Whitney A. Goering, MD

Fellow, Patient Quality and Safety, General Surgery Department, University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco VA Medical Center

Sessions:
SSAT Residents and Fellows Research Conference on Saturday

SSAT Presidential Plenary I on Sunday

Lecture Title:
“Stable Expert Teams in the Operating Room Significantly Improve Performance – Comparison and Multivariate Analysis of General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery Cases”

Hometown:
Jupiter, FL

Current Residence:
San Francisco, CA

What was the impetus for your research?

I was interested in what influences expertise in the operating room, with specific emphasis on nursing expertise as being vitally important for the function and flow of an operation.

What was your first job and what did it teach you?

My first job was a server in a restaurant. I learned efficiency and how to multitask, which has helped me enormously as a resident physician!

What’s the most rewarding part of your career?

My interactions with patients and the privilege to be involved with a good outcome for people when they are often at their most vulnerable.

Who has helped shaped your career the most?

Lygia Stewart, MD, is the chief of surgery at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, the associate program director at the University of California, San Francisco, and has been my mentor this year under my title as the patient quality and safety fellow at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Under Dr. Stewart’s guidance, I have the opportunity to present our research at the SSAT Presidential Plenary I, plus two additional abstract podium presentations this year and hopefully multiple manuscript publications. The guidance and advice she has given me has been instrumental in guiding my future surgical career.

If you could take one part of San Diego home with you, what would it be?

Definitely the warm weather and sunshine — I’m cold if it’s below 70 degrees!

Please refer to the DDW Mobile App or the Program & Exhibits sections in the Saturday and Sunday issues for the times and locations of these and other DDW^® events.