Article Review

Grey Schuebert               

Mrs. Mellette

HMP

March 29, 2012

Review of Article

                In an article written by Rebecca Cheung for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, she discusses a breakthrough in telemedicine technology involving microchips. MicroCHIPS Inc. conducted a study involving placing a microchip under the skin, then wirelessly injected medicine into the body. The idea for the process was first introduced ten years ago by scientists at MIT, but it ran into some obstacles such as the skin healing around the microchip, thus blocking the flow of the medicine into the bloodstream. The study was conducted on eight women with osteoporosis. They were all injected with the microchip, and over the next two months the chip would pump the women with their medicine precisely on time, everyday. “This opens up profound possibilities for improving the treatment of patients and the potential of telemedicine,” said Robert Farra, president of MicroCHIPS Inc. There are still some kinks that need to be worked out, however. John Watson, a bio-engineering researcher, said that the consistency of the chips needs to be improved. One of the eight chips wouldn’t inject medicine.

Works Cited

Cheung, Rebecca. "Wireless Drug Delivery Achieved." American Association for the Advancement of Science 181.5 (2012). Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

Press Release

Local Student Gets Experience of a Lifetime at Local Outpatient Center

            Grey Schuebert, a seventeen-year-old junior at North Hall High School, has always been interested in life after high school, and what kind of career he would take up. After considering a medical-route, he was given the chance to mentor at the Gainesville Surgery Center (part of Surgical Care Affiliates) with Andy Whitener and some of the local doctors that practice there. This is a fantastic opportunity that has allowed Grey to experience the setting of the operating room and learn about what it takes to become a medical professional.

            Andy Whitener, Grey’s mentor, is the office administrator at GSC. He has a Business Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and works hard to keep everything at the center running smoothly. He also acts as a scrub tech in the O.R. on days when the staff is short. When it comes to helping Grey fulfill his desires in exploring the world of medicine, he has been beyond helpful in getting Grey into the Operating Room. Grey has sat in with over 5 different surgeons, and helped care for patients and sanitation in post-op, all due to Mr. Whitener. Grey has learned a lot about proper O.R. etiquette, as well as the time, energy, and responsibility that goes into being a surgeon, CRNA, RN, or anyone else who tends to people’s health on a daily basis. He has also witnessed things that many people only get from watching the Discovery Channel, and he does not take such an opportunity for granted.

            Over the year, Grey has not only learned from Mr. Whitener and the doctors at the Surgery Center (Dr. Cisco and Dr. Ferran to name a few), but has developed a friendship with Andy and the others who help to operate GSC. He has had a lot of previously unanswered questions about the medical field answered, and he has decided to continue his research into becoming a healthcare professional. As someone who loves to meet and help a variety of people, the path that is currently open for Grey to pursue seems a good choice, and the opportunity is all thanks to Andy Whitener and all those that have helped Grey along the way this year.  

Thoughts on Provocateurs

When I think of Provocateurs, which in my opinion is a glorified term for a strong leader, my mind immediately travels back in time to the men of the 18^th century. Colonial America yielded men with a passion for good change in far greater numbers than can be imagined today. Our Founding Fathers and the men who assisted them didn’t take no for an answer, and literally fought to the death to bring about the change they wanted to see in their country, i.e. the fall of English tyranny in the U.S.

A man a largely admire is the Father of America himself, George Washington. As a child, he had a developed a passion for the unexplored Western part of America, and for military arts. He pursued his dream of a free America with character, integrity, and perseverance unmatched by most men like him in the day. His list of accomplishments is virtually endless, from the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown to all but secure the revolutionary war for the patriots, to manning the helm of the first presidential job in a country just learning how to stand on her own. Washington, at some point in time, displayed every trait that defines a Provocateur. What I can learn from Washington and the men of his time is a lesson that always holds true. It is easier to stand up for something when you are passionate about it. I need to always have something that I can devote attention to and care about, so through uncertain and dangerous times I can have to mental strength to carry on. 

Thoughts on Vulnerability

Sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not good enough. As I’ve discussed before, one of my greatest fears is failure. A lot of times I don’t try things because I prefer the thought of never doing it over the thought of failing at doing it. 

Vulnerability is what I feel when I do something that I don’t think I’m good enough at. Confidence is the opposite of vulnerability. I believe very few people can face most tasks not feeling vulnerable. The key to overcoming these pressing feeling is, as cliché as it seems, practice. Practicing is at the heart of gaining confidence, and at overcoming failure. The most vulnerable I ever feel is when I stand in front of a group of people to say something. I'm naturally pretty shy, and I try to avoid being the center of attention, but public speaking is a very useful skill to possess. Whenever I have to speak, I remind myself constantly that millions of people have done what I'm doing and that it'll be over soon enough. While practicing public speaking definitely won't hurt, the best way to approach a group of people to speak is to be prepared. When I speak at church, I always have note cards of some sort that help guide me through what I'm saying, because my brain is definitely not functioning. Any time I face something where I feel that terrible feeling of vulnerability, I just think to myself that I have nothing to lose, and life's too short to be turned away from something by a feeling. While it's easy to say, it's much harder to do, and it's something I work on everyday.

