| The second phase
of the SFA Online Program is the Applied Science Lab, which is 60 hours in length
consisting of six 10-hour days. All labs take place in our state-of-the-art animal
laboratory facility at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Labs run from Monday through Saturday, and are scheduled many times throughout the year. This lab is a very intense but extremely rewarding
week. It is during this week that the student will take all of his/her academic
preparation and put it to use in a practical setting. All procedures are done on
anesthetized pigs, affording the benefit of understanding how to handle real tissue, and
deal with real bleeding and actual surgical emergencies.
There was a time when this type of training
was reserved only for physicians. Meridian has brought top-level physician training to the
surgical first assistant. We are the only distance education program in the country to
offer this top-quality and highly effective training.
In keeping with Meridian's philosophy, we
believe that the only real way to become a quality assistant is to take part in real
training. It is very difficult to train on rubberized pieces and parts, and then move
forward to perform those same skills on surgical patients. We feel that Meridian's prime
responsibility to the students (and, ultimately, to the patients) is to be certain that
our students graduate with proper experience in dealing with real and living tissue.
As you read the following, you will see
that this is the GOLD STANDARD for surgical training, and that we prepare
all of our students to face a multitude of surgical situations presented to them during
their clinicals and the remainder of their careers.
Monday:
Module IX in Phase I of the course dealt with suturing and tying. The morning
session of day one will be a review and demonstration of Module IX. All students should
utilize the suture and tying materials sent to them at the beginning of the course, and
practice these skills at home so when you arrive at the applied science lab we will be
able to do a review and fine tuning of suturing and tying skills. The second half of day
one will be spent learning how to correctly sew an anastomosis. We will utilize Gortex
grafts and real pig intestine for this portion.
Monday Agenda:
08:00 - 09:00 Wound Healing Lecture
09:00 - 12:00 Basic Knot Tying and Suturing Practicum
12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 15:00 Arterial and Bowel Anastomosis Lecture and Practicum
15:00 - 17:00 Advanced Anatomy Lecture
Tuesday:
This day will start off with a lecture covering general surgery.
The remainder of the day will be spent learning and performing various general surgeries and techniques in the animal lab. We will end the day with a group
discussion that will cover the day's events.
Tuesday Agenda:
07:00 - 08:00 General Surgery Lecture
08:00 - 12:00 General Surgery Animal Practicum
12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 16:00 General Surgery Animal Practicum
16:00 - 17:00 Group Discussion, Case Review
Wednesday:
This day will start off with a lecture covering vascular surgery.
The remainder of the day will be spent learning and performing
various
vascular surgeries and techniques in the animal lab. We will end the day with a group
discussion that will cover the day's events.
Wednesday Agenda:
07:00 - 08:00 Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Lecture
08:00 - 12:00 Vascular Animal Practicum
12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 16:00 Thoracic Animal Practicum
16:00 - 17:00 Group Discussion, Case Review
Thursday:
The morning will start with a lecture covering laparoscopic surgery. We will then
move into the lab and spend the rest of the morning session learning and practicing
various laparoscopic techniques utilizing laparoscopic simulators, and demonstrating
them on a pig. The second half of this day will be
spent in the animal lab performing Gyn and Miscellaneous procedures. The day will end with
a group discussion.
Thursday Agenda:
07:00 - 08:00 Laparoscopic Surgery Lecture
08:00 - 12:00 Laparoscopic Animal Practicum
12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 16:00 Gyn/Misc Procedures Animal Practicum
16:00 - 17:00 Group Discussion, Case Review
Friday:
This day will start with an orthopedic lecture. You will then go through the
casting and splinting practice. The second half of the day will be
spent in the business and legal workshop, where we will actually set
up a mock assisting business. The last hour of the afternoon will be
a review for the final exam
Friday Agenda:
07:00 - 08:00 Orthopedic, Neurosurgery Lecture
08:00 - 12:00 Splinting and Casting Practicum
12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 16:00 Legal, Ethical and Business Issues
16:00 - 17:00 Exam Review
Saturday:
Saturday morning is reserved for the
proctored final exam. Please
note that the final exam will cover Phase I and Phase II of the course.
Saturday Agenda:
08:00 - 12:00 Final Written and Practical Exam
Go To Phase III
Details  |
