T-MINUS FOUR WEEKS

The week of April 24 to May 1 marked more accomplishments in my Independent Study and Mentorship journey, especially those with my final product, which is now conducting an experiment to test many variables and measure energy loss of various aortic valves. Along with final product, I also got to observe some new surgical procedures.

The biggest achievements this week was effectively researching some of the quantitative measures that I will be experimenting with Dr. Brinkman and Professor Tae-Youl Choi. I have decided to measure the orifice areas of the valves, pressure of blood flow through the valve, simple mechanical energy through the valves and Bernoulli's Equation, which combines the pressure, gravitational, and kinetic energy through the valves. After discussing with Professor Choi, we figured out the layout of the experiment that we will be exactly tested. Also, we both carefully analysed the aortic valves and the parts for the experiment to record the values that will be measured.

Along with success, there have also been some setbacks. Since the experimentation aspect of my final product has been so time consuming, I have decided that for my final product I will write a report on my results and develop that into a publication over the summer. Some of the concerns and questions that I have had this week is that how am I going to write the experiment? What is a good time to experiment? Can all of the variables be tested?

In the future, I would like to effectively write and present my final presentation night speech to my Health Science class to rehearse as well as progress with my final product. Lastly, I would also like to watch some more different unique surgeries to expand my knowledge of cardiothoracic surgery.