“Yes. Sorry. Traffic.” That’s all I offer as I look for an unoccupied seat.
I smile when I see my friend Elijah Garrett in the last row. What’s he doing here? Last I heard he was home in Mississippi for the summer, doing some summer internship that was so important he couldn’t make it to Angie’s wedding.
Now?
I guess two spots opened up for second-years.
It’s great to see a familiar face. We make eye contact, and he raises his eyebrows at me.
Unfortunately, both seats beside him are occupied. I take the one available seat…right up front.
“Dr. Landers will be here off and on for several lectures,” the instructor says. “Today is pretty much an orientation day. I’ll go through the syllabus and the required reading. You all completed the advanced assignments, I assume?”
Murmurs of yes.
I’m technically a yes, though I honestly can’t recall a thing I read yesterday. I’m not sure I slept last night, though I must have, because I woke up late.
“My name is Blake Jennings,” he says. “I’m the teaching assistant. I took the seminar last summer, and I’ll begin my internship in the fall. Dr. Landers will be teaching advanced surgical techniques, and yes, there will be labs where you can practice.”
A hand shoots up.
“Yes?”
“Will we be practicing on actual patients?” a woman asks.
Blake stifles a laugh. “Uh…no.”
What a moron. Of course we won’t. We’re not physicians. Not yet. We’ll get to practice on actual patients once we’re surgical residents.
“The seminar will begin with simple skin incisions on synthetic practice pads, and then you’ll progress to more complex procedures like suturing and knot tying. The final two weeks will be spent in the cadaver lab, where you’ll get to apply everything you’ve learned.” He pauses and gazes around the room. “Any questions so far?”
Silence.
“Good. I don’t have to remind you that your selection for this seminar was based on your academic performance in your first years of med school along with your interest in surgery. This is an opportunity for you to explore your future potential and to decide if surgery is the path you want to pursue. Dr. Landers is one of the best in the field, and learning from him will be a journey that will not only expand your capability but also your understanding and appreciation of the medical profession. Dr. Landers expects commitment, dedication, and, most importantly, a drive to learn and improve. If you’re not ready to give your all to this seminar, then you’re in the wrong place.”
Silence.
“Any questions?”
More silence.
“Good,” he continues, turning to the whiteboard behind him. “Let’s get started, then.” He begins to outline the structure of the course, the specifics of each module, and the expectations for each one.
My mind, however, is still racing, the adrenaline from my mad dash to class mixing with the lingering unease from last night.
And of course, underneath it all, Henry Simpson.
“Ms. Haynes?”
I jerk at my name from Blake’s lips. “Uh…yes?”
“Can you answer the question?”
Crap. What question? I’m getting off to a great start here.
“Sorry. Could you repeat it, please?”
Blake looks at me, clearly annoyed, but he repeats the question. “What’s the most common suture material used in surgery?”
