Surgeons push themselves intensely when operating. They undergo extreme pressure and must consistently perform at their best. Such a level of skill and focus is akin to that of a professional athlete.
So, why don’t we measure and take note of surgeons’ health and fitness with similar methods? Well, now we are beginning to do precisely that. With the Surgeon Athlete Project, the LIFT Lab has been helping to develop and study wearable technology that can track a surgeon’s health, fitness and performance during operations in much the same way that athletes can monitor their own stats during training.
The LIFT Lab has partnered with the Human Performance Collaborative to investigate and implement the use of wearable tech, including glucose monitors, heart rate sensors, sweat sensors, and sleep sensors for surgeons – both in the Operating Room and in everyday life. This should help uncover methods to further enhance quality of treatment on the part of surgeons, as well as enhancing the quality of their working conditions and their overall wellbeing and performance.
People working on the Surgeon Athlete Project:
Dr. Quatman, MD, PhD*
Matthew Marquardt
Ellison Kang
Nathaniel Spears
Katherine Allison
Meghana Ravi
Kristy Helscel
Nick Leahy*
Angela Emerson*
Morgan Orr
Dr. Joshua Hagan
*LIFT Lab Personnel