Category: Personal Experiences

On the Burch study abroad trip we visited many places and talked to people who have had a profound impact on and place within healthcare both globally and within Scotland. I enjoyed all of them aside from one–the Thiel Cadaver Center at the University of Dundee. Why have I decided to write about it you may ask? I think discomfort is not only beneficial for growth in the medical system, it is imperative.

Walking by a crockpot full of processed bones, I felt a wave of nausea, but also a realization. I understood that although many were interested in this work (I was not among this group), it was not because it was enjoyable in the slightest. Instead, the work being done in the Thiel Cadaver Center and others like it is completed due to its necessity. This need is to both understand human anatomy fully and train the next generation of medical professionals in understanding the intricacies of the human body. At this facility specifically, we learned about the roughly 300 bodies stored at a time, how they are processed and studied, and how they ultimately benefit society.

An example of a benefit that we learned about included training for dentists, general surgeons, and undergraduate students in anatomy. The benefits of this training allow future health professionals to gain real-body experiences before operating and examining living patients. Risk is mitigated by this, and doctors become more confident with their technical surgical skills. 

Although this trip was not enjoyable for me, the medical world is often indebted to experiences like the center. Research and training which make health professionals uncomfortable are often the most effective. Real world situations and patients don’t often get second chances, but by training and fine-tuning surgical skills and anatomical understandings, the center provides a service to doctors which allows their work to become more dependable. Ultimately, patients and the general public are indebted to those who devote their experiences, no matter how uncomfortable, to healthcare.

When we traveled to Dundee, we had the opportunity to receive a tour at the Thiel Cadaver Facility located on the campus of the University. Here we learned about the process of embalming which is a way to preserve the body in a way that maintains the fascial layers between the structures and the lifelike color and consistency of the body. Once the bodies are embalmed, it allows you to test medical devices, train medical practitioners, carry out research and learn anatomy through dissection. These bodies are able to even undergo surgical and non-surgical procedures which allows medical practitioners to gain hands-on experience in their field

 Many students get the opportunity to work with these bodies themselves as well. This was very surprising to me as in the United States, at least within your undergraduate degree, there are not many hands-on opportunities that equate to one like this. I think it is really important, especially in the field of healthcare, to have these experiences as they are the way you truly learn best. I think lecture in the classroom is important but it is when you are actually taking what you learn and applying it to real life situations you are able to gain so many skills that you will be able to use in your line of healthcare. I think more hands-on experience like this should be implemented in the United States, especially in the field of healthcare. It is so important for future healthcare professionals to gain this experience to prevent any potential mistakes they could make in the field.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t realize we were taking a second class on this trip until I got to the Edinburgh Airport and heard my non-BME classmates talking about their reasons for coming. I don’t know how, since I saw the title several times. Little did I know that we would be studying the NHS in Scotland, and getting firsthand experience. Or in my case, first-foot.

On June 7th, we hiked up to Law Hill in Dundee. Shockingly enough, it wasn’t the steep, unpaved slope up to the hill that got me, nor was it the very unstable shed roof that we climbed onto for *aesthetic pictures*. No, I just landed wrong trying to get off of a tire swing, heard a cracking sound, and found myself on the ground in pain. I spent a good five minutes trying to convince everyone (myself included) that I was fine and could walk in just a few minutes. Long story short, I was very much incorrect and ended up getting a piggyback ride all the way back to my hotel room, where I thanked and dismissed my faithful steed (shoutout to Michael and Iv), then promptly started crying from the pain.

Skip (or hop on one foot) forward a good 18 hours, to when I finally told Kenny. He had me call NHS24- here begins my actual journey with the NHS. I dialed 111 and sat through about 20 minutes of their hold music and announcements before a strong Scottish accent answered me. I decided only about half of what he said was English, and it boiled down to “continue self-treatment: rest, ice, elevate.” So I hopped around for another day and a half before we decided that this needed an actual doctor’s visit. 

With some help, I made it to Accident and Emergency (A&E). I filled out some basic forms at the counter, then went into the waiting room. It was pretty empty- a mom with her kid, an older gentleman, and another woman walking out. Maybe five minutes later, a nurse called me into a side office to ask me more details about my injury, then put me back out in the waiting room. Frankly, I’m not sure how long we waited. I was a bit distracted by the guy who came in, bandaged fingers dripping blood, hyperventilating, and shouting profanity. From the concrete stains on his pants, my guess is he was a construction worker who had an unfortunate incident with some machinery. The receptionist very calmly asked him some questions, which he not so calmly answered, and then had him wait. I tried to distract myself from his frantic pacing by studying the flowchart infographic on the wall. It was surprisingly comprehensive, including their pathways divided by severity of need and more. Did you know they have color-coded scrubs for different roles? Maybe ten minutes later, a nurse finally took the bleeding construction worker into the back for treatment. Apparently imminent loss of fingers is higher priority than a several day old foot injury.

A while later, a nurse in teal scrubs called me into the back and wheeled me into a treatment bay. Another nurse came in and inspected my foot, told me it was probably just a sprain or a torn ligament, then sent me to some precautionary x-rays. By the time I got back from the x-ray and waited until they returned with my results, probably 30-45 minutes had passed. A doctor (not wearing teal) stopped by, informed me that I had a few minor fractures, then turned me back over to yet another nurse. She gave me a boot, some painkillers, and then sent me on my way. I hobbled out to the lobby and was utterly shocked when the receptionist told me I didn’t need to do anything for payment or checkout info. Thanks, universal healthcare. 

This trip might have started off on the wrong foot, but it worked out for me. I’ve always been a hands-on learner… but I guess breaking my foot in Scotland was close enough.