URM Away Rotation Grant Report: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Medical student rotates through three hospitals, gaining invaluable experience.
Alessandra Bliss, Medical Student, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
I am grateful to the Academy for the scholarship that supported my away rotation in otolaryngology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. I was eager to do an away rotation to experience a new department and further my exposure in the field. Georgetown University was my top choice as a destination for my away rotation. With family in Washington, DC, I grew up visiting the museums and exploring the many beautiful sights in the city. As a medical student, I wanted to complete my away rotation at Georgetown because of its commitment to educating diverse residents and ability to train at a variety of clinical sites.
I was welcomed at Georgetown with open arms by the residents and faculty. During my monthlong rotation, I was grateful to spend time across all subspecialties within otolaryngology. I also had the ability to rotate through three different hospitals: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Medical Center, and the VA hospital. I appreciated the department’s commitment to education through the weekly didactic sessions. Every Thursday morning was dedicated to resident education featuring lectures from Georgetown faculty and visiting lecturers from the National Institutes of Health, as well as talks led by residents. We also participated in an off-site laryngology course and anatomic dissection.
During surgical cases and clinic, I was frequently engaged and felt encouraged to pose questions, fueling my learning. I gave a final presentation, titled, “Stayin’ Alive: The Utilization of Anticoagulation for Microvascular Free Flaps.” It was exciting to take my research question—Is the type and timing of anticoagulation in microvascular free tissue flap important for viability?—and complete a literature review on the topic. The residents were helpful in providing feedback and support to perfect my presentation, and the faculty were truly engaged when I presented at grand rounds. I am grateful to have expanded my view of otolaryngology through this rotation, and I would not have been able to do this without the support of this grant. I would also like to thank the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgetown University for hosting me.
