Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Carolyn Chang, Tessa M. F. Watt, Amy G. Fiedler, Stephanie G. Worrell
Summary: The year 2017 marked a significant milestone for women in medicine, with more than 50% of medical school matriculates and 41% of general surgery residents being women. However, the field of cardiothoracic surgery remains predominantly male, with only 20% of residents and 5% of certified surgeons being female.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Shruthi Deivasigamani, Diana Jimenez, Tyler Grenda, Renee M. Tholey
Summary: This study investigates the role of mentorship in matching general surgery applicants to residency programs. By implementing a structured mentorship program, all participating students were successfully matched into categorical programs. The students expressed satisfaction with the mentorship program's activities and meetings, and perceived them to be helpful for their applications.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Elizabeth H. Stephens, Joseph A. Dearani
Summary: Cardiothoracic surgery is a high-risk, high reward specialty that requires exceptional performance for desired outcomes. This article discusses strategies such as career development relationships, continuing medical education, and professional societal involvement, which are crucial for improving one's craft, especially at specific career phases.
ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Shehnaz Alidina, Meaghan M. Sydlowski, Olivia Ahearn, Bizuayehu G. Andualem, David Barash, Sehrish Bari, Erin Barringer, Abebe Bekele, Andualem D. Beyene, Daniel G. Burssa, Miliard Derbew, Laura Drown, Dereje Gulilat, Teruwork K. Gultie, Tuna C. Hayirli, John G. Meara, Steven J. Staffa, Samson E. Workineh, Noor Zanial, Zebenay B. Zeleke, Abraham E. Mengistu, Tigistu A. Ashengo
Summary: This study examines the implementation of surgical mentorship intervention in resource-constrained settings through exploring the experiences of mentees, mentors, hospital leaders, and external stakeholders. The findings indicate that the mentorship intervention has a positive impact on building collegial bonds, empowering mentees, and creating a culture of continuous learning. Supporting intervention characteristics, such as a systems focus and psychologically safe relationships, as well as mentor characteristics like generosity and understanding of the local context, contribute to the success of implementation. However, challenges including insufficient clinical training, inadequate mentor support, and resource constraints need to be addressed.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Bita R. Naimi, Varnica Bajaj, Judy Wang, Virginia R. Litle, Andrea L. Merrill
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of a 6-month structured mentorship program on women premedical students' interests and perceptions of surgical careers. The program paired mentees with women medical students and surgical residents as mentors and showed significant increases in exposure to positive role models, access to dedicated mentors, and interest in pursuing a surgical career. The findings emphasize the importance of early structured gender-concordant mentorship programs to encourage women to pursue surgical careers in a male-dominated field.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Meera Reghunathan, Jiwon S. Crowley, Rachel Segal, Marco Alejandro Aguilar Diaz, Amanda A. Gosman
Summary: To address underrepresentation in plastic surgery among certain minority groups and students without home plastic surgery programs, a Plastic Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship Program and Workshop was created. Students meeting specific eligibility criteria were invited to participate and attend quarterly meetings with a resident mentor. The workshop included lectures, a suture laboratory, a resident panel, and cadaver dissections, among other activities. Students rated the course highly and reported increased confidence in plastic surgery knowledge and technical skills. The program demonstrates success in supporting underrepresented students in medicine and those without home programs.
