There’s only so much you can imagine about what your first experience in the O.R. will feel like. You watch shows like Grey’s Anatomy and imagine feeling the thrill of seeing a surgeon take the life of another person into their hands. But nothing compares to that first O.R. experience -- seeing the surgeon make that first cut and open the human body. I was lucky enough to experience this early on in my medical journey. This summer, I had the opportunity to shadow breast surgeon Dr. Amrit Mangat M.D. in both clinic and the O.R. When I stepped into the O.R. for the first time, I was met with a blur of emotions. The surgery itself was fascinating to observe. Dr. Mangat’s calm attitude, precision, and confidence were extremely admirable. Yet, the most important thing I learned from my experience shadowing is that a physician’s relationship with their patients and their coworkers is critical in and out of the O.R. setting.
From reassuring patients and family members, to making sure her coworkers were comfortable and confident, Dr. Mangat treats every single person in her day with compassion. Before the surgery began, Dr. Mangat greeted her patient and the family, answering questions and reassuring them that everything would be okay. The medical world is placing increased emphasis on this positive, empathetic, and compassionate doctor-patient interaction, which Dr. Mangat executes so effortlessly. She would explain the procedures patients were about to undergo in detail yet with such simplicity that her patients felt calm, understanding precisely what was about to occur. Even her nervous patients went into surgeries feeling calm and confident due to her reassurance. This is a skill I will definitely remember and put into practice whenever I am in a healthcare setting, as compassion works to put patients at ease and helps to foster a strong doctor-patient relationship.
In addition to providing endless support and care for her patients, Dr. Mangat facilitates the creation of a positive environment by treating her coworkers with the same sense of compassion that she treats her patients with. I feel that this aspect of healthcare is essential, one that people do not place enough emphasis on. Treating every individual with the utmost compassion creates a warm and welcoming environment where success can occur. This is another quality I will strive to emulate whenever in a healthcare setting, as research shows that positive relationships create an environment where acceptance, teamwork, and collaboration work towards preventing burnout in healthcare workers.
I am immensely appreciative to have had this outstanding opportunity so early in my medical career, observing such a positive environment and compassion in patient care. In using what I saw while shadowing Dr. Mangat as an example, I will work to hold true to the qualities of compassion, determination, and care when working in healthcare settings in the future.