Washington Hospital Center

I love Washington Hospital Center. After week 2, I no longer get lost trying to find the cafeteria, I can locate supplies much faster, and I almost have all the perfusionists names down. Everyone is very nice and seems to enjoy teaching, there are a few that don't take students, but they are still friendly and have lots of advice for me on things like sightseeing in DC.

As we were told, everyone has slightly different ways of doing things. So far the phrase I use the most is "Okay. Why do you do like to do it that way?" Half of my cases so far have been with the same perfusionist, and that makes things a little easier. She even let me go on and come off bypass already. It was worth all the running labs, stocking, and general tasking over the last 2 weeks!

As I was told by the class that went before me, if you wind up at WHC, stay out of the politics. Everyone knows everyone in this field....and any information is only a phone call away. The surgeons will test you too, but don't take it personally. The surgeons here are excellent, and FAST. There's 4 cardiac ORs, and some days you are done with your second case by 1300.

Hope everyone else is doing well! And I hope this blog is useful. Some of you know Carla, this was her idea. Apparently students keep saying to her they wish they would have known more about the hospitals. Like how great WHC is and how you aren't even allowed in the perfusion room at Johns Hopkins (you literally have be in the OR or sitting in the OR hallway all day!!)

-Kelly Crews