Calgary high school students watch knee surgery in real time

While many students at a Calgary high school are used to learning videos, the live class took it to a new level by covering knee replacement surgery live from start to finish.

Dozens of students in grades 8 and up watched the procedure Tuesday morning in the Telus Spark Auditorium.

Joanne Bruch volunteered to go under the knife, on camera, to educate students.

“I think it would be a great learning experience. I didn't have that experience when I was in high school, so I think it would be a great learning tool,” Bruch, 70, told CTV News. the night before surgery.

Rockyview Hospital's operating room is equipped with cameras to film the procedure from multiple angles for a select, invite-only audience, including a variety of health students.

“It's one thing for students to watch surgery online or on a YouTube video, but it's quite another to interact with the surgical team,” said Dr. Jason Wehrle, chair of the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of Calgary.

During the operation, students asked questions to the surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgical nurse.

“(It's a great opportunity to) introduce students to surgery, biomedical engineering, meet nursing, and also introduce students to health care careers,” Wehrle said.

HEALTHCARE CAREER INSIGHT

Telus Spark has broadcast live high school surgeries several times a year since 2013.

“It's an amazing experience that they can't have otherwise,” said Jen Duffy, manager of youth programs at Telus Spark.

Many students say the experience helped them think about life after high school.

“It was really cool. It was really moving and I loved that we got to ask questions live while they were doing it,” said Hayden Leppert, a 12th grader at St. Francis High School.

“We got first-hand information from them about their jobs and what they had to do to get there,” said Trey Sundarsingh, a Grade 12 student at All Saints High School.

Others say it helped them eliminate potential career paths.

“Now that I've seen it all, I'm thinking maybe it's not for me. It's great to see, it's great to learn, but I don't think I can handle it,” said Leppert's classmate Taran Swinton. .

The operation was completed promptly without complications.