The UAB Department of Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee hosted several students in a UAB Surgery learning space to teach a hands-on suturing skills workshop.
The participants were all either first- or second-year UAB Heersink School of Medicine students who are underrepresented in medicine. Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Colin Martin, M.D., FACS, led the workshops.
“These workshops are designed to introduce students to the world of surgery and refine a practical skill,” said Martin. “Larger than that, it was intended to inspire these bright students to learn more about all that medicine, and surgery, has to offer if they pursue a career as a surgeon scientist.”
Martin was accompanied by Director of the Medical Student Surgery Clerkship Jessica Fazendin, M.D., as well as Assistant Clerkship Director Marguax Mustian, M.D., MSPH. The surgery clerkship is an eight-week rotation during the third year of medical school, so it was a wonderful opportunity for students to get plugged into surgery and learn about the clerkship, according to Fazendin.
“It was a great experience for these MS1 and MS2 students,” said Fazendin. “We were proud to offer this option to them and help them to learn more about our surgery clerkship and internship offerings.”
Each student had their own suturing kit in front of them, equipped with a human skin model pad and suturing tools. Overall, about 11 students participated in the event and were able to take home their skin model to continue practicing. Students also received an introduction to surgical robotics.
Also supporting student learning was AAES Endocrine Surgery Fellow Andrea Gillis, M.D. and General Surgery Resident Connie Shao, M.D. MS2 participant Jillian Tinglin says the workshop made her feel more prepared.
“The suture workshop was a wonderful opportunity for medical students at all levels to learn an invaluable clinical skill. Personally, as I’m about to enter my third year, having some background in suturing makes me feel more prepared to interact with patients, and stand out skill-wise on my clerkship rotations,” said Tinglin.
In 2021, the department hosted a similar suturing workshop. The UAB Surgery DEI Committee hopes to continue to offer workshops like these one or two times a year for interested medical students.
