting Participants were able to practice skin grafting techniques on 12x18 pig skins.

Trauma Situation

CVC, IV, Foley Catheters and Chest Tubes A variety of male/female catheter, venipuncture arms and intubation equipment was used to instruct the students how to correctly insert central line catheters and IVs as well as how to correctly intubate and draw an accurate blood gas using models that were filled with simulated blood or water.Additionally, students learned how to catheterize patients, and perform cricothyroidotomies.

!

PAGE 4

SPRING CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Casting

Running a Code HPS: Human Patient Simulator and METIMan: Emergency Care Simulator Participants worked in groups of 6 on the HPS, which is a life-sized mannequin that simulates over 80 functions of the human body including gas/fluid exchange, pupil dilation, and carotid to pedal pulses.

Ultrasound & Other Imaging / FAST Exam

OMT & Surgery Students learned both pre and post-op techniques to minimize recovery time!

!

PAGE 5

SPRING CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SPRING CONFERENCE SOSA CUP CHAMPIONS LECOM The “Coveted SOSA Cup” contest was continued at this year’s Spring convention. The contest was comprised of a series of 3 different challenges: 1) Doctors 101 2) Name this sign and 3) A Surgery Worksheet. The overall winner (by a very close margin) was Danielle Sarlo and Ricky Missett from LECOM. The cup will be making its way to the next convention to see which lucky school can claim to be the SOSA Cup Champions.

Left:Danie!e Sarlo, LECOM Erie SOSA President (2013-2014), OMS-I Right: Ricky Missett, LECOM Erie SOSA National Liaison (2013-2014), OMS-I

2013 SPRING CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Troutman: Vascular Surgery Troutman: Abdominal Pain Case Price: Burn Care Belkoff: Urology Piccolo: General Surgery Residency

All powerpoints can be found on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/4064598699/?fref=ts

!

PAGE 6

NATIONAL SOSA BOARD New Student Officers 2013-2014

Bay

Chair Leo ATSU/OMS III (801) 898-1536 sosachair1@gmail.com

Chair

Vice

Ryan Tarr VCOM/OMSIV (207) 745-1426 sosavicechair@gmail.co m

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Leo Bay

Hello SOSA members. My name is Leo Bay you may remember me as the Technologies Coordinator who was always talking about joining the Facebook page. I have passed on that role and am excited to take on the role of Chair this year. I want to thank all the members of last year’s board especially Marc, Regan, and Pam who are graduating after serving for two years on the board.

I know how hard each member of last year’s board worked on behalf of our membership. I am excited for this year’s board; we have many ideas that we intend to implement to make our

organization stronger. Please remember that this is your organization if you need help, have ideas, suggestions, or questions please let us know. The board is here to help you have the best experiences possible and to ensure that our organization continues to improve. This is an exciting time to be a part of SOSA and hope that you enjoy the things that are still to come.

Thank you all for your confidence and support in both myself and the board. By the way we haven’t joined the SOSA Facebook page now would be a great time to do it.

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIR Ryan Tarr

Secretary

Meghan Wooster DMU/OMS IV (712)269-9008 sosasecretary@gmail.co m

Treasurer

Amber Wallack VCOM-VC/ OMSIII (814) 312-3511 sosatreasurer@gmail.co m

!

Hi SOSA Members, My name is Ryan Tarr and I am your new Vice Chair for the 2013-2014 school year. I can't begin to explain how excited I am for this upcoming school year.

SOSA membership has grown so fast that we have the funds to really do some exciting things this year. As Vice Chair I am in charge of fundraiser ideas so if you have any ideas for t-shirt designs, bags or anything else please let me know. We are hoping to be able to raffle off board review programs at the Fall convention so be sure to sign up!

Good luck on boards for the OMS-II and OMS-III students, congratulations on matching to the OMS-IV students. Have a wonderful summer and I'll see you in Vegas!

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY Meghan Wooster

Hope all is well! It was great catching up with friends and meeting so many new faces in Philadelphia this year! I hope you all enjoyed the conference and learned a tremendous amount about not only a variety of aspects PAGE 7

NATIONAL SOSA BOARD related to surgery but how to forge ahead on your journey into the medical profession. Thank you for your support as secretary for 2013-2014. My goals include working together to revise and update the SOSA OR Guide, create a guide for osteopathic medical students entering 3rd and 4th year rotations, applying to residency, building your resume, and other pearls of wisdom, and build a database of ACOS and former SOSA members who are now residents to contact for advice on pursuing a career in surgery. As of now, we are beginning to initiate the early stages of revising the OR Guide and hope to have a new edition out by the end of the year.

Included in the newsletter are two websites for mentoring as well as advice for initiating a relationship with a mentor. A template for a guide for osteopathic medical students going into surgery is in the works. If you would like to share your experiences or any advice please do not hesitate to contact me. My vision for this project is to have SOSA members across the nation contribute so that no matter where you complete an audition rotation or interview, the advice in the guide will pertain to you. Hope everyone has a great Spring and best of luck on boards!!

MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER Amber Wallack

Hey Guys! My name is Amber Wallack, and I am currently a

!

student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus. As Treasurer, I hope to keep in close contact with the ACOS to efficiently maintain a balanced budget for SOSA. Along with that, a huge goal I have for this year is to get previously quiet SOSA chapters more involved at the national level.

In doing this, I hope to keep Convention registration fees as low as possible to keep those opportunities more accessible to our members.

With this in mind, I look forward to a great year for SOSA!

New Student Officers 2013-2014

Technologies Coordinator

Kelsy AvalosFeehan WesternU-COMP/OMS II (831)521-3829 sosatechnologies@gmail. com

MESSAGE FROM TECHNOLOGIES COORDINATOR Kelsy Avalos-Feehan

Hello, my name is Kelsy Avalos-Feehan. I am currently a second year at Western University of Health Sciences-COMP. I am extremely excited to be your new technologies coordinator and continue the great work that Leo Bay started last year.

This past year I began a surgical magazine called CutTHROAT through WesternU’s SOSA Chapter. Each issue featured a different surgical field with interviews, advice, and statistics on how to succeed in that career. I’m thrilled to say that in the next couple of months SOSA will be beginning to put together Cut-THROAT at a national level! We will be looking for writers, editors, and interviewers to help us publish this magazine. Check out page 11 for further information.

Convention Coordinator

Martha Ayewah TCOM/OMS II (254) 495-4444 sosaconvention@gmail.c om

Communications Coordinator

Sean Kelly VCOM/OMS III (508)498-8596 sosacommunications@g mail.com

A big thank you to last years board!

PAGE 8

NATIONAL SOSA BOARD events have provided me with opportunities to learn things that cannot be taught in a classroom.

The art of effective networking is an important Martha Ayewah skill that we, as medical students, need to develop.

My name is Martha Ayewah. I am a student at Therefore, I am dedicated to providing similar the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and I learning experiences for you at the Fall SOSA am excited to serve you this year as the National Convention in Las Vegas, NV. You can look Convention Coordinator. My life story to date has forward to great speakers, mock interviews with really been interesting and filled with experiences residents and physicians, have access to program that I believe have equipped me to be an effective directors during our annual residency fair, and leader. many more fun opportunities to mix and mingle I was born and raised partly in Nigeria and also with fellow aspiring surgeons. lived in the Netherlands. I came to the United Next year, I am excited to welcome you all to States in 2006 to study at Baylor University. I love my school for the Spring SOSA Convention at to travel and meet new people, which is why I TCOM in Fort Worth, TX. We hope to provide particularly enjoy attending conferences and you with educational workshops, fun social events, networking with inspirational mentors and likeand some warm Texas weather. It is my personal minded peers. In the past year, I have traveled goal to see all of you achieve the professional goals across the country and participated in nine that you have set for yourselves, because I truly professional conferences. Without a doubt, these believe that success is a lot more fun when you have people to share it with.

MESSAGE FROM CONVENTION COORDINATOR

FOR INCOMING SOSA OFFICERS Congratulations on being elected as officers of your local SOSA Chapter! To allow a smooth transition of communication please fill out the form below with the name of your school, advisor, as well as each officers name, email and phone number. Also, please be aware osteopathic medical students are able to join SOSA at any time of the year. Please contact Amber Wallack, SOSA Treasurer, at sosatreasurer@gmail.com for further information concerning new membership. For any questions regarding transition of officers, please contact Meghan Wooster, sosasecretary@gmail.com. Thank you!

LINK: 2013-2014 SOSA Chapter Officer Registration

FINANCIAL WRAP UP 2012-2013 This year was a very successful year, financially speaking. Almost every chapter has turned in national dues, with approximately 1300 new members joining this year! This has allowed us to maintain our SOSA budget in the black, while lessening costs for all of you! This is all because of your hard work so thank you very much for turning in dues so promptly this year. We as National Officers would like to return the favor so if you have any ideas for programs you would like to see at the either the Fall or Spring convention, please let Martha know and we will be sure to look into it. Thanks again for being so wonderful!

Ryan Tarr SOSA Past-Treasurer !

PAGE 9

LOOKING FOR A MENTOR? If you are looking for a mentor in your neck of the woods we have a few websites you may be interested in checking out. Here’s some mentoring do’s and don’ts to get you started…

From “Informal Mentoring between Faculty and Medical Students,” Rose, G.L., Rukstalis, M.R., and Marc A. Academic Medicine: April 2005 - Volume 80 - Issue 4 - pp 344-348

AOA OPPORTUNITIES http://www.do-online.org/iLearn/index.cfm? pageid=ment_exchange&page=Exchange ACOS OPPORTUNITIES: FIND A D.O. SURGEON tp://www.facos.org/imis15/Public/ Find_a_Surgeon/Public/Navigation_Area/ Find_A_Surgeon/ Find_A_Surgeon_Public_Disclaimer.aspx? hkey=c0157d51-9cd9-48d3-ad98dd05f85989a7

!

