Medical students work closely with faculty for unique learning experiences

Tyler Kaelin, left, took first place at the M3

Case Report Symposium. He conducted

research with Linda Ding, M.D., assistant

professor of surgery.

Tyler Kaelin, a fourth-year medical student, won first place for his poster presentation at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine third annual M3 Case Report Symposium for research that examines a case involving small bowel obstruction after gastric bypass surgery. His research was completed with Linda Ding, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine.

The annual symposium provided 40 third-year students an opportunity to present poster presentations of case reports involving a variety of diagnoses from cancer to infectious diseases. First-, second- and third-place awards were given.

“Working directly with faculty gives our students a chance to review cases in detail with immediate feedback and provides additional learning,” Ding said. “Giving M3 students the opportunity to present their research at this forum supports their professional growth and prepares them for future presentations at larger meetings.”

Kaelin’s presentation was titled "Roux-en-Y are you obstructed?" It involved a patient who presented to the hospital with a small bowel obstruction after gastric bypass. This is a common complication in the first year following gastric bypass surgery, but this case was unique because of the patient’s history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 14 years prior.

“This case is important because most cases of small bowel obstruction will spontaneously resolve,” he said. “However, in patients with history of gastric bypass, their redesigned anatomy increases the risk of obstruction requiring intervention. Without a low threshold for surgical intervention in these patients, severe complications may arise.”

To complement his poster presentation, Kaelin created a 3-D model of the anatomy to help show his colleagues the “challenging surgical anatomy.”

“Dr. Ding knows that creativity is a strength of mine and encouraged me to take this extra step because visualizing the patient's complex anatomy was key to understanding this case and the surgical intervention that was performed,” he said. “This experience challenged me to understand complicated post-gastric bypass anatomy in a new way.”

Kaelin is from Milton, Florida, and studied biochemistry and mathematics at Berry College in Georgia before coming to the University of South Alabama for medical school. He plans to apply for general surgery residencies next year.