The story follows the path of a senior resident in surgery at Stanford, using her story to illustrate the dramatic changes in recent years in the practice of surgery and in the lives of surgeons. I chose to focus on a resident, as these trainees are on the cusp of a new era in the field and have feet both in the world of big, open-hole procedures done amidst an operating room culture dominated by men and today’s minimalist approach to surgery and its more collaborative and inclusive environment. The story also touches on changes in surgical training that have caused much controversy and how the OR doors have gradually opened to women. Throughout the discussion, the story traces the unusual career path of the surgical resident and takes us into the OR as she does her surgical “dance” with a seasoned trauma surgeon.
