Lab Tour Brings Medical Procedures to Life
Recently, our most generous donors, members of the President’s Society, were treated to a unique and exciting experience: a tour of the Bries Foundation Surgical Education Lab at Swedish Hospital. The tour was led by Dr. Clark Federer, a highly esteemed surgeon who oversees surgical education, along with some of his residents and medical students.
The Bries Foundation Surgical Education lab provides a hands-on learning environment for medical students, residents, and medical staff. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and technology that allows individuals to practice various surgical techniques in a safe and controlled environment. The lab was initially established with generous funding from the Bries Foundation, and has been enhanced and enlarged over the years thanks to additional donations from Bries.
During the tour, President’s Society members were given the opportunity to try their hand at several medical procedures, including laparoscopy, suture tying, catheter insertion, ultrasound, and using a bone saw. Under the guidance of Dr. Federer and his students, the donors were able to get a taste of what it takes to perform these procedures successfully.
The laparoscopy station was a particular favorite among the donors, who were able to use the laparoscope to navigate through a simulated abdominal cavity. They were able to visualize and manipulate rubber bands on a peg board, using the delicate, 2-handed instrument to perform simulation tasks such as grasping and dissecting.
The suture tying station allowed the donors to practice their knot-tying skills, an essential technique in surgery. They were given sutures and a piece of simulated tissue to work on, and with the guidance of the residents, they learned the proper technique for tying surgical knots.
Inserting a catheter can be a challenging task, but the donors were able to practice the procedure on a simulated model. They were able to learn the steps involved in inserting a catheter and how to ensure that it is placed correctly.
Overall, the tour of the surgical education lab was a huge success. The President’s Society members had a fantastic time learning about the various surgical procedures and getting hands-on experience with the equipment. As Danka K., one of our participants explained,
”I enjoyed talking with the residents about their studies and fields of interest. The lab is very impressive and a wonderful place where they can practice different procedures- as it’s one thing to observe the procedures and another to actually be able to practice them. I really enjoyed trying my hand at laparoscopy. It’s so much harder than I thought!”
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Federer, his residents and medical students for leading such a fantastic tour, and to our President’s Society members for their generous support of our institution. The funds provided by our donors are essential to the continued growth and success of our educational and community-based programs, and we are grateful for their support.
If you would like more information on becoming a President’s Society member or would like to make a gift to one of our many programs, please visit the Donate Form, email us at: schfoundation@schosp.org or call us at 773-293-5121.