What is one of the most energy-intensive and waste-generating areas of the hospital? The operating room! In the new BTK/Annals of Surgery Journal Club, we talk to Dr. Elizabeth Yates and Dr. Louis Nguyen about their new article – “Empowering Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Obstetricians to Incorporate Environmental Sustainability in the Operating Room.” They review the impact ORs have on the environment, the consequences this has for patients, and ways surgeons lead efforts to “green” the operating room. As the topic of environmental sustainability becomes a growing concern with each passing year, the surgical workplace is going to play a big role in moving in the right direction. Join us for a great discussion!  

Dr. Yates earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She is currently a General Surgery resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she is now completing two years of protected research time at the Center for Surgery and Public Health while also pursuing a Masters in Public Health focused on Occupational and Environmental Health. She conducts interdisciplinary research examining the interface between surgery, sustainability, and climate change.

Dr. Nguyen is a vascular surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical and business degrees from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, completed his General Surgery residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and completed a vascular surgery fellowship at the Brigham as well. He also currently serves as Vice Chair of Digital Health Systems in the Department of surgery. He is a recognized leader in health services research and outcomes implementation, where he utilizes econometric analyses to better understand clinical outcomes.

Link to article: https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2021/06000/Empowering_Surgeons,_Anesthesiologists,_and.15.aspx

Climate change and equity issues permeate all aspects of our life and work.  If you are (or know) a current general surgery resident, help us understand the equity and environmental impacts of residency interviews!
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