Note: This is a guest blog by Bowei “Lulu” Song
As a pre-med student majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology at the University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences, it is a dream of mine to become a surgeon. My passion for surgery was truly ignited when my mentor, Dr. Silverman, first brought me into the operating room.
Recently, my psychology research supervisor, Kevin Stanek, shared an interesting video with me that illustrates how language and distance barriers can lead to complications during surgery.
This video emphasizes the importance of communication in teaching surgical techniques worldwide. It explores the possibility of simultaneous translation made possible by technological advances. I have watched Dr. Silverman perform minimally invasive procedures several times, and the idea of teaching something as precise and complex as surgery over computer screen all the way across the world to someone who speaks a completely different language is mind-boggling.
Having moved to another country eight years ago from China, I understand how extremely difficult it is to communicate with others when you can’t even make out the syllables. This would help to spread surgical techniques while reducing cost in training surgeons, and it would make saving lives and improving health care a more reachable goal in third world countries.
Having a real time translator to help train surgeons would reduce the cost of training, the time spent on traveling, and it would greatly benefit regions with limited resources. This new way of communicating would also facilitate the bidirectional exchange of knowledge, which would allow surgeons to achieve better patient outcomes. This would be an efficient way to improve healthcare, but more research is needed.
Mr. Stanek said further research on this project to gather empirical data will allow us “to indicate how effective the new training and communication methods are”. He also believes our goal “should not only be to improve the current standard of training/care in developing and difficult-to-reach regions, but rather to enable them to provide a standard of care that approaches ‘world-class’”.
It would make a world of difference to be able to communicate with surgeons in different parts of the world in their native language. Ideas would be freely exchanged and surgical techniques would be improved. This would vastly change the face of medicine, especially in the field of surgery. It would be exciting to see this technology put into practice during my lifetime, which would help solve a problem that has caused me a great deal of stress, and it would save the lives of millions.
Author Bio:
Bowei “Lulu” Song is a sophomore, majoring in Biochem and Psych at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. She is also a volunteer for aurora, research at Regions and Dr. Ones at the U of MN, and a student adviser for CESP. She speaks Chinese, practices yoga, and likes to salsa dance.
