Summer 2020
The Scalpel A Dissection of News from the Department of Surgery
Chairman’s Thoughts
day, provide telehealth, be flexible in our With the beginning of a new academic year, we have again said schedules, and at goodbye to a great finishing class least for me, reflect on the things of chief residents and fellows as important in my life. well as welcomed a new group of Moreover, the surgical trainees. As you will note recent tragic events inside the Scalpel each of the chief occurring across our residents and fellows will be nation has Dr. Freeman and graduating Vascular Fellow demonstrated the either advancing their surgical Dr. Rideout need for us all to Michael B. Freeman, MD training in great fellowships or reassess the racial, social and equity issues that continue to entering private practice in Chairman plague our society, as well as how we can each play a role in surgery. In future years, reversing these injustices. I pray that we all will get back as reflections on their training at UTMCK will bring back soon as possible to the normalcy of life in the hospital but memories of the comradery they experienced with their also that we will be able to learn and grow from the fellow residents but also how the COVID-19 pandemic struggles that have occurred in 2020. In the end if we strive effected their training. Our end of the year functions to to understand how we got to where we are and endeavor to celebrate the finishing residents were limited but the ability correct the things that have gotten us to this point, we, with our children, we will live in a better world. to create a special video featuring the administrative staff, surgical attendings, and junior residents continued the legacy of sending off the residents with warm appreciation for a job well done. Like many of you, as I reflect on the past six months there have been several major events that have caused me to reexamine my life priorities and how I deal with those I come in contact with. First of all, living in a health care bubble there has been the COVID-19 pandemic. For many the initial fear of exposure to COVID-19 patients and the interruption that occurred with elective surgery put a strain on everyone psychologically, physically and financially. Despite the stress COVID-19 has put on each of us, I am so proud of how everyone in the Department of Surgery has risen to the occasion and sacrificed to continue excellence in patient care and teaching of our surgical house staff. We have learned to reach out to others and teach per ZOOM and Microsoft TEAMS, wear masks and wash our hands throughout the
Dr. Freeman and Dr. Daley with Chief Residents