General Surgery

Spotlighting Surgical Specialties

April 2, 2019March 18, 2019 by Adelle

In my last column, I touched on some commonly chosen medical specialties and hopefully cleared … Read more

Finding Balance As A Mother and Surgeon

February 16, 2019May 14, 2018 by Kara Hessel

The same afternoon that I offered to write an article espousing all of my triumphs … Read more

Entering Third Year With An Open Mind

June 25, 2022March 20, 2018 by Adelle

By Adelle, Medical Student

I went into my third year with a somewhat open mind in terms of what I thought I liked and what I thought I wanted to do for the next 35 years or so of my life. Internal medicine interested me because you had to know so much about, well, so much. I felt like my brain was getting bigger every day I was on my internal medicine rotation—there was just so much to know! The number of patients you can see is also fairly high on a typical internal medicine service. On the other hand, I had completely discounted general surgery—I was never very interested in anatomy class and didn’t particularly enjoy teasing apart membranes from fascia from blood vessels and nerves. The thought of doing that for the rest of my life didn’t sit well with me. But, nevertheless, I went in with an open mind.

“We Don’t Carry Gloves in Your Size”

June 26, 2022February 5, 2018 by Kara Hessel

Reasons women should not pursue surgery discredited Before I even started medical school, I knew … Read more

Advice for Interns on Night Float

June 26, 2022October 13, 2016 by Student Doctor Network

Earlier this year SDN member bob123451 was the lucky intern starting residency on night float covering multiple surgery services—vascular, general, bariatrics, colorectal, and a number of subspecialties—at a community hospital. Understandably nervous about jumping in with both feet, he reached out to the SDN community for advice. The following tips may be helpful, should you find yourself in the same boat.

On The Shoulders of Giants: Tips for Aspiring Female Surgeons

March 16, 2019December 16, 2015 by Suzanne Barston

While there were many engaging sessions held at the 2015 UC Davis Pre-Health Conference, a few stood out for being exceptionally inspiring. Dr. Lisa Lattanza’s lecture, “How to Be a Successful Female Surgeon”, was one of these standouts.
This isn’t surprising, considering Dr. Lattanza’s pedigree. The chief of Hand, Elbow & Upper Extremity Surgery at UCSF Medical Center, she is known both for her surgical skills and her inexhaustible efforts to encourage and mentor the next generation of female surgeons. She is the president and co-founder of The Perry Initiative, a Bay-area-based foundation which provides educational and experiential opportunities for young women (primarily high-school and early-college-aged) interested in orthopedic surgery – a project which recently earned her the prestigious Jefferson Award for public service.