HOI's first mock surgery event

Hoag Orthopedic Institute Surgery Center – Newport Beach (HOI) recently hosted more than two dozen students from Santa Ana charter school, El Sol Academy, to play real-life “Operation” in a mock surgery where the kids played patient, nurse, anesthesiologist and surgeon.

Students also learned about infection prevention with hands-on science experiments and heard from a variety of medical professionals about the educational paths that could lead them to similar careers.

“This mock surgery, the science experiments and Q&A sessions with our clinical teams gives students a realistic sense of what modern medicine is like outside of the four walls of a traditional hospital,” said Gabrielle White, executive director of ambulatory services and network development at HOI Surgery Center Newport Beach. “Armed with a more intimate understanding of the various roles in an ambulatory surgical setting, we hope these students follow a career path in health care.”

In their various roles, students were able to participate in surgery-related tasks such as placing the patient under anesthesia and wrapping legs in casts. Other activities included observing bacteria under a black light and diagnosing bone-related injuries.

A handful of nurses and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Gerken gave students insight into the workings of a modern day operating room and a hands-on look at various surgical tools and equipment used during surgery.

This was HOI’s first mock surgery event at the surgery center, and more are expected in the future.

Pictured Above: (Clockwise from left) El Sol Academy (El Sol) students Dalilah Chavez, Eduardo Ventura, Citlali Rodriguez Neder Flores, executive director of ambulatory services and network development at Hoag Orthopedic Institute Surgery Center Newport Beach (HOI) Gabrielle White, HOI registered nurse Mikki Waldbaum and El Sol student Leslie Santos.