Zachary Dupin - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Many medical students like Zachary Dupin have expressed a significant interest in a burgeoning medical field: orthopedics and sports medicine. In this area of medicine, special focus is given to the musculoskeletal system (bones, tissues, muscle) that are prone to injury and damage. Although often catering to professional and collegiate athletes, this field of study also applies to average individuals who are active, and patients who need physical rehabilitation.

In orthopedics and sports medicine, injuries are the primary focus can range from issues like tendinitis; trauma care; bone, joint, and muscle injuries; recreational injuries; musculoskeletal pain; bursitis; arthritis and osteoarthritis. Specialty areas can include the hands and wrists, legs, spine, arms, knees, and hips. Injuries can be identified and treated after initial testing using comprehensive imaging and diagnostic techniques. The results are used by the physician to determine the best course of treatment to address the patient’s concerns. 

Zachary Dupin and other medical students who are interested in this field of study have received extensive training, both in the classroom and in hospitals and clinics, to best understand the diagnostic procedures used to assess a patient’s results. Some of these methods include: bone scans, x-rays, physical examination, electromyogram (EMG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthrography, and computed tomography. After determining a patient’s condition and course of recovery, doctors may recommend other aspects of medicine in combination with rehabilitation, such as chiropractic care, interventional pain management (steroid injections and nerve blocks), and immobilization. Orthopedic surgery for sports-related injuries is also a viable option depending on the extent of a patient’s condition.

Zachary Dupin - Orthopedic Medicine

Orthopedic studies and surgery deals with various diseases and injuries associated with the body’s musculoskeletal system, which makes it an attractive field for enthusiastic medical students like Zachary Dupin. The musculoskeletal system is comprised of ligaments, joints, bones, muscles, nerves, and tendons. Orthopedic surgeons cater to all patients of every age and type, from children with limb deformities to elderly patients with arthritis.

Orthopedic surgeons have high levels of education to conquer, as well as many years of requirements to fulfill. The education requirements for this position include: four years of study in a university, four years of study in medical school, five years in orthopedic residency at a reputable medical center, and one optional year of specialized education. An orthopedic surgeon’s job covers the categories of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention. The doctor must also own a licensed practice and have passed the written and oral examinations given by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. It is necessary for every orthopedic surgeon to stay current on new advanced in this field of medicine.

Zachary Dupin, like other medical students, has found an interest in orthopedics, in part because of the wide range of material that it covers. There are specializations that a doctor might choose to focus on, like the knees, ankle, foot, and spine. For treatment of orthopedic injuries, rehabilitation is often a path assigned before surgery is considered. A combination of exercise, medication, and alternative therapies may help so effectively that surgery is not necessary at all. 

Zachary Dupin - Clinical Medicine

For medical students like Zachary Dupin, developing clinical skills is a necessity on the road to becoming a physician. The study and perfection of clinical skills and reasoning occurs throughout the four years of study; often students will meet in small groups with clinical faculty to practice and prepare for a major foundation of the medical field.

In the course of developing clinical skills, students will learn how to apply different interview approaches to patient diagnoses and treatment. They will also discuss the personal and professional components of being a doctor; this group work and discussion helps the student become comfortable working with professionals and colleagues in a medical environment.

Clinical reasoning skills are another necessary aspect in the process of becoming a doctor. These abilities provide vital skills and knowledge that students need for future clerkship positions and future practice as a doctor. Interviewing, problem-solving, and physical exam skills are developed in this part of a student’s education. There are a few different phases of the clinical reasoning program that students need to successfully complete, including: an apprenticeship program, integration sessions, interviewing, physical diagnosis, simulated clinical experience, and informatics sessions.

Zachary Dupin and other students dedicated to the study of medicine will benefit significantly from learning the basic fundamentals of clinical skills, which can include personal and technological skills. Future doctors will need to complete procedures on critically ill patients, like IV placement or resuscitation; they must train on simulated models to prepare for reality. Practice in this fashion also helps students to improve their communication skills, administrative skills, and physical exam skills.