Catia Dombaxe / Dr. Schwartz Week 4

 06/26/23 - 06/30/23

This week I spent more time doing my research. I finished my surgical training doing craniotomy in mice and I started implanting windows to aid with our imaging. I also finished writing a protocol for the window implant for the mScope experiments where we will be visualising specific network during epileptic episodes. Additionally, this week, I did a great deal of literature research to supplement our protocols and research scope.

Dr. Schwartz is known for his minimally invasive surgical procedures. He uses advanced methods to remove large brain tumors, such as pituitary tumors, meningiomas and adenomas, endoscopically. Part of my clinical research with him is to understand the effectiveness of his methods and how patients´ symptoms have evolved since the tumor removal. This week, I spoke with some of Dr. Schwartz´s patients to understand their symptoms one year after the tumor removal. During these calls, I learnt compassion, compassion from the patients and compassion from the health care perspectives. It was such a valuable lesson to be able to talk with them and hear about their struggles and their peace from successful surgeries and recovery.

Then, I ended the week shadowing Dr. Schwartz in the OR. This week, I watched an endoscopic resection of skull base tumor, right frontal craniotomy for tumor resection, left supraorbital craniotomy for resection of tumor, and a left frontal removal of skull/dermal tumor.

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