Three R's and other questions

1.      Which of the three R’s do you feel you need to develop? I would have to say the resilience is what I need to work on most. Resilience would help the other R’s, like the ability to retain relationships through thick and thin. Dr. Siegel said to get rid, or tone down, reading, writing, and ‘rithmatic. I think these things would come much more naturally if I and others developed a higher tolerance of challenges and obstacles, especially at a younger age.

2.      What are three books you’ve read in the past year? I’ve read the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn, the Camel Club series by David Baldacci, and I’m working on the Maze Runner series by James Dashner currently. Much more than three books, but I have a hard time reading books that aren’t in a series.

3.      As a child, what did you do in your free time? My recollection of memories have me spending most of my time either playing computer games, building endless creations with legos, or fighting with lightsabers/GI JOES. I also read a lot as a kid.

4.      What’s a goal that has been on your list for a few years? Most of my goals are year to year so there’s not really a specific one that comes to mind. I have strived to end my high school career top 15 in class since freshmen year. I’m also striving to get 12’ in pole vault in track, a goal I’ve had for a year.

5.      What do you actually do with your free time? My free time now tends to be limited to about an hour on school nights and Sunday afternoons. You can either find me watching sports/music videos on YouTube, playing my guitar, tweeting, or reading. With more time I’m usually hanging with my friends.

6.      What types of activities energize you? I really enjoy (most days) working out at school, and I’ve been lifting in school every year since 6^th grade. I’ve also developed an addiction to the thrill of pole vaulting, and track season is my favorite time of the year. Any sort of ultimate Frisbee or pickup football game really gets my blood flowing.

7.      What famous people intrigue you? It’s sort of a funny pick, but I love Richard Branson, founder of Virgin (mobile, airlines, etc...). He’s 61 years old but lives his life like he’s 20. He has infinitely creative and modern ideas which have helped him create Virgin Groups (consisting of 400+ companies). I like his outlook on life and his persistence, even if he’s the British equivalent of Hugh Hefner.  

Empathy

I have already blogged about traits in humans, and some of the harder emotions we have to grasp to live a better life. As Americans, in a country already blessed way beyond anything we deserve, empathy is a tough emotion/feeling to conquer. I firmly believe that the more you acquire for yourself, the less you care what anyone else gets. I also believe that anyone can be taught to empathize for others, but some grasp the concept with more ease. One of my main influences for how to live a Christ-like life and a great example of someone who “gets it” when it comes to empathy is my pastor Bill Coates. He is constantly giving back to the community, whether local or global, by giving his time and physical ability to those who need help to get by. I have learned a lot by just spectating on his everyday life.         

            The past few years of my own life have involved an implementing of a family budget, and a cutback on things like birthday and Christmas gifts. At first I was bothered by this change in events because it slightly deterred my expected routine. I was later swept aside with a wave of shame, because I realized how silly and selfish I sounded. Kids my age starve everyday, and I’m feeling this way? That’s how I came to value not only my life more, but the lives of others. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have a friend who will talk very badly about some of the less fortunate at our school, and it drives me nuts because of his bigotry and lack of conscience. It’s hard to do as Jesus said and love and serve others when all you care for is your well-being. It’s an everyday battle to get over yourself and see the big picture of humanity, but it’s one of the few battles where everyone wins when all is said and done.    

Preliminary Project Thoughts

Essential Question: How can I realistically predict the use of technology in operation rooms in the future?

What I will need to know: I will need to know, of course, what the status of the most current innovations in surgical technology is. I’m trying to research what a general setup in today’s nicest OR’s is like, and through this research try to narrow down on a certain branch of surgery. For example, the phacoemulsifier machine is the cotton gin of cataract surgery; a huge time-saver and accuracy booster for the operation. I will need to find out more about upcoming projects, and then start making my own predictions and hypotheses afterwards.

How will I use technology to showcase my project: I plan on using a computer and an animoto/squidoo/prezi like program to create an aesthetically appealing presentation. I also plan on doing some sort of handout of brochure, but in a way that it’s not like every other brochure. I hope to also come across another type of technology where I could somehow virtually create a model of my ideas.

What will I do for my real inquiry: I will first and foremost “interview” my mentor for his ideas and thoughts on upcoming technology, as he’s the one who helped prompt me to do this as a final project. I can then ask some of the PA’s, AA’s, or non-busy MD’s around the surgery center for their opinion on the future of technology. I will document all of my findings. From here I can conduct “normal” research and start a pathway to new ideas and answers.