Galveston Day 5

Day 5

Thursday

Breakfast. Today was Biomedical Engineering Research day. We walked over to the biomedical research building on the UTMB campus. Doctor Jack Hart, the assistant dean for the BME department back at UT Austin, came to join us for part of the day.

The first lab we visited had to do with imaging of the eye and seeing what causes degenerative eye loss. Along with that, what sort of measures could be taken to prevent vision loss. Then we went to a lab that did research in imaging layers of tissue. This was somehow used in preventing transmission of STDs.

Next we listened about research in microscopy. Most of what she was saying made sense, but a lot of it was over my head. None of us are track 1, so it didn’t necessarily pertain to us.

Then we learned about cancer irradiation using sonar. And about removal of hair and tattoos using lasers. A lot of what we learned about had to do with lasers.

Then lunch, pizza. During lunch, one of the research professors encouraged us to stick with the path that we are on. The medical field needs more engineers to do research and solve problems. As engineers we have an advantage over just biology majors or liberal arts majors in medical school in that we can provide the problem solving skills interfaced with knowledge of physiology and biological systems. He also encouraged us to do research over medicine. I don’t know if many of us were swayed by him being that all of us were track 2 pre-med. Well, maybe he convinced Travis, he loves research. Anyways the medical field needs more BME-ers.

Ok then more research labs. The next research lab we went to was more down our alley. It had to do with designing a device that would better improve monitoring capability of technology. The main problem with the equipment used by surgeons and anesthesiologists to monitor their patients during surgery is non-portability and fragility. These researchers are working to design a machine that is durable and portable in monitor patients whether in surgery, in an ambulance, or on the battle field. The machine is designed to be more compact and could possibly be taken by medics into the battle fields to treat injured soldiers. The machine not only will have monitoring capabilities, but has the ability to replenish the patient with oxygen if levels are low, and the right amount of drugs needed Very cool. They have also designed other tools used by the army to inject drugs straight into the chest, penetrating deep enough with damaging the lungs or heart.

We had some down time before our next lab so we took a real quick impromptu tour of Old Red. Now for those of you who don’t know, Old Red is the original UTMB medical building in Galveston. Fun facts: UTMB, established in 1891, is the oldest medical school west of the Mississippi River. The campus is 84 acres and growing. UTMB has one of the best burn centers in the nation, and it’s patients receive the very best treatment. It has schools in medicine, nursing, allied health professions, and a graduate school of biomedical sciences, as wells as an institute for medical humanities.
During the Great Storm of 1900, the city of Galveston was ravaged and submerged under water. Nearly 6,000 people died. There is a famous story that goes something like this:

In September 1900, a powerful hurricane struck the upper Texas coast. Known as the
Great Storm, it is still considered the largest natural disaster in U.S. history. It devastated
Galveston Island and the Medical Department campus, but also strengthened the resolve of
UTMB to be here for the health of Texas. In the storm’s aftermath Board of Regents Medical
Committee Chairman Beauregard Bryan decreed via telegram to the Galveston campus that,
“The University of Texas stops for no storm.”

Old Red, also known as the Ashbel Smith building, was one of the only buildings that survived the storm and still stands today. The tour was really cool. We first stopped at the grand lecture hall. It was the room where they used to perform surgery on cadavers or patients. The seating is very stadium like so that everyone can see down into the surgery. They still use the lecture hall today, but no for performing surgeries. We also went and saw the dissecting rooms where many students can perform surgery on cadavers all at once. There are dozens of dissecting tables in one huge room. It smells really funky in there. Chanel

Our last research lab was in orthopedics. I was particularly interested in this research because I see myself doing some sort of sport medicine, perhaps orthopedics.

Then we went back to the hotel.

So before we left, some of the medical students we were shadowing suggested that we hit up a place called Sky Bar during happy hour. Apparently their sushi is really good and cheap during happy hour. So we went. And it was. It was sooo good. I haven’t had sushi in too long. During the process I got too excited and I bit a chunk off of my lip. It hurt so bad, especially with wasabi. But it was worth it. Good food.

But, it still was a bit pricey and I didn’t get full. The night was still young, so we walked to Fuddruckers and Michael and I split ‘the works’ burger. It was good. They had a pool table upstairs, so we played a couple rounds. Fun.

But I was still hungry, so we walked over to the ice cream shop for some dessert. The place is huge. They also sell clothing, decorations, and candy. I had an ice cream cone. The girls split this butterscotch sundae. Kim didn’t want any ice cream. Here’s why: her family owns their own ice cream shop. At first I told her that I thought she was lying and I didn’t believe her. BUT she actually does. It’s in Houston and its called Goodies. Her mom makes all the ice cream from scratch herself. She can make around 150 different flavors. That’s pretty freaking amazing.

Kim this was my plug for your ice cream store. You now owe me free ice cream, thanks.

But I was still hungry. I took comfort in the fact that I had leftover chicken in my fridge at my hotel room that I could still eat. The girls went to Starbucks.

Traditional limboWe went back and chilled. At one point, we started working out with my ab slide and did a small 10 minute workout. Then I ate my chicken and fell asleep. Tomorrow is the last day. Holla.

-James