I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a 4-week rotation alongside Dr. Usman Khan at Epic Heart and Vascular Center. Dr. Khan stands out as an exceptional interventional cardiologist and serves as an excellent mentor. Dr. Khan actively assists every extern, particularly IMGs, in becoming familiar with patient interactions, the hospital’s operational dynamics, electronic medical records (EMR) system, and enhancing their communication skills.
This rotation was very helpful and I learned a wide range of knowledge. some of the noteworthy experiences of the rotation were:
Comprehensive Learning Through Varied Cases: Participating in rounds at HCA Healthcare alongside Dr. Khan and engaging in discussions about diverse patient cases, one particular notable experience involved the diagnosis of a Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy case. This diagnosis was established through analysis of the patient symptoms and angiography findings.
Gaining Insights into Cardiac Interventions: During this period, I had the privilege to observe a variety of inpatient procedures, ranging from cardiac catheterization to the placement of cardiac stents. I gained insights into the comprehensive evaluation of preoperative patients, along with the crucial process of optimizing cardiac medications in preparation for surgery.
A particularly remarkable encounter was knowing about the Impella heart pumps, their applications and indications, augmenting my understanding of advanced cardiac support technologies.
Understanding of Medical Diagnostics: I had the opportunity of spending time at the Ultrasound office and observe doppler and duplex ultrasounds for the lower extremities and carotid arteries. A significant encounter includes knowledge about vertebral artery stenosis through a carotid ultrasound procedure on a patient who had presented with dizziness. Under Dr. Khan’s guidance, I also received comprehensive instruction on interpreting ECGs and participated in a brief quiz, focusing on the interpretation of high-yield ECGs and cardiac stress testing.
Academic Learning: During this period, I had the privilege of closely observing a range of outpatient clinical procedures including Varithena, VenaSeal, and Radiofrequency ablation. Dr. Khan assigned me a homework task to study the indications, contraindications, and potential adverse effects associated with various venous procedures, which I subsequently presented to my fellow observers. Furthermore, I also present a study titled “Comparison of Venaseal with Other Superficial Venous Therapies for Chronic Venous Insufficiency.”
Patient Communication: The most significant achievement of this rotation was learning the art of patient interaction and communication. Through shadowing Dr. Khan, I gained invaluable insights into patient interactions across both inpatient and clinic settings. This experience equipped me with the ability to effectively communicate in diverse scenarios and navigate challenging patient situations with skill and sensitivity.
Throughout this four-week rotation, I was exposed to a wide range of experiences across all aspects of patient care. I am truly grateful to Dr. Khan for his dedicated efforts and the significant impact he has made on me within this brief time frame.