"Scalpel!"

We went to Peru with IdahoCondor, a humanitarian group with all sorts of healthcare providers.  We went with the Oral Surgery Team to Lima (we're hoping to go to Oral Surgery Residency after dental school).  Our team consisted of 3 oral surgeons, 2 residents, 1 speech pathologist, 1 surgical tech., 3 dental students, 4 undergrads, and me.  We only had 5 days-1 day to triage and 4 days of surgery-and there were hundreds of patients.  The team ended up treating about 11 patients-everything from cleft palates to rectifying Crouzon's Syndrome and even brain surgery!

 This is a good picture of the set-up. So, what did future Dr. Bryan and I do? The surgery team gave us the opportunity to 'scrub in' and stand as close to the procedures as we liked.  We snipped sutures, handed over instruments, suctioned blood, and even cut up bone grafted from the hip to replace missing bone in a cleft palate.  Bryan and I were in heaven being surrounded by so much blood :) (Yes, my sister Erika has already asked me the same question you're thinking: "Where do you come from?!?")

p.s. Bryan is the left part of the trio surrounding the head of the operating table.

p.p.s. more to come.