Nov 21, 2016 2 min read

Students in two Upper St. Clair High School classes ¬- anatomy and physiology, and advanced placement biology – recently had the opportunity to witness a vital surgical procedure firsthand.

Allegheny General Hospital’s Open Heart Surgery Observation Program has welcomed more than 10,000 area students since its debut in 2008, offering an educational opportunity for those seeking careers in medicine.

Throughout the academic year, the program hosts a different school each day to watch an open-heart surgery from an overhead observation room. A camera mounted on the surgeon’s head provides a close-up view on a monitor, while the program coordinator provides a narrative about what is occurring.

Because of the program’s popularity among Upper St. Clair students, the hospital hosted two of the school’s classes. Upper St. Clair science teachers require students to write one-page essays explaining why they should be chosen for the program, as not everyone in the class gets to go because of space constraints.

Dr. Walter McGregor, director of robotic and minimally invasive heart surgery for Allegheny Health Network and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program at Allegheny General, performed the surgeries and met with students afterward to answer their questions. McGregor is an Upper St. Clair resident.

Students from Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon high schools are among those who are scheduled to participate in the program during December.