Dr. Thomas Taylor – Tips For New Medical Residents

Though he is now retired, a large part of Dr. Thomas Taylor’s career was spent helping to prepare new surgeons for the challenges that awaited them in their chosen profession. He trained hundreds of surgical residents during a career that took him from Manchester, England to Houston, Texas, which offered him valuable insight into what residents can do to make the most of their opportunities and build towards their future careers. If you are preparing to start your first surgical residency you should try to keep these tips in mind.

Be On Time

As a resident, you will become part of a large team that needs to run like clockwork to ensure patients receive the care they need. You will be assigned surgeries every day, with specific timeframes in regards to when the procedure is to take place and how long it should take. You need to stick to this schedule as closely as possible, so make sure you turn up on time for any procedures you are to be a part of. Keep a record of your schedule as far in advance as possible, as tardiness can throw a spanner in the works.

Learn Your Hospital’s Layout

One of the first tasks you will need to accomplish as a resident is learning the layout of the hospital you will be working at, particularly the areas where you will spend the majority of your time. A lot of valuable time could end up being wasted if you neglect this task, as you may find yourself getting lost. This can result in the development of a bad reputation and may even be catastrophic to your patients if you waste valuable time in emergency situations.

Be Prepared For Anything

No two days will be the same when you are a surgical resident and you need to be prepared for any situation that is thrown at you. Being called up for emergency procedures is fairly common, so do what you can to stay alert and ready. Remember to keep reading and developing your skills, as the information you learn could prove valuable in emergency situations.

Develop Relationships With Patients

Your patients need care beyond what you provide when they are on the surgical table, so make sure you focus on building relationships. Trust plays a vital role in the relationship between patients and surgeons and you can’t build this if you don’t communicate.

Take Time For You

Dr. Thomas Taylor is very aware of the demands placed on surgical residents, which is why it is very important that they take time for themselves when they are able. Being engrossed in your work at all times can lead to fatigue developing, which results in mistakes being made at crucial moments.

Dr. Thomas Taylor on Walking As An Exercise

Dr. Thomas Taylor is an avid walker who enjoys a day outside in nature. When he has the time, he loves to walk to certain locations and as a renowned doctor he understands the enormous positive impact the activity can have on someone’s mind and physical well-being.

It Improves Cardiovascular Efficiency
Walking is one of the best ways to improve cardiovascular efficiency without putting too much stress on the body – its bones, joints and ligaments – and the heart itself. Unless someone is really out of shape or has some kind of condition, their heart rate won’t elevate that much, but the activity will still provide an impact that will help the heart muscle grow stronger. This results to improved efficiency.

Weight Loss
Another important aspect is weight loss. When someone is walking instead of sitting in a car, their body burns its fuel at a higher rate. This increases its daily caloric needs, and if the person in question leaves their caloric intake alone despite that increased need, their body will have no other choice but to use its own energy storage, burning fat in the process.

Lowers Disease Risk
It has been proven long ago that living a sedentary lifestyle significantly increases the risk of developing certain diseases. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise to lower that risk, mainly because almost anyone can practice it.
Dr. Thomas Taylor hopes that more and more people will realize just how big of a positive impact walking can have on their lives.

Sources:
http://www.whyamiunhealthy.com/7-positive-effects-walking-has-on-your-health/
https://www.tescoliving.com/articles/8-reasons-why-walking-is-great-for-your-health

Dr. Thomas Taylor on the History of Baseball in America

British kids are much more likely to play cricket than baseball, but Dr. Thomas Taylor had a chance to enjoy both sports growing up. The two games are similar in their nature, but baseball is cricket’s “Americanized” version, although both of them have a common ancestor that was played in Europe.

American History of Baseball

In the United States, the game first appeared around the Civil War, somewhere between 1861 and 1865. The activity wasn’t even called baseball for a long time; instead people knew it as “rounders”, possibly because of the players’ position. The early game was similar to cricket which was played in England, as both were mostly built on a combination of skill and mental judgment.

Scoring and Record-keeping in Baseball

What made baseball quite different from cricket was its scoring system and scorekeeping practice. One could argue that it’s the scoring system and scorekeeping that makes baseball such a different entity.

Established in 1871

In 1871, the Americans created the first professional baseball league. From that point going forward, the game was pretty much played the same way as it is played today, down to the two conferences; the National and the American league. Both leagues have their own playoffs and the winners meet in the World Series to decide who takes the Commissioner’s Trophy home.

Dr. Thomas Taylor loves both cricket and baseball, and whenever he is in the United States he likes to attend a game or two.

Sources:

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875086.html

Dr. Thomas Taylor on Soccer’s Lack of Allure in North America

Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide. It is followed by 3.5 billion fans, beating second place cricket by one billion in the fan count. It is popular on literally every continent, but there is one country in the world where it cannot even hope to compete with the most recognized sports – the United States of America.

It Is Not the Lack of Exposure

Finding the reasons for soccer’s relative unpopularity within the U.S. is a multi-faceted problem, but one thing is sure, it is not the result of its lack of exposure. That may have been true one or two decades ago, but it definitely isn’t right now. The biggest teams are able to work with large budgets, being able to bring elite talent from Europe every year, and not just 35+ year old stars but some of the very best players, often still close to their prime. Steven Gerrard, who left Liverpool at the age of 34 after a season where he was still the team’s best player, is probably the best example.