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye, Soham Bandyopadhyay, Alejandro Munoz-Valencia, Halimah Khalil, Hamaiyal Sana, Nermin Badwi, Xiya Ma, Mamta Swaroop, Katayoun Madani
Summary: The International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN) implemented a peer mentorship model to enhance research skills and confidence among participants. The program showed significant improvements in participants' understanding of research methodology and resulted in the successful completion of an international cross-sectional study. This model offers a valuable approach for organizations with academic research goals.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Tyler McKechnie, Jeremy E. Springer, Aristithes G. Doumouras, Travis Schroeder, Cagla Eskicioglu, Susan Reid
Summary: The study found that factors such as core rotations and mentorship had a greater influence on the selection of a surgical specialty among Canadian surgical residents compared to anatomy training; General surgery residents were more likely to be influenced by UGME anatomy training in their CaRMS applications; The impact of UGME anatomy training did not vary significantly among different postgraduate years or between male and female residents.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Carly N. Bisset, Susan J. Moug
Summary: Social media has transformed surgical research by facilitating collaborative research groups and increasing participation from various stakeholders. This has resulted in more impactful and applicable research, as well as a paradigm shift in the way research is conducted.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Sarah E. Adkins, Katelyn Sanner Dixon, Heather M. Minchew, Dylan Vance, Jalee Birney, German Berbel, Lyndsey J. Kilgore
Summary: This article introduces a program called BASE, which aims to showcase healthcare careers, particularly surgical specialties, to historically underserved high school students. The program provides opportunities for early exposure to surgical and medical specialties, as well as mentorship from medical students, surgical residents, and faculty. Based on qualitative feedback, the pilot program succeeded in providing a window into healthcare and establishing mentorship relationships with students.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Rawan Abdulrahman T. Harun, Reem Almustafa, Zainab AlKhalifah, Abdullah Nammazi, Abdalmohsen AlBaqami, Nourah Mohammed ALSaleh, Mai Kadi, Ali Farsi, Nadim Malibary
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate whether having a female surgical role model influences women in Saudi Arabia to pursue a surgical career. The findings showed that female respondents who had a role model perceived a positive influence on their career choice. Clinical and operation skills were considered the most remarkable factors in a role model. Working directly with a male surgical consultant and female surgical residents had a positive influence on career choice, although it was not statistically significant.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Conall W. Fitzgerald, Mohammad Hararah, Tim Mclean, Robbie Woods, Snjezana Dogan, Viviane Tabar, Ian Ganly, Evan Matros, Marc A. Cohen
Summary: This article explores the applications of virtual surgical planning in sinonasal and skull base surgery, highlighting its importance in surgical planning, tumor resection and reconstruction, patient communication, medical education, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Binwu Hu, Qiang Zheng, Jie Wu, Zhibin Tang, Jianchun Zhu, Simin Wu, Ying Ling
Summary: This study investigated the antecedents of entrepreneurial behaviors of farmers, finding that education, training, and intrinsic motivation play a vital role in farmers' entrepreneurial self-efficacy, affecting their entrepreneurial behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fernanda Romero-Hernandez, Phoebe Miller, Rosa Mora, Dorothy Hughes, Susanne Warner, Adnan Alseidi, Brendan Visser, Michele Babicky
Summary: This study examined a survey of recent fellowship graduates in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgery programs in North America. The study identified concerns about the lack of standardization between HPB fellowship curricula, job market oversaturation, the need to emphasize the value of HPB fellowship training, and the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equity in HPB training. The strengths of AHPBA-certified HPB programs include superior case volume and technical training. Further improvements can be made in standardizing training experiences and providing strong job placement sponsorship and investments in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Review
Surgery
J. F. Thompson
Summary: Harold Gillies and Donald Morton, as pioneers in their respective fields, made remarkable contributions to the welfare of patients and the body of knowledge by identifying practical problems and finding innovative solutions. As surgeons, we should consider them as role models for our own problem-solving activities.
JOURNAL OF PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Brian M. Moloney, Peter F. McAnena, Sami M. Abd Elwahab, Angie Fasoula, Luc Duchesne, Julio D. Gil Cano, Catherine Glynn, AnnaMarie O'Connell, Rachel Ennis, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical application of a low-power electromagnetic wave microwave breast imaging (MBI) system. The results showed that the MBI system was able to detect and localize the majority of breast lesions, including benign lesions and breast cancer. Patients reported a positive experience with the system, and no device-related adverse events were recorded. This study suggests that the MBI system has the potential to serve as a noninvasive, non-ionizing, and painless adjunct to breast cancer diagnosis.
ACADEMIC RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Matthew G. Davey, Vinitha Richard, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: This study compared the OncotypeDX (c) Recurrence Score (RS) between BRCA mutation carriers and patients with sporadic breast cancer, revealing that BRCA carriers were more likely to have a high-risk RS.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew G. Davey, Molly Davies, Aoife J. Lowery, Nicola Miller, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with improved survival outcomes due to enhanced understanding of molecular processes. Studies on miRNA expression profiles have shown potential in informing breast cancer prognosis and predicting treatment outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Evan J. Fahy, Conor M. Sugrue, Deirdre Jones, Padraic Regan, Alan Hussey, Shirley Potter, Michael Kerin, Niall M. McInerney, Jack Kelly
Summary: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the scalp is a potentially fatal disease that is more common in elderly males from rural communities. Patients living further from care tend to present with larger tumors.
