Scalpel, Please — This Might Hurt a Little
001: A quick introduction, what to expect and some brief content to get us started
“Every intern makes mistakes. The important thing is neither to make the same mistakes twice nor to make a whole bunch of mistakes all at once.”
― Samuel Shem, The House of God
Welcome
I’m a Surgical Tech student currently finishing the didactic portion of my program and beginning my clinical residency. I love surgery and medicine, and I’ve chosen Substack as a platform to share what inspires me, highlight relevant news and stories, and create a consolidated space to provide resources for fellow Surgical Tech students.
While this newsletter is especially helpful for those on the surgical tech path, it’s designed to cast a wide net—offering value to everyone in healthcare, from patient care techs and first responders to nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians.
What to Expect
Scalpel, Please is a twice-weekly dispatch from the world of surgery and medicine — equal parts educational, observational, and occasionally irreverent. It’s written for those who live in the operating theatre, those training to get there, and those simply fascinated by what happens beyond the scrub sink.
Here’s what you’ll find in your inbox:
Surgical spotlights — recent published articles, surgical innovations, and evolving technology, broken down without the jargon overload
Curated current events in medicine, health policy, and hospital culture — filtered through a surgical lens and a healthy dose of skepticism
Features on the strange, specific, and unseen — the tools, habits, and historical tidbits that shape the OR
Scut work & side notes — memes, links, things overheard, and whatever’s floating around the locker room this week
And much more!
This newsletter will evolve. As it grows, so will the content, so I ask that you please bear with me as I enter uncharted territory and my first leap into content creation. You might come for the clinical pearls, but stay for the oddly satisfying moments where medicine, policy, and human behavior intersect.
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you decide to come back.
Case to Follow
The official start of Scalpel, Please will commence on Tuesday morning. See you there!
On Tuesday: exploring AI in the operating room — what it's actually doing, what it thinks it's doing, and where the scalpel still beats the algorithm, plus much more.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is not a substitute for professional medical judgment. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making medical decisions or taking action based on any information provided here.
I have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. I do not receive compensation, honoraria, consulting fees, or any form of industry support related to the content shared. All opinions expressed are my own and do not represent any employer, institution, or affiliated organization. If for whatever reason that were to change, they will be disclosed at the end of each publication. Thank you.