#surgical residency

[popcorn-plots]

Febuwhump day 25: Waterboarding

Title: daydreams and destinies

Words: 1110

Summary: Stephen Strange is part of the .1% of the world's population that can see their soulmate's experiences. Great for Tony Stark, not so great for Stephen when his soulmate gets waterboarded in the middle of Stephen's shift.

~~~

Soulmates had many different ways to show themselves. 40% of the population had a mark on their skin that glows when you meet your soulmate. 10% had marks that burned. 28% shared scars or writing -- if your soulmate cut themselves, you would get your own matching cut. 2% felt their soulmate's pain. 19.9% had the first words their soulmate etched on their skin. Point 1 percent of the population shared experiences.

Stephen Strange just happened to fall into that category. His earliest memory was looking up at a man he didn't know, small, olive-toned hands holding up a toy. There were glimpses of a boy in the mirror, about 5 years old, his dark brown hair tousled, brown doe eyes sad. His second memory was a flash of pain as the man hit him. Stephen wasn't old enough to understand why.

Throughout his childhood, he was constantly bombarded by visions of a different life. When he was 11, he learned about soulmates. He stopped telling people that he was part of the .1 percent that witnessed their soulmate's life firsthand when they would either idolize him for being rare or bully him for being different.

When he was 16, he said goodbye to his soulmate's parents and watched as his soulmate drank himself half to death. Stephen tried to ignore the memories when he could. He figured his soulmate, whoever he was (names, dates, ages, and places were omitted from the visions... somehow) had much more pleasant experiences as Stephen grew up on his family's farm. 

Soon after Donna's death, Stephen pushed away the visions. He taught himself how to meditate, how to focus on getting through high school and eventually college. Before he knew it, the visions were a thing of the past. They popped up occasionally, mostly in dreams or when Stephen let his mind wander. With his rigorous schedule as a med-student, he hardly had time to eat, let alone let his mind drift.

~~~~

Stephen was thirty three, a year from finishing his residency, when his illusion shattered. He was performing surgery with a senior doctor when a picture of a bomb pushed itself into Stephen's mind. He paused, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the image away. There was a sense of an explosion, searing heat in his chest, and the image was gone.

Stephen's heart didn't go cold, so he knew his soulmate was alive. That made it easier to return to his task.

"Doctor, are you okay?" One of Stephen's fellow residents asked, noting the pause.

Stephen let out the breath he'd been holding. "I'm fine. Soulmate's up to stuff."

"Ah." They went back to work. The other resident had words on his wrist, hidden by a glove. They glowed a few weeks ago, when he met a patient's son.

The surgery continued. It wasn't hard, just long. Before he knew it, Stephen was threading the last of the stitches and the surgeon complimented his handiwork. Stephen grinned, and left to wash up. It was over the sink when he saw a flash of light and a searing pain. It almost felt like his sternum was being ripped open. Someone screamed. In between flashes of light, a half dozen men in a dimly lit room, and red-hot pain, Stephen realized it was his voice calling out for relief.

He passed out the same time his soulmate did. Yet the bond remained unbroken.

~

Stephen was told to go home and recover after his incident. Some poor intern had found him on the ground, concussed and bleeding from a deep head wound. Stephen begrudgingly agreed.

He fell asleep that night, hoping his soulmate was alright, and disgusted with the idea that he was concerned for the well-being of some rando he'd likely never meet.

~

The visions stopped altogether after that. Stephen knew that his soulmate wasn't dead, and he knew that extreme stress and fear could cut off a mental link for a few hours. A few hours turned to a few days, then a few weeks.

Stephen hated himself for caring, but a month into the vision-less life was making Stephen wish he could see something. Anything.

He got his wish a few days later. He was in the middle of surgery again, but this time, it wasn't a bomb. It was a bucket of water and the sensation of someone forcing him onto his knees.

Stephen tried to push it away. He tried, but the vision kept coming. The water came closer and closer, he kept struggling. No- Please--

He couldn't breathe. There was water on his face, in his mouth, soaking his hair. He was pulled out, his scalp stinging from the hair pulled.

He sucked in a deep breath, spluttering, and was back in the water.

He couldn't breathe.

At some point, he stumbled backwards, dropping his tool. He couldn't even remember what he was holding -- all he could do was hold his breath and pray he didn't drown.

His soulmate screamed and Stephen was thrown back to his childhood farm, Donna shouting for help as the ice cracked.