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Surgery
R. J. O'Neill, S. Abd Elwahab, M. J. Kerin, A. J. Lowery
Summary: The study found that obesity is significantly associated with several adverse features of PTC, such as larger tumor size, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, and nodal spread. However, there was no association between obesity and bilaterality, vascular invasion, or metastatic spread. Further evaluation on the long-term oncological outcomes is needed.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Domhnall J. O'Connor, Matthew G. Davey, Laura R. Barkley, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: Patients with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast are less likely to achieve complete pathological response, receive breast-conserving surgery, and have negative margin status compared to patients with invasive ductal carcinoma.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sean Curran, David O'Brien, Michael Kerin
Summary: This study examined the exposure of undergraduate medical students in Irish medical schools to neurosurgery and their desire for greater emphasis on this specialty. The findings suggest that organizing neurosurgical lecture days increased students' interest in further learning and clinical exposure to neurosurgery.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matthew G. Davey, John P. M. O'Donnell, Elizabeth Maher, Cliona McMenamin, Peter F. McAnena, Michael J. Kerin, Nicola Miller, Aoife J. Lowery
Summary: The study identified significant differences in the perception of GDPR and willingness to consent to data being used in clinical research between doctors and patients. Doctors are more willing to allow their personal data to be processed anonymously and require less explicit consent compared to patients. Patient's level of education has a significant impact on GDPR awareness.
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Surgery
Matthew G. Davey, Ferdia Browne, Nicola Miller, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: This study confirms that achieving a pathological complete response (pCR) is associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with HER2(+) breast cancer. Patients who achieved pCR had significantly better event-free survival, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival compared to those with residual disease. These findings support the use of pCR as a biomarker for survival and as an appropriate endpoint for clinical research.
Review
Surgery
Matthew G. Davey, Colm O'Flaherty, Eoin F. Cleere, Aoife Nohilly, James Phelan, Evan Ronane, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: Axillary lymph node status is a strong prognostic indicator in invasive breast cancer, but the necessity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is unclear. This study aimed to determine the likelihood of SLNB positivity in DCIS patients and identify predictive parameters.
Article
Oncology
Leonor Rodriguez, Pat Dolan, Michael Kerin, AnnMarie Groarke
Summary: This study explores the unmet needs of mothers and their adolescent children facing cancer. The research finds that cancer presents an emotional burden for both mothers and children, with difficulties in dealing with emotions related to cancer recurrence. Mothers struggle to identify their children's unmet needs and lack the skills to approach them, adding to their illness burden and feelings of guilt.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING
(2023)
Review
Surgery
Matthew G. Davey, Ferdia Browne, Martin S. Davey, Stewart R. Walsh, Michael J. Kerin, Aoife J. Lowery
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the optimal neck closure method after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. The results showed that subcuticular sutures provide better patient-reported outcomes and cosmesis compared to other closure methods, without compromising the safety of the procedure.
Review
Surgery
Eoin F. Cleere, Matthew G. Davey, Thomas J. Crotty, Orla Young, Aoife J. Lowery, Michael J. Kerin
Summary: Patients with a history of bariatric surgery have a significantly increased risk of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy, and the management of hypocalcaemia in these patients is challenging.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2022)
Review
Surgery
M. G. Davey, E. J. Ryan, M. S. Davey, A. J. Lowery, N. Miller, M. J. Kerin
Summary: Studies have found that high PD-L1 expression in breast cancer is associated with aggressive clinical and pathological characteristics, and is more likely to achieve pathological complete response following treatment, but is also associated with lower overall survival rates.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Matthew G. Davey, Eanna J. Ryan, Daniel Burke, Kevin McKevitt, Peter F. McAnena, Michael J. Kerin, Aoife J. Lowery
Summary: Routine SLNB may not be necessary in elderly patients diagnosed with ER+, cLN- EBC, and genomic testing may guide ACTX prescription in this group.
BREAST CANCER-BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
