photo by Michael Tannebaum

Dr. James Martin, obstetrician and gynecologist at Trident Health System, explains the purpose of an instrument before using it for a procedure. A video of the surgery will be broadcast to students Dec. 17.

photo by Michael Tannebaum

Joe Bowie (left) and David Anderson, contractors for the South Carolina Hospital Association, record a hysterectomy performed at Trident Medical Center, which will be aired next month to hundreds of high school students.

Arranging for hundreds of students to observe a surgical procedure in an operating room isn’t feasible, so health and education officials are doing the next best thing: They’re bringing the surgery to the students.

On Dec. 17, about 500 high school students from across the tri-county will spend two or so hours watching a total hysterectomy, which was performed Nov. 17 by Dr. James Martin, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Trident Health System.

The procedure took place at Trident Medical Center and was done while two cameras recorded every move made by Martin and his surgical team.

Students from health science classes at each Dorchester District 2 high school will view the procedure at either Ashley Ridge High School or the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center.

With the cameras rolling Nov. 17, Martin performed the hysterectomy – the removal of a woman’s uterus – while explaining the technology he was using and providing step-by-step narration for each stage of the procedure.

For the surgery, Martin used the revolutionary “da Vinci” Surgical System – a form of robotic surgery in which the surgeon sits at a console near the operating table and manipulates a series of joysticks and foot pedals that control long robotic arms, which execute the surgeon’s every command with precise movements.

Students from as many as 18 high schools across the tri-county will watch the procedure from the comfort of classrooms via an Internet broadcast. Afterwards, Martin will answer the students’ questions via a live Webcast.

This is the seventh surgery broadcast to students through the Virtual Surgery Insider (VSI) Project, which was launched by the South Carolina Hospital Association five years ago thanks to a $170,000 grant from the state Department of Education and the state Department of Tourism. It’s the first VSI Project done in the tri-county, said Rachel Branham, assistant director for the S.C. Hospital Association’s Workforce Education & Recruitment Services. ?“We’re hoping this program will encourage students to choose health care as a career and to help build that pipeline into some of the (areas) in which we have shortages,” said Branham, who cited nursing and physical therapy among the areas in need of a larger workforce.

Martin, who has performed about 40 hysterectomies with the “da Vinci,” is excited to have the opportunity to take part in the VSI Project.

“I thought it would be very fulfilling to take part in this project and help educate some of our high school students,” Martin said. “I think there’s a lot of buzz with the ‘da Vinci’ because it’s relatively new and for the students to be able to see it in action just adds to their knowledge of the advances being made in medicine.”

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3