By SYDNEY BRICE –  Every year, students in Anatomy and Physiology II have the opportunity to see an open-heart surgery. This year it looked a little different. 

On April 14, students filed into the IDEAL lab for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois put together a program where students could watch on a Zoom broadcast. 

Students last year were unable to attend the surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, so they were very excited to finally have their time to watch. 

“I was very excited to be able to attend the open heart surgery this year,” said senior Allie Rutledge, “Since our school year was cut short last year, we were unable to attend. However, I am very excited that they were able to find a way to do it virtually for us.”

This surgery allowed students to see firsthand what it would be like to work in the medical field. They were able to see close up how a vein was harvested and what a bypass looked like. 

Junior Margaret Lowery stated, “My favorite part was being able to see the heart and its part in an actual human vs. a picture or pig heart. It helped with my future career decision because it showed me that surgery is something I am interested in.”

This surgery is something that many students would never have been able to do in any other class or situation.  Mrs. Edmonds said, “I am very excited to give my students the chance to see what happens in an operating room, first hand. It is difficult to find opportunities like this for students and it offers a valuable learning opportunity and perspective into the medical careers they are interested in.”

The day started off with a pig dissection and then it moved into the surgery. Students were able to relate what they saw in surgery to what they had just dissected from a pig heart. 

Overall, the day was a success and something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. 

[Photo by Sophee McCabe]

Photo Caption: “Students participated in a pig heart dissection prior to the open-heart surgery.”