Mr. Rod Menchaca

The Residents’ Challenge: Go Digital or Go Home!

Technology is rapidly advancing the field of surgical training offering a variety of tools to help surgery residents develop and refine their skills. Virtual reality simulators, for example, allow residents to practice complex surgical procedures in a safe and controlled environment, without putting real patients at risk. Advanced imaging technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan, offers detailed visualization of the human body, giving surgeons the ability to accurately plan and execute surgical procedures. Robotics also play an increasingly important role in surgery allowing for more precise minimally invasive procedures. Additionally, telemedicine technology has made it possible for surgeons to receive remote guidance and assistance from experienced colleagues during surgeries. These technologies have the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce surgical complications, and ultimately, enhance the overall quality of surgical care. As a surgery resident, is important to stay up to date with the latest technological advancements in surgical training in order to provide the best care for your patients.

With Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Brain Cells Playing Pong Live! Synthetic Bio Intelligence

Case: Human brain cells connect and transfer information through electrical signals, which then decide the movement of every part of our human body. However, once outside of the complex workings of the human body, could in-vitro brain cells on their own be capable of performing a similar function? Moreover, would they be able to improve their performance when feedback is provided? In the Puzzle X 2022 event, Hon Wang explains with a few slides, how their research firm Cortical Labs has cultivated in vitro human brain cells in a chip and connected them to a multi electronic array. In order to explore their abilities they wanted to see if they could teach them to play Pong (a very simple pac man era video game). This multi-electronic array works as a bridge for the electronic signals between the cells and the computer game simulation. They have performed many tests on in-vitro human cells, but during this public event they attempt the first live connection between the in-vitro cells (in Australia) and the game simulation PC (in Barcelona). It demonstrates how the cells interact with the multi electronic array and give indications of the paddle movement. The cells may not have a 100% rate of winning, but who does? How could this advancement in knowledge of the capabilities of human brain cells help in medicine? What could this wide open field in science mean for humanity? The future is yet uncertain but the speculations are really exciting! 

How to deliver an effective lecture including tips and tricks to talk in public

Yes, it’s showtime with AIS CEO, Mr. Rod Menchaca! In this awesome talk, Mr. Rod Menchaca gives some advice on how to present and how to deliver an effective lecture/ talk in front of a large audience. He provides some key points to remember when facing your audience so you can move beyond stage fright. Being nervous is normal but that should not stand in your way of making sure quality comes first in your presentation. Instead of giving tips and tricks, he prefers to call it ‘the 10 hacks’!  Communication is everything Profile your audience We are limited, humans are limited: 1 topic, 3 concepts Time is not relative, practice before your presentation Avoid visual ties Group the questions and mentally rank them, answer first the questions that are about your topic Redirect questions that are off-topic The science of the security blanket Wrap-up before giving conclusions Fun is not the opposite of seriousness!

IT’S SHOWTIME! Congresses, Posters, Papers and Lectures

Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much” may have worked just fine for John Wayne but it certainly will not do for any surgeon! Starting with presenting cases to colleagues and connecting with patients, to later down the line when many surgeons assume leadership roles in public-facing positions or research, communication skills are key. In that sense, for surgeons, it may feel like it’s always “showtime”. Yet many people are still not comfortable presenting material or don’t have the time to take a long communications course. For this reason we have invited a group of seasoned presenters to share their knowledge with you in this Resilient Resident episode devoted to delivering your ideas.

With Johnson & Johnson MedTech

The Chinese Perspective: VATS Left Upper Lobectomy

In recent years, China's thoracic surgery technology has developed rapidly, entering the era of minimal invasive precision and committed to promoting the standardization and precision of thoracic surgery.

With Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Frontier Materials in Surgery

Rod Menchaca MC, PhD, CEO of Advances in Surgery, talks with Zina Jarrahi Cinker, Phd, leader of AMPT and PUZZLE X about the impact that frontier materials will have on surgery. This interview highlights how advanced in material science can revolutionize the biomedical and surgical field in the very near future. Frontier Material like graphene: one atomic layer of carbon, the thinnest and strongest material in the world – 10,000 times thinner than human hair and 200 times stronger than steel  – can be used as transparent flexible conductors of electricity and heat for the next generation of biosensors, robotics, implants, brain interfaces, organ and regeneration and more. Advances in digitization of surgery are obvious and in some ways understandable. However, these advances in “the digital side" must be accompanied by new materials, technologies and devices that we have not yet imagined.  This conversation is the starting point to learn about frontier materials from a world leader in this subject. Advances in Surgery has embraced this initiative and has become a strategic partner of AMPT and PUZZLE X. Here is the link for free access to PUZZLE X event streaming: https://www.airmeet.com/e/509cba40-26fe-11ec-86b3-59b7749c5aed