SPOTLIGHT GALLERY

In the United States, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year. More than 35,000 people died as a result, according to the CDC’s 2019 AR Threats report. Treating infections caused by six common antibiotic-resistant germs in hospitals costs the U.S. over $4.6 billion each year, according to the CDC. It is evident that treating infections has become increasingly difficult, expensive, and risky, especially in surgical settings. Antimicrobial resis

The Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in your body. It is located at the back of your leg, right above your ankle. You have two Achilles tendons, one in each leg. The Achilles has many functions, including helping you walk, run, jump, and climb stairs. Without your achilles tendon, you wouldn’t be able to push off your foot to walk, run, or jump, making it extremely difficult to move normally. When the achilles is overused or used too much or too hard, it c

Dr. Nina starr braunwald was an amazing american cardiac surgeon born on march 2nd, 1928, in brooklyn, new york. Growing up she showed a natural talent for working with her hands: drawing, painting, and building things. These skills would later serve her well in the operating room. She earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from NYU and went on to train under some of the most respected cardigan surgeons of her era. "she became the first female cardiac surgeon and t

Dr. Valentina Greco is a leading stem cell biologist and professor at Yale School of Medicine, where she holds appointments in the departments of genetics, cell biology, and dermatology. Born in palermo italy, she earned her PhD in germany and completed her postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University before joining Yale in 2009. Since then, she has become one of the most recognized scientists in her field, being inducted into the american academy of arts and sciences

Throughout human history, women have always been underrepresented in many professional fields, especially in surgery. However, over the past few decades, women have consistently been able to break barriers and reshape the medical field. As the number of women in the medical field is increasing, it is evident that the medical field will continue to diversify and promote more opportunities for future generations of women. In the United States, the growth of female surgeons is r

Founded in 1981, the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) is one of the largest international organizations dedicated to supporting, enhancing the interaction, and facilitating the exchange of information between women surgeons at various stages in their careers, including students and trainees, with more than 4,000 members in more than 50 countries. Who’s the founder behind it all, you may ask? The answer is the one and only trailblazer in combatting sexism in surgery: Dr. P

Even as a child, Dr. Alexa Irene Canady was a hard worker. Born to dentist Dr. Clinton Canady, Jr., and educator Elizabeth Hortense Canady in Lansing, Michigan in the year 1950, Canady was taught the important principles of dedication and determination at a young age. This assisted her to navigate struggles as the only black student at her local school (besides her brother), defying expectations by achieving the title of National Achievement Scholar in 1967. Though surrounde

Gender bias and discrimination continue to shape the experiences of many women pursuing careers in surgery, despite the field’s emphasis on skill, precision, and evidence-based practice. While the number of women entering medical school has increased significantly over the past few decades, surgery remains one of the most male-dominated specialties. This imbalance is not simply due to personal preference, but is strongly influenced by structural and cultural barriers that aff

Every time a patient undergoes a complex surgical procedure, they depend on a highly trained surgeon with years of education and experience. However, for much of history, women were discouraged or even prevented from entering surgical careers. Surgery was traditionally viewed as a male-dominated profession, and women faced significant barriers in training, hiring, and leadership roles. One of the most influential figures who helped break these barriers was Dr. Olga Jonasson,

Dr Alexa Irene Canady is the first female African American neurosurgeon in the United States. She was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1950 to dentist Dr. Clinton Canady Jr. and educator Elizabeth Hortense Canady. She received her Bachelor’s in Zoology in 1971 from the University of Michigan, and remained there to attain her MD. She found her calling in the field of neurosurgery. Despite lack of advisor encouragement, she refused to give up. In 1976, she became the first female A

Sostek , 2025 Heart surgery is no longer in a man’s world. Women are now revolutionizing the medical field more than ever. From 2004 to 2022, the number of women in the active physician workforce increased 97%, while the number of men increased 13%. While women have faced multiple barriers throughout their careers, including sexism, unequal pay, and a lack of mentorship, they are leading the way for innovations in heart surgery. As stated by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, “We

Muslim women are among the most overlooked category of physicians in history. Be it textbook or technique, they are often left out when they have served as pillars holding up the clinical lifeline. Among these inspirational figures is Rufaydah Al-Aslamia. Born in approximately 620 AD, Rufaydah was among the first people in Medina (Modern-day Saudi Arabia) to accept Islam. She was born into the Bani Aslam tribe of the Khazraj tribal confederation in Medina. Rufaydah was among

Fluorescent dye imaging is an important advancement in safety improvement during gallbladder surgery, especially laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One of the most serious complications of this procedure is bile duct injury, which can cause serious morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and long-term complications like strictures or liver dysfunction. Traditional identification of biliary anatomy relies on visual inspection and the “critical view of safety” technique. However, infl

The use of decellularized scaffolds has emerged as a promising strategy in cardiac tissue repair, particularly following myocardial infarction (MI), where non-reversible cardiomyocyte loss leads to scar formation and heart failure. Due to the limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiac muscle, current treatments aim to manage symptoms rather than fully restore functional heart tissue. Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds are a novel regenerative approach tha

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory skin disease that causes painful nodules, abscesses, and tunneling sinus tracts in areas rich is apocrine glands, such as armpits, groin, buttocks, and inner thighs. It disproportionately affects young adults and is significantly more common in women than men. The disease stems from follicular occlusion followed by rupture and secondary inflammation, though its precise cause is not fully understood. Because

Awake spinal surgery is a growing technique in which patients remain conscious during spine procedures, relying on regional or local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. “Over the past two decades, spinal surgeons have pushed for these techniques because they may provide reduced financial burdens on patients, faster recovery times, and better outcomes” (NIH, no author). Common procedures performed this way include laminectomies, discectomies, anterior cervical discectomy

Surgical resection remains one of the most effective treatments for solid tumors. The central challenge of surgery is achieving maximal tumor removal while preserving healthy tissue and critical structures. Even with advanced imaging and magnification, tumor margins are not always visually distinct. Cancer cells often infiltrate surrounding tissue in subtle ways, making it difficult to determine exactly where to stop resection. Real-time intraoperative metabolomics offers a t

Minimally invasive surgery has transformed modern medicine by reducing incision size, shortening hospital stays, and accelerating recovery. Yet many of these procedures rely on energy-based tools that generate heat, including electrosurgery, laser interstitial thermal therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation. While thermal energy allows surgeons to cut, coagulate, or destroy diseased tissue with precision, excessive or poorly controlled heat can unintentionall

Beginning at around 35–37°C, Normothermic Machine Perfusion keeps kidneys and livers functioning during transplant preparation. Instead of slowing things down with ice, this method uses warm, oxygen-rich fluid - either blood or a substitute - to mimic natural conditions. While stored on the machine, the organ continues working much like it would inside a person. Because cells stay active, damage from lack of oxygen drops sharply. Function can be checked live, just before surg

A cornea is the clear, dome-shaped covering at the front of each of your eyes. The cornea helps keep debris, germs, and other particles out. It also plays a critical role in filtering UV rays. The cornea has 6 layers (Epithelium, Bowman’s layer, Stroma, Pre-Descemet’s layer, Descemet’s layer, and the Endothelium. Each layer has a specific job, but the cornea’s true strength comes from how the layers work together. Damage to the cornea can lead to significant blurred vision, e