My name is Mandy Galambos and I am a second-year student and AAAA representative from Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Anesthesia Program in Cleveland. I am currently completing a trauma rotation at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, which is located on CWRU main campus.
This trauma rotation has taught me to be prepared for anything, and I've learned how to stay calm in stressful situations. UH sees a huge volume of trauma cases on a daily basis, so I have been exposed to a lot of emergency situations and feel like I know how to handle these cases more effectively through this rotation. The main role for anesthesia providers in the trauma bay is to manage the airway, so knowing how to manage an airway in a stressful situation is an invaluable skill to have as a practicing certified anesthesiologist assistant.
My favorite thing about the MSA Program at CWRU is how clinically focused it is. I am a very hands-on learner, and I love that I am able to learn something in the classroom or in a book and then apply it right away in a clinical setting.
Some of my favorite things to do in Cleveland are going to Indians' games and trying out new restaurants or local breweries, which are always popping up across the city. My advice to any incoming students would be to work and learn as much as you can within the two years you are in the program, but to also make sure you are taking care of yourself. Find some sort of outlet to manage the stresses you encounter in the program. It's a short period of time in the long run, and you will thank yourself for it in the future!
About this post: The Student Spotlight series highlights MSA students in their second year of coursework in Cleveland, Houston, and Washington. The series is a student-led initiative, and is designed to share current student experiences with prospective students.