SIG Event Introduces Med Students to Surgical Disciplines

On Monday, September 24, 2012, the Surgery Interest Group (SIG) hosted its ninth annual Festival of Surgery. A number of leading surgeons from Einstein’s University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, addressed more than 100 first- and second-year medical students.

Dr. Robert Michler, professor and chair of both surgery and cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Einstein and Montefiore, as well as surgeon-in-chief at Montefiore, opened the evening by describing some of the exciting opportunities in the field of surgery. He was joined by surgeons representing surgical specialties including bariatric, vascular, orthopedic, cardiothoracic, urologic, plastic and reconstructive, general and trauma surgery. SIG faculty advisors Dr. Joseph Shin, chief of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and Dr. Peter Shamamian, chief of the division of general surgery, were among the professionals who shared specifics from their respective surgical disciplines.

Each year, the festival allows students to learn about the types of procedures each specialty performs and the variety of patients seen. Students also gain insight into the work-life balance of each specialty and the different paths one can take to enter each field from medical school via a multitude of residency and other training programs. Following the presentations, students have the opportunity to speak with the surgeons individually and to network with the professionals over dinner.

The Surgery Interest Group is a student-run organization with the mission of educating, informing and keeping students up-to-date about the world of surgery through lectures and interactive workshops with leading surgeons at Einstein and Montefiore. The group's events include a lecture series corresponding to different body regions covered during the first-year anatomy course, a panel discussion featuring women in surgery and a session on how to be competitive when applying to residency programs. Through an extensive shadowing program, the group also enables development of mentoring relationships and insight into the daily life of a surgeon.