Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring, 2007
The Chief Resident's Corner
A note from our Residency Program Director, Dr. Karen Horvath:
Thank you to Hiroo Takayama for launching our new section in Surgery Synopsis: The Chief Resident’s Corner. It’s very “Hiroo” to volunteer to go first – being the amazing leader he is! Dr. Takayama will be continuing his U.S. training for another two years at Columbia University Medical Center in New York for his Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship.
Excellence of UW Program —
Even As a SECOND Surgical Residency!
by Hiroo Takayama, M.D.
General Surgery Chief Resident
I am a current Chief Resident, and in fact, am PGY-10!
I graduated from a medical school in Japan in 1996, and finished my first surgical residency over there. This experience included four years of general surgery with subsequent board certification and three years of cardiothoracic surgery. Having heard of the excellence of surgical education in the U.S., I decided to seek further training in this country. It was in a morning of the summer of 2002, when Dr. Karen Horvath called me in my home (of course in Japan!), that my dream started to become real.
In my second residency at the UW, I have found learning opportunities everywhere. Written exams are required here: the annual ABSITE and biannual Mock-ABSITE. Even before I started the residency, I needed to take two tests: ACLS and ATLS. There are always enthusiastic attendings who are eager to teach at the bedside and in the OR. I found I could not answer all the questions. In addition, didactic sessions, technical skill sessions, and wet labs were mandatory. I tried to hide myself. In contrast, my resident colleagues, who had been selected through the competitive selection process, were showing their excellent capabilities.
During my early days at UW, I was overwhelmed. None of these educational opportunities were provided in Japan. This overwhelming educational environment forced me to work hard and read (at Starbucks!). The knowledge from this reading and the practice-based learning was eventually reflected in my performance. As I grew, I was able to execute my improved skills under organized and gradual increase in responsibility. Now I clearly feel that I have advanced to the next stage as a surgeon.
Transition from Japan to the U.S. was not easy, as you might imagine. There were differences everywhere: in language, food, culture, hospital systems, and so on. However, with help from other residents, attendings, secretaries, and all of the people here, as well as Seattle being such a great city to live in, it did not take a long time for me to be able to enjoy the residency and my life. Reflecting back, I am so fortunate that I decided to come to UW, and that this program decided to take me. Although I do not know the other programs in the U.S., I recently confirmed the national reputation of the UW program as I was interviewing for my Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Fellowship. I am proud of our program and I am proud of myself for being a resident in this excellent program.
I would like to thank all the attendings, alumni, and my colleague residents for this incredible opportunity and superb experience. And again, I would like to emphasize the excellence of our program.