A tray clattered behind him and spun off in some direction as Stephen fell to the floor, gasping for air. He knew that he was fine. He knew that this was his soulmate's experience, not his, but the reaction was real. In a moment of clarity, Stephen compared it to PTSD flashbacks. The danger is all in your head, but your body doesn't know that.

Someone was rushing towards him, blue scrubs bloody. There was a hand on his shoulder and the ghost of a hand on his back, grabbing his shirt, pulling him out of the water.

He gasped, eyes wide. A bag was shoved over his head, smelling of sweat and sand and something metallic. The vision faded when the man was forced into another room, large and echoing another's frantic words.

Stephen was left in the dust, panting on the cold, metal floor of the operating room. The patient had been wheeled out --Stephen was almost done, anyways-- and the other men and women in the room stood in a lopsided half-circle. Billy, Stephen's new friend, leaned over him. "You good, doc?" Stephen liked Billy, he was possibly the only other person he had met that lived his soulmate’s experiences.

Stephen swallowed and nodded shakily. Billy tilted his head, obviously wanting to ask more but not knowing how. Stephen let go of the table he was clutching, leaning back until his head hit the floor as he caught his breath. "I think my soulmate just got waterboarded." Was all he said before his world went black.

Ao3

[ymell-medschool]

Beyond the Scalpel: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and Healing

As I recently completed my first year of registrar training in General Surgery, I’ve been reflecting on the journey thus far, with a particular focus on the past year. Despite the tough days, difficult calls, challenging cases, and even experiencing my first mortality, I find myself filled with nothing but gratitude and joy to be in this position. It’s remarkable that, after all this time,…

[leon-on-the-froggy-chair]

"The Scalpel Shines in God's Sunshine"

(click for better quality)

Guess who's still alive, this drawing has been the bane of my existence for the last 2 days after I got the idea back in like August djjjdjsk hope yall like

Lyrics from Scream of The Butterfly by Acid Bath

[prince-liest]

ughhhhhhh, SURGERY

[mariatesstruther]

watching greys anatomy and thinking of a tlou x greys au where surgical intern ellie is trying to work her way up to a cardio residency at jackson memorial hospital—problem is, cardio attending joel miller is a complete and total asshole

[izvmimi]

So sorry about the random question, it's just jarring to me that the person I read fanfic and explicit content from actually has a job and life. I really mean this with genuine awe and amazement. It's just a huge realization if you know what I mean 😭😭😭

I mean, I know people on tumblr can be normal people too... but still... it's surprising to be confronted with the fact.

ok so i can answer this one without feeling like i’m annoying the dash but yes like i think a ton of people who post lead extremely normal and fulfilling lives

you can keep having hobbies even as an adult and tbh it’s way more fun when you also are too busy irl to be tuned into drama and discourse and truly only focus on the fun stuff!!

[scgarhigh]

" i don't get you, " she finally breathes out after a prolonged silence, continues to clean the fresh cut above their brow. " you're mean to me all the time — literally all the time. yet the second someone else is, you start a fight with them. " and she's still trying to figure out why. an annoying task for someone who's so used to being sure of everything. " why ? "

[peonyblossom]

booooooo open heart 3 let me do a study striptease with sienna!!!!

[mymitochondriaforpresident]

lol time to pull up maurice (1987) again

[ymell-medschool]

Taking the Training Wheels Off: Navigating My First Post-Operative Complication

So, I recently experienced my first post-operative complication. I knew this day would inevitably come, but it has been particularly difficult for me and has left me reflecting more than usual on my journey and growth in the operating room. This moment is supposed to feel like a rite of passage, something everyone in my field probably goes through. But it’s hard not to feel like it’s uniquely my…

[drinkupthesunrise]

@ilgaksu: okay but amanda hei xiazi firefighter au WHEN

me, a person who has spent too much time recently watching firefighter procedurals: YES MY TIME HAS COME

[lonelychicago]

does anyone know where i can stream grey's anatomy live???

[senseiwu]

AA I FORGOT DR HAN TRIED TO MOVE SHAUN TO PATHOLOGY......

[magicshopaholic]

Hello I am done with my social quotient of the holiday season and I intend to do nothing but drink warm beverages and cuddle with my dog for the rest of the NYE weekend before I return to my corporate hellhole on Monday 🥲

[conceptualsurgery]

Navigating the Technological Revolution in Surgery: A Guide for the Resident

Surgery residents are at the leading edge of the medical technological revolution as these specialists continue to care for patients within a rapidly changing medical arena. As a general surgery resident, you should be able to keep up with how an increasingly ubiquitous technology is changing the surgical disease management pathway. This guide maps the future, highlighting principal technologies currently reshaping surgical practice and preparing you for the future of surgical care.

