Students Watch Open Heart Surgery at AGH

Seventeen Senior School anatomy and physiology students watched the four hour operation in which they viewed the insertion of the heart's aortic valve and the repair of the tricuspid valve from the observatory at the Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute (CVI). Program Coordinator Patricia Wolf explained each step of the surgery and answered questions from the students. 

 

“Students learn why biology, chemistry, and physics are such important subjects,” Wolf said in a press release. “This experience makes a strong impression on those students who are considering a career in medicine. They also see the consequences of smoking and a diet high in fat. We hope this experience will help them make healthy lifestyle choices.”

 

George Magovern, M.D., Chair, AGH Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and founder of the Open Heart Surgery Observation Program, said in the same press release that this initiative demonstrates CVI’s commitment to community education. “Allegheny General is the only hospital in Western Pennsylvania with a functioning observation room above the operating theater,” said Dr. Magovern. “The observation deck provides students with an opportunity to view real-time surgery and will hopefully solidify many students’ interest in becoming a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, cardiovascular perfusionist, or operating room technician.”