Ellis Students Watch Heart Surgery at AGH
Upper School students viewed an open-heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) as part of their anatomy class on January 17. The class 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 a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, an operation that removes blood clots from the pulmonary arteries, which supply blood to the lungs.
This real-world application of their anatomy studies gave students a meaningful understanding of the human body, while also exposing them to a variety of potential professions within the the field of medicine. “This glimpse of real-life medicine allows students to picture themselves in the operating room,” said Kassandra Wadsworth, Upper School Science Teacher. “It’s really valuable because students not only see surgeons in action, but nurses, surgery techs, physician assistants, and anesthesiologists.”
During the surgery, 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 stitching at the end— and they did not shy away. Completely engaged throughout the entirety of the surgery, it came as no surprise that students couldn’t take their eyes off what was unfolding in front of them. “This partnership is really valuable because we learn about anatomy and all of the medical professional who play a role in the operating room. With a class of junior and seniors, it’s important that they know there’s a lot of options available to them if they want to pursue a career in medicine,” said Mrs. Wadsworth.
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.
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