Kaitlyn Cerne- Blog 2

Today I shadowed Doctor John Ammori at University Hospitals's Seidman Cancer Center. Dr. Ammori and his nursing assistent Katie specialize in surgical oncology. A few of his specialities include  Pancreatic Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver Surgery for Metastatic Colon Cancer, just to name a few of the services he provides to many patients. I was able to accompany the team as they made rounds throughout the day. I was exposed to many petients of Dr. Ammori's who he had recently operated on and were coming back for either a check up or a post operation infection. One patient was diagnosed with pancreatic and colon cancer. It was his first time recieving the news and a very emotional expereince. Dr. Ammori had to then explain to the patient the whipple procedure he would have to under go as well as a treatment plan for chemo after his extensive surgery. On a lighter note, I was able to meet a patient who has just had his pancreas removed due to a cancerous tumor as well as accessive drinking. Dr. Ammori showed me a pictue of his pancreas after they had removed it. While a normal pancreas is a pinkish color, this patient's was completely black and dead. The patient was recovering well, but had a few post op infections as well as other symptoms because of his age. Before meeting with each pateint thoughout the day, Dr. Ammori took the time to explain to me the condition of each pateint as well as show me the surgical procedure he did by using anatomy drawings. It was truely a powerful and hands on learning experience. I gained alot of knowledge today not only on the anatomy of the body, but also on how doctors and nurses combine their professions to provide the best possible care and outcomes for pateints. Katie and Dr. Ammori worked as a team in order to see the maximum amount of patients today.