A weekend of learning

For many people, weekends are a time to rest and be with family.

This past weekend, a group of spine surgeons from different hospitals spent those two days learning together.

The first day focused on lectures and shared experience. On the second day, we practiced spine surgery techniques in the cadaver lab. The course ended on Sunday evening. On Monday, everyone would return to rounds, clinic appointments, and surgery.

Passing a specialty examination does not mark the end of a physician's education.

That is especially true in surgery. Books, research papers, and videos cannot teach every angle, sequence, or decision involved in an operation. Even a small movement can reflect years of experience.

With support from our hospital's leadership, Director Chien-Chou Pan and I organized the course and invited spine surgeons from across Taiwan to teach at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The cadaver workshop gave younger physicians a chance to observe closely, ask questions, and practice the techniques themselves.

I also invited Dr. Wataru Narita from Japan to share his experience in cervical spine surgery.

He demonstrated cervical laminoplasty, completing the cadaver procedure smoothly and precisely in 30 minutes.

Although I was one of the instructors, I learned a great deal from watching him.

A younger physician may be learning a technique for the first time. After years in practice, I may notice a more effective step, a different approach, or a detail I had not considered before. Over those two days, the participants were learning, and so was I.

The course took place on the weekend of August 8, when Father's Day is celebrated in Taiwan.

My son's summer homework included a Father's Day page with a photo of the two of us. But I was not with him that day. I was at the course, teaching and learning. The photo had been taken earlier at home.

Seeing that page made me pause. Physicians are also parents and family members. Time is limited, and we have to make choices among our responsibilities.

That is why it meant so much to see younger physicians devote their weekend to learning. I hope they took home useful skills and the motivation to keep improving.