Week 3 - Rick Zirkel

 Research: This week I competed all of my animal trainings, including the basic mouse and rodent surgery trainings. I learned that here at Weill Cornell there are a lot more restrictions on ensuring the use of aseptic technique and performing a sterile surgery. Sterile surgeons gloves are required when performing rodent surgery, so I actually had to scrub in which was a weird concept. I have been planning with the postdoc I am working with as to when I will be able to start my surgeries and learn how to use the necessary imaging equipment. The optical implants I will need are still in transit and will hopefully arrive so that I can start my surgeries next week. Two weeks after the surgeries I will then be able to conduct the optical fiber photometry imaging.

Clinical: I was unable to shadow Dr. Kaplitt this week due to my trainings that I needed to complete, but have been arranging to continue to shadow him for the coming weeks every Monday for his Focused Ultrasound cases, as well as whatever surgical operation he will be performing each Tuesday. I have not been able to shadow him during his clinical rounds as of yet so I am in the process of organizing that. I have also reached out to other students to see about tagging along during their mentors' surgeries.

City life: Lots of rain this week, but I was still able to see a great firework show on Roosevelt Island for the 4th of July, visit the MoMA, and enjoy our now weekly trivia night at a local bar.

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