Digital Evolution of the Operating Room

Robotic-Assisted Surgery: The Future Standard

Surgical residents arriving in the operating room today will find environments incorporating increasingly ubiquitous robotic technologies. Platforms, such as the da Vinci system, are revolutionizing surgical procedures across various surgical specialties. For residents in general surgery, mastering these systems is no longer an option but a requirement.

Artificial Intelligence: Your New Surgical Assistant

Artificial intelligence is entering into surgery very nicely from preoperative planning to intraoperative guiding. Algorithms of machine learning are now capable of analyzing huge masses of data for predicting a surgical outcome, aiding in decision-making processes, and even guiding the surgical instruments during the performance of any procedure. Getting familiar with the applications of AI in surgery will be crucial for your practice in the future.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): Changing the Paradigm of Surgical Training

AR and VR technologies are transforming the landscape of surgical education. The immersive applications have thus allowed surgical trainees the opportunity of practicing procedures in a risk-free environment. This tends to enhance the skills that he develops and boosts the confidence with which he executes surgical procedures. Platforms like Conceptual Surgery may help you achieve the most modern surgical simulation cutting-edge your learning curve.

Advanced Imaging and Planning Technologies

3D Printing: Tailoring Surgical Approach

The possibility of creating a patient-specific 3D model totally transformed surgical planning. As a resident in general surgery, you would likely encounter many scenarios where such 3D-printed models aid in visualization of complex anatomies, planning of intricate procedures, and even the creation of custom implants.

Intraoperative Imaging: Seeing Beyond the Surface

Advanced imaging technologies, including intraoperative MRI and fluorescence-guided surgery, are providing the surgeon with real-time views that were until recently unimaginable within procedures. The ability to interpret and apply imaging modalities will become a great tool in your surgical technology chest.

The Future of Surgical Innovation

Nanorobotics: The Next Frontier

Though it is still in its early stage, nanorobotics holds great promises for surgery in the near future. It is at the cellular level where these microscopic robots might soon be able to interact with the body by performing pinpoint interventions for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other health disorders.

Bioprinting: Creating Living Tissues

Tissue and organ 3D printing is indeed an exciting frontier that can be able to address organ shortages to replace tissues personalized. As surgical residents, we would be assured of developments because they might impact heavily in the future of the surgical practices.

AI-Powered Autonomous Surgery

AI-Guided Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous Surgery-The vision becomes reality. The reality is a long way from fully autonomous surgery, but understanding of these systems will be crucial for future surgical care.

Adapting to the Technological Shift

Developing Digital Literacy

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into all aspects of surgical practices, it’s essential to have strong digital literacy. That’s educational competency with data analysis, ease with different software platforms, and keeping up with cybersecurity in healthcare.

Achieving a Balance of Tech and Touch

With the embracing of technology, always at hand should be the human touch in improving patient care. The best general surgery programs point to a balance between using technology and basic surgical skills as well as empathetic interactions with patients.

Continuous Learning: The New Normal

This rate of technological advancement mandates that surgical education expand beyond residency. Platforms like Conceptual Surgery, also play an important part of continued education activities with regard to updates on the latest available surgical technology.

Preparing for Your Technological Future

Surgery Residency Program Be an opportunity to train with new technologies.

Attend conferences and workshops on technological advancements in surgery

Join research projects on new surgical technologies.

Network with professionals in both medical and technological fields.

Update self through the online and professional resources and literature as widely available journals on surgical technology.

Conclusion

You are right in the midst of this most exciting and technologically renaissance field of surgery as surgical residents. These changes will require appropriate adaptation by you with a strong background in solid surgical principles. Keep your skills sharp — technology is a tool, not a substitute, for your own skills.

As you navigate your general surgery residency, remain inquisitive, flexible, and learning-minded as much as possible. Surgery has a bright future, and you have the chance to help shape it.

Want to discover the latest innovations in surgical technology? Visit Conceptual Surgery powered by eConceptual today to access our library of free surgical videos, interactive training modules, and the latest information on the new technological breakthroughs in surgery. Become one of the forward-thinking surgical professionals by joining our community, and take that step on your way to becoming the technologically adept surgeon of the future!

[emmroose-draws]

Robot Assited Partial Nephrectomy