PAGE 10

CUT-THROAT MAGAZINE LOOKING FOR YOU CUT-THROAT December 31, 2012

CUT-THROAT

Cut-THROAT

CUT-THROAT November 26, 2012

A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING SURGERY

Presented by the Western University of Health Sciences COMP Student Osteopathic Surgery Club

Contents Neurosurgery Overview .....1 Case Study..........................2 Interview with Dr. Shafa, MD...........2-5 No Surprise: Neurosurgery Residents Dislike Hour Limitations.........4 ARTICLE: Wrong-patient, wrong-Site...............6 Residency Statistics..........7-9 Case Study Answer.............10 Useful Resources.....10

CUT-THROAT A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING SURGERY

RES

Y C N IDE Photo From: surg2.jpg

Neurological Surgery

Overview: by the is a combination of Presented Neurological surgery surgery does not require completion of a Western University of both medicineHealth andSciences surgical specialties. general surgery residency prior to entering.

COMP Osteopathic Physicians in Student this field are responsible for Last year a total of 195 positions were offered.

Surgery Club Photo From: surg2.jpg prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, Each Neurological surgery resident averaged critical care, and rehabilitation.

76.7 hr work weeks. Only 14.7 percent of the Contents Neurologicl surgery deals Editorial with the ...........1 central, peripheral and neurological surgical residents were female. Last autonomic nervous systems, including their year only 0.6 percent of neurosurgery residents Choosing a Medical Specialty, a location...etc from Current Editorial: 1 supportingAdvice structures and vascular supply. were DOs through ACGME programs.1 Residents.......2-5 we should all go through this anxiety alone; instead Neurological surgeons deal withMany the students enter medical school thinking they know exactly what kind of medicine they want we should collaborate and share the information we Article of Review: (For more information on Neurological surgery residency treatment pain How and Should pathological processes to practice.

A few of those people actually stay true to find. SOSA hopes that you find the information we Unmatched Orthopedic andthe other residency programs check out: http://www.amathat affectApplicants the nervous system. This field has a rest of us are thrown have gathered useful on your journey through your Proceed...5 those original plans, while assn.org/resources/flash/membership/x-ama/specialty-guide/ into a world of possibilities. medical education. We believe that no matter where wide range of treatments from non-operative index.html) I was one of those students. I entered medical you lie in the decision process this issue can be Residency: Insights from the measures to operative management. extremely helpful.

Other Side ......6-10 school set on surgery, but I can truthfully say that Neurological surgery residency typically everyisclass opens aup my eyes to the possibility of A little advice is always appreciated and we 1. http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/flash/membership/xtotal of 6 years.

Residency for neurological Article Review: Recipe for something new. At this point in my education, I’m gathered a lot of it! We gathered information from:

Residency

Becoming a Plastic Surgeon .....11

From Internal Medicine to Radiation Oncology: Going back to Residency......12-14 Tips from The Nursing Staff.............15 Case Study Challenge.......15 FAQ: GME Merger......16-19 Useful Resources.....20

ama/specialty-guide/index.html

completely unsure of what my future holds, and apparently that’s normal. But the idea that I’m hurtling through medical school without any idea of my future is terrifying. I have found that narrowing down a specialty is very difficult and a very lonelyindividual process. But over the many hours of unwarranted stress and unease I have realized that guidance is out there, we just have to look/ask for it.

SOSA chose to create this special issue of CUTTHROAT to provide a starting point for our readers when considering residency. There is no reason that

current residents, current physicians, and a few nurses on their opinions regarding residency.

I want to personally thank everyone who contributed to1this issue. We had over seventeen individuals provide us with feedback. Each individual provided a unique interpretation of an experience that we all have to undergo. Their insights into residency are extraordinary and I believe it will be beneficial to all.

Kelsy Avalos-Feehan

We are looking for interviewers, writers and editors for Cut-THROAT magazine!

Check out what Cut-THROAT is all about and explore two of our previous issues General Surgery: http://issuu.com/cut-throat/ docs/cut-throat2 Residency:http://issuu.com/cut-throat/docs/ cut-throat3 We will be modifying Cut-THROAT for a national level and appreciate any feedback on what you would like to see in it.

If you are interested in helping put together SOSA’s new national magazine please contact Kelsy Avalos-Feehan at sosatechnologies@gmail.com. Please provide a brief synopses of yourself and why you believe you would be a good candidate.

No previous editorial experience needed.

1

Join the Facebook group and stay connected: http:// www.facebook.com/groups/4064598699/

Upcoming Event Calendar: November 15th-16th, 2013

SOSA Fall Conference Location: Ceasars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada Please check ACOS website for event updates http://www.facos.org/imis15/Public/Meetings/Students__SOSA__Convention/Public/Navigation_Area/Education/Students/Students_Conventions.aspx? hkey=a914767c-278d-427f-93e2-66a2d257d2b1

!

PAGE 11