VCOM - Auburn 2018 Yearbook

SOSA Student Osteopathic Surgical Association

Brent Anderson, President; Katie Spain, Vice President; Christopher McNair, Secretary; Todd Ulmer, Treasurer; Danielle Lemes, National Liaison Officer; Samer Hajmurad, Anesthesiology Chair; Julie Sawyer, Orthopedics Chair; Paul Brisson, MD, Faculty Advisor

S OSA is the official student organization of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS). It was established to provide a means for students interested in surgical specialties to participate in the activities and governance of the ACOS. The VCOM-Auburn chapter works hard to provide educational experiences for its members. VCOM’s local chapter serves to represent and educate future osteopathic surgeons. This includes stressing the understanding of osteopathic principles in relationship to disease in the practice of surgery, helping promote education in the field of surgery and providing a forum for discussion among students and surgeons. SOSA aims to expose and foster the interest of its members to the field of surgery. SOSA, at VCOM-Auburn, offers additional surgical education, volunteer opportunities and hands on learning of basic surgical skills through workshops to encourage the pursuit of excellence. The largest event that SOSA organized this year was the SOSA Surgical Conference, which saw more than 160 student attendees. The conference was a two-day, student-led event under the guidance of Paul Brisson, MD. Students spent

the weekend listening to various speakers from a variety of specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, an operating room panel, a residency and third year panel and general surgery. Students were also provided with hands-on training in surgical techniques, laparoscopy techniques, casting, ultrasound, immobilization and traction, intubation and cricoid pressure, hemorrhage control and surgical instrumentation. This was the first event of its kind at VCOM-Auburn, and was an incredibly unique learning opportunity for all who attended. Each of the stations were run by students with a qualifying background in those fields, who worked closely with Brisson to provide the best hands-on experience for the attendees. Brisson demonstrated open thoracotomy techniques to students and briefed the students on the indications and the purpose for an open thoracotomy. During this procedure, students were able to practice needle decompressions and interact with a step-by-step open thoracotomy procedure. VCOM-Auburn students Matt Pickich and Ernest Philon taught hemorrhage control to students and provided them with the hands-on training for proper

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