Tradition and Negative Bias

The reasons why soccer is still not very popular in the United States are twofold. First, the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL take a lot of the limelight away. Americans are interested in their major sports above anything. The other problem is the talent level. While it’s improving, the vast majority of world class players are still in Europe. The first will likely never change, but soccer as a product can certainly improve. Many soccer fans, such as Dr. Thomas Taylor, hope that this is exactly what will happen.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-lees/soccers-low-popularity-in_b_10559190.html

Ask a Surgeon – Dr. Thomas Taylor Talks About Bariatric Surgery

As a successful surgeon in the United Kingdom and the United States, Dr. Thomas Taylor has develop an expertise in abdominal surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Taylor worked with hundreds of students to advance their education as they became doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals. As a result, he enjoys teaching others about different medical ideas and procedures.

A lot of people have heard of bariatric surgery as it is being more openly discussed in mainstream media. Still, not many people understand what the surgery actually entails. Bariatric surgery, often simply called weight-loss surgery, alters the size and shape of the stomach and digestive tract to facilitate weight loss.

The term bariatric surgery encompasses a few different techniques, the most well-known being gastric bypass. Gastric bypass surgery involves reducing the stomach substantially and lessening the amount of time food spends in the digestive tract. This prevents people from overeating and also keeps fats and some nutrients from being absorbed into the body. The sleeve gastrectomy works in a similar fashion as it reduces the stomach to about 20% its original size. Finally, there is the gastric band which is a less-invasive procedure and is also adjustable.

Over the span of his thirty year career, Dr. Thomas Taylor focused on all aspects of bariatric surgery, including the laparoscopic techniques that have made it more popular than ever before. He has worked in Houston to help improve these techniques while teaching others. Today, post-retirement, he still enjoys following developments in the field.

Houston Surgeon Dr. Thomas Taylor Shares His Experience Growing Up British

Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Thomas Taylor moved to Houston after saying goodbye to his home country of England. Moving from his home village of Longridge to Houston, America’s fourth largest city, was a big change for the young doctor but one which has enriched his life and his career.

Dr. Thomas Taylor was born in the village of Longridge, a small town near the city of Preston in Lancashire. His family is well established in the small village, with a local history that stretches back several generations. With such strong familial ties to the area, Dr. Taylor stayed close to home while studying and during the beginning of his career.

While living in the area, Dr. Taylor became an ardent fan of cricket, a British sport played with a bat and ball, somewhat similar to American baseball. Growing up, Dr. Taylor played for Longridge and Chipping while he studied and held down a variety of small jobs. During his academic career, he worked in a corn mill, developed skills as a chair maker, worked in a dairy and even gained experience working with the local Lancashire County Council. He also stretched himself academically by studying both mechanics and engineering before he began his medical degree.

Once Dr. Taylor began to advance in his medical degree, he began moving further from home. When he was ready for his undergraduate degree, Dr. Taylor headed for the University of Edinburgh before finishing at the University of Manchester. When he was ready to go through his residency, he enrolled and practiced at different institutions in both Manchester and London.

These days, Dr. Thomas Taylor calls Houston home, but he still feels a strong connection with the United Kingdom. He maintains a home in Houston and also keeps an apartment in Manchester so that he can go home to visit often. He maintains dual citizenship for the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Becoming a Respected Surgeon – Dr. Thomas Taylor Shares His Experience

Retired academic surgeon Dr. Thomas Taylor has a long career with both medicine and education. The recently retired Houston based doctor began his education back home in the UK where he studied at a number of Universities. He went on to become a fellow with the Royal College of Surgeons which helped him to conduct even more research and broaden his horizons.

Dr. Taylor was invited to relocate to Texas and work with the Baylor College of Medicine in the late 1980s, an opportunity he was quick to grab. Since then, he has also worked with University of Texas where was officially recognized as an outstanding member of the faculty. As an academic surgeon he has a keen understanding of the role education plays in becoming a surgeon. Now retired, he shares four pieces of advice to other aspiring doctors:

• Start Early – Focus on science classes in both middle and high school. This lays the groundwork for success in college as it teaches student discipline and gives them the fundamentals they need to understand the human body.
• Think Undergrad – Obtain an undergraduate degree in a related scientific field while you evaluate medical schools and programs.
• Don’t Limit Yourself – Take entrance exams and apply for several different medical school. This will give you more options in order to find a curriculum that appeals to your chosen field of interest.
• Leave University – Complete your residency in a thriving hospital in order to gain the experience, flexibility and quick thinking that will serve you well as a doctor. Dr. Thomas Taylor is a good example.

 

Ask Dr. Thomas Taylor – Are There Any Health Benefits to Singing?

When Dr. Thomas Taylor, an academic surgeon living in the Houston area, decided to retire, it meant he would have more time to pursue one of his favorite hobbies. Dr. Taylor has been involved with different singing groups throughout his life, starting as a young man in his native country of England. These days he is a proud member of Houston Symphony Choral Section and the Houston Choral