A Day in the Life of a Surgical Student
A Typical Day in the Life of a Surgical Student at BMC
Below is a sample daily schedule for students doing a rotation in the Surgical Program at BMC. While some of the times are estimated, students are expected to collaborate daily with the residents and scrub in on at least two surgeries per day if there are no conflicting lectures or clinic hours, in order to gain as much surgical/OR experience as possible during their rotation here. Attending clinic hours at least once a week is mandatory and can be worked into this schedule (in lieu of scrubbing into a surgery).
- ~0500 – 0530
- Pre-round on patient(s)
- At least 1 patient during the first week of the rotation for all students
- At least 1 patient thereafter for 3rd year students
- At least 2 – 3 patients thereafter for 4th year students
- 0530 – 0545
- Meet residents in Resource Room
- Receive sign-out from the night team; round on patient
- 0700 – 0800
- Didactics (see schedule, confirm with residents)
- 0800 – ~1200
- Surgery/student lectures – check with the Attendings & Residents prior to scrubbing in
- All of the attendings are aware that 3rd year students are required to attend lectures and will allow you to scrub out
- 4th year students are not required to attend lectures, but are strongly encouraged to do so as well
- 1300 – 1400
- Multidisciplinary Rounds – Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- 1400 – ~1600
- Surgery/student lectures – check with the Attendings & Residents prior to scrubbing in
- ~1600
- Post-op checks – check on the patients who you have operated on
- ~1800
- Congratulations, your day is done, get some rest – you’ve earned it!
