Ellis Students Watch Heart Surgery at AGH

A class of anatomy students from The Ellis School watched live as surgeons performed an open-heart surgery on Wednesday, January 18 at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH). The class of juniors and seniors sat in a viewing area above the operating room and peered through a glass window to watch the AGH team in action as they performed an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assistive Device) procedure.
 
The surgeon wore a head camera that projected live onto a TV screen in the observation deck, and a staff member joined the students to walk them through what was taking place right before their eyes. Students could see everything––from the beating heart, to the device placement, to the stitching at the end––and they did not look away. Completely engaged throughout the entirety of the four hour surgery, it came as no surprise that students couldn’t take their eyes off what was unfolding in front of them.

“The observation is an eye-opening experience for the girls. This glimpse of real life medicine is very engaging and applicable to what they’re learning at Ellis. Some students want to pursue a degree in medicine and it makes them think about what they want to do in the future. It’s a valuable introduction into what this kind of profession is actually like,” said Kassandra Wadsworth, Upper School Science Teacher.

This unique opportunity gives students the chance to see not only doctors and surgeons in action, but nurses, surgery techs, physician assistants, and anesthesiologists. For students contemplating a future in medicine, the experience shines a light on a variety of potential professions within the the field.

AGH’s Open Heart Observation Program has welcomed thousands of high school students to view open-heart surgery since 2008. No other hospital in Western Pennsylvania has an observation deck above an operating room that is open to local schools.

At Ellis, we aim to provide real-world applications of classroom teachings so students can have a holistic understanding of concepts and ideas. The opportunity to observe open-heart surgery gives students a chance to see human anatomy first hand and provides them with an experience they’ll never forget.
 
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