Only on ABC-7: Soldiers get battle-ready in El Paso ORs

to repair broken bones. dozens of army surgeons are brought to the sun city for training in orthopedics — that they will take with them to help wounded soldiers overseas. i had a chance to talk with orthopedic surgery residents – and watch them operate. some of you may find this video hard to watch. it’s a story you’ll see only on abc- seven: nats: the operating room at u-m-c is coming alive — as nurses and doctors prepare for surgery. nats: the surgeons remain calm. some of them have seen much worse. not just here at u-m-c — but while serving overseas. nats: the resident assisting the attending surgeon — and the anesthesiologist — are both students, and soldiers. they make up a group of nearly two dozen military members who get hands-on, trauma surgery training here at u- m-c. this is the largest army residency program in the nation. and the only one to mix military and civilian surgeons in the o-r. mccriskin 6.48 it’s a huge advantage and it prepares us better than any other training situation i can imagine. 6.54 orthopedic resident and army major brendan mccrisken is stationed at beaumont army medical center. but he spends about half his time scrubbing in on trauma surgeries at u-m-c. mccriskin 2.33 “a lot of th polytrauma patients that have been involved in motorcycle collisions or motor vehicle collisions have often times devastating extremity injuries. we really become pretty comfortable managing those.” 2.46 gonzale 1.18 “these guy are very knowledgeable, and very reliable. it’s very different working with army soldiers. the attitudes are so different.” 1.28 stand: “th patient suffered serious, but not life- threatening, injuries in a car crash. right now, surgeons are getting ready to repair his arm. they say these are injuries that are similar to what they see in conflicts overseas.” col mark pallis, 10.58 “our resident take that experience down-range with them when they deploy and are able to take care of our soldiers.” 11.03 learning to care for wounded soldiers — while treating el pasoans in dire need of help. the partnership — which includes the army and beaumont army medical center — texas tech — and university medical center — has been in place since 1989.