Callista Walsh ’26: MassGeneral Hospital for Children
- The Rivers School
- Sep 12
- 6 min read
Throughout my life, I have seen how surgery and medicine can greatly improve people’s lives. My sister was diagnosed with compartment syndrome a couple of years ago and had surgery on her calves to relieve her pain. In addition, my mom had a brain lesion and underwent surgery to remove it. Both of these experiences in my family members' lives have shown me the importance of medicine and how it can truly be life-changing. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow Dr. Kelleher, a pediatric surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. My internship at MGH gave me the opportunity to deepen my interest in the human body, along with allowing me to understand what life working in the medical field can be like. Shadowing Dr. Kelleher allowed me to gain an understanding of what truly goes into being a practicing surgeon. I was surprised to find that the life of a surgeon involves so much more than just operating. Along with spending time in the OR, I was able to learn about Dr. Kelleher’s research, administrative, and clinical work. Every part of Dr. Kelleher’s work was very interesting for me to learn about.
On Tuesday mornings, I attended a teaching conference at 6:45 a.m. During these conferences, I heard the residents speak about the current cases on the floor. While I was always a bit tired, I truly loved getting up for these conferences because the cases they discussed were so interesting. As these cases were presented, relevant imaging such as MRIs, Ultrasounds, and CT scans was presented as well. It fascinated me how the residents and attendings were able to read these images so easily; what might look like a simple blur on the screen to me could tell them something extremely important about the case. In addition, while the residents presented, the attending surgeons would ask questions, challenging the residents to use their learning to discuss the cases with greater depth. I always enjoyed hearing each surgeon's opinion, and it was surprising to see how much variation existed within their different treatment plans.
On Tuesdays, I also got a view into the research component of Dr. Kelleher’s work. I observed Dr. Kelleher’s lab meetings on Zoom with senior resident Dr. Stetson and M.P.H./Ph.D Dr. Chang. I learned a little bit about a survey that the team sent out to other surgeons at MGH regarding their experiences in the operating room. It was interesting to see the type of research and ways in which they are able to collect data for each project.
Another part of my Tuesdays was learning how to read medical literature. I read a few articles that Dr. Kelleher picked out for me, including one about the effects of different types of breastmilk on the health of preterm babies and one about mortality prediction in pediatric trauma cases. Here, I focused on identifying the hypothesis, methods, and conclusions of each experiment. It was cool to see the different types of research you can do in the medical field, as it spans so widely across so many different topics. I also learned about the process that goes into these types of research projects and how much time and data are needed for them to come together.
On Wednesdays, I was able to follow Dr. Kelleher around during her clinic visits. I really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with patients and get a feel for the clinical part of being a surgeon. I got to follow cases involving everything from babies with rare gastrointestinal issues to a boy who needed stitches on his shin after an electrical scooter accident. I was impressed with how deeply Dr. Kelleher connected with her patients. After a visit with a longtime patient, Dr. Kelleher told me, “I love all my patients.” She admitted that it was hard for her not to get emotionally involved in many of her cases, as she feels so deeply for each of her patients and how much she cares about her work. Dr. Kelleher would also show me different imaging and notes on patients before meeting with them, so I was able to follow along with what was discussed during the visits. She would take the time to answer any questions I had after each patient visit, which was something I really appreciated, as she was incredibly busy throughout the day, but still made time to help me understand what I was confused about. I had a great experience in the clinic, as I learned a lot about patient care.
I also got the opportunity to shadow Kelley Thornton, MSN, CPNP, as she rounded on patients in the mornings. She took me to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and the main floor for Pediatric Surgical cases to visit patients. I really enjoyed getting to learn a little bit about what being a Nurse Practitioner was like, as it was something I did not really know a lot about before. I observed how she interacted with patients and worked with the residents throughout her day.
In addition, I was also able to follow senior resident Dr. Nam, MD, to the surgical skills lab. Here, Dr. Nam kindly taught me to tie a basic square knot, which is used to secure sutures. While difficult at first, I picked this up pretty quickly. Seeing the skills lab reminded me that even surgeons need to take time to practice. I really enjoyed seeing the space they use to improve their skills.
Lastly, Thursdays were OR days. This was easily my favorite part of the week. Being in the operating room was an incredible experience that I am so grateful for. Each morning, Dr. Kelleher and I would change into our scrubs and head into the OR. She would introduce me to the surgical team she was working with that day. I was fortunate enough to meet a number of amazing scrub nurses, surgical technicians, anesthesiologists, and residents, all of whom were incredibly welcoming towards me. Before the actual surgeries, Dr. Kelleher would tell me a little bit about the cases I would be watching that day. During the operations, I would watch as Dr. Kelleher helped the residents with each procedure. It was amazing the amount of patience, focus, and care she took with each operation. For example, after Dr. Kelleher discussed her procedure with a girl who had an umbilical hernia, the little girl replied with her excitement about “finally having an innie belly button.” And while repairing the hernia in the OR, Dr. Kelleher had the senior resident on the case redo the sutures three times in order to ensure that her patient would be happy with the final result. She cares deeply for all the patients she sees, ensuring every step of each procedure is done with precise purpose. In addition to numerous hernia repairs, I also watched a Nuss procedure, which involves inserting a metal bar into the chest cavity in order to correct a sunken chest; a sleeve gastrectomy, which involves removing part of the stomach to help with weight loss; and a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, where they removed a benign teratoma from a fourteen year old girl. Watching these surgeons work together to perform operations that changed these patients' lives, I was left amazed after each procedure.
After my first time watching an operation, Dr. Kelleher and I had lunch before her next case. She asked me how the experience was, and I expressed to her how amazed I was at the procedure, which was a hernia repair. She laughed a little when I said this, but soon realized that I was completely serious. “Sometimes I forget my job is special,” She told me. She explained that she has done thousands of hernia repairs in her life, and she found it funny that I was so captivated by the surgery. It was amazing to me how casually she talked about each procedure, as they were life-changing to her patients and their families. She told me that she enjoys having students shadow her because it reminds her of how meaningful and unique her job truly is. I truly enjoyed every procedure I saw, and I am so happy to have been able to watch each of them, no matter how small.
Shadowing Dr. Kelleher was an incredible experience. I learned so much about the medical field and the life of a surgeon. I absolutely loved getting to meet everyone within the pediatric surgical team at Mass General. Everyone I met was so kind and welcoming to me. This experience was truly amazing. From lab meetings, clinic visits, and surgical procedures, to getting to know Dr. Kelleher during her lunch breaks, I enjoyed every part of this experience. Dr. Kelleher showed me the extreme dedication, patience, and skill it takes to be a great surgeon. It was amazing to see how passionate she feels about her work and the people she helps. I am so grateful to Dr. Kelleher and the entire pediatric surgery team at MGH, along with Mr. Schlenker, for allowing me to participate in this incredibly meaningful experience.
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