Last spring, several HHCA students had the opportunity to participate in an extraordinary on-campus learning experience when Dr. Ramin Eskandari, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), visited HHCA to give students a hands-on neuroscience seminar and have an in-depth conversation with them about careers in medicine.

During his lecture to HHCA's Honors Human Body Systems class, students participated in a unique anatomical lesson and demonstration, where they manipulated 3-D printed skulls to view surgical cuts that gain access to the brain, developmental structures and landmarks, and common markings for surgery preparations. Students were also able to view and orient human brain and spinal cord specimens while discussing common medical ailments. Students were engaged not only by the rare opportunity to physically handle such intricate models but also by Dr. Eskandari’s approachable and passionate teaching style.

Among the students present for Dr. Eskandari's lecture was then-junior Ansley Castro. Inspired by the presentation, Ansley introduced herself to Dr. Eskandari and shared her interests in neuroscience. That connection eventually led to an invitation for Ansley to shadow Dr. Eskandari in the operating room. 

Here is Ansley's story, in her own words:

Dr. Eskandari, a pediatric neurosurgeon, came and spoke at Hilton Head Christian Academy about his experience and schooling at the beginning of the year. As a junior, I was taking AP psychology and was super fascinated about all things pertaining to the mind. So, when I heard that he was coming to speak, it was a no-brainer for me. After listening to his presentation and holding a human brain, I was incredibly inspired by his work and decided to talk with him further. Eventually, I was put in contact with his assistant at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and secured an internship/shadowing experience in the operating room. 

On the first day of this internship, I was up at 4:45 in the morning, getting ready to be in Charleston at 8 AM. I was really nervous because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but nevertheless excited to experience something so new. 

Once I was at the hospital, the wonderful medical assistant brought me to change into scrubs and then head to the operating room. I was given a mask, a hair net, and a brief cautionary speech on what to do if I began to feel faint or queasy. Luckily, I made it through all of the surgeries without passing out, even though my back and feet were hurting from the hours of standing in the operating room.

Some of the surgeries I got to observe were an endoscopic ventriculostomy with tumor fenestration, performed to restore cerebrospinal fluid flow in a pediatric patient with an inoperable benign brain tumor; the insertion/removal of a vagus nerve neurostimulator: a device used to curb seizures in those who have epileptic disorders; and a dermoid cyst removal: the removal of a small cyst that embedded itself into the skull.

What was most shocking about these surgeries, though, besides their incredibly long names, was the age of the children, some of whom were only two to three months old.

While I didn’t know what the surgeons were cutting into, they were super helpful in explaining what each step of the procedure was and how they were doing it. After each surgery, Dr. Eskandari came over to speak with the interns about any questions they had, and the process was overall very informative. 

It was completely different from any classroom environment; it relied entirely on communication between the team and family, and I quickly learned that communication is just as important as precision during surgery. I listened to Dr. Eskandari and his fourth-year resident explain complex and frightening procedures to family members, both honestly - talking about what is at stake - and reassuringly, and that is really something you cannot teach in a classroom.

Before this experience, I knew I was interested in medicine and possibly the brain, but I wasn’t sure how that interest would shape my future. Seeing medicine firsthand in a clinical setting, which I had never experienced before, solidified my passion for neuroscience and medicine. I would strongly encourage any student considering medicine or still exploring potential career paths to pursue an internship like this. It remains one of the most invaluable experiences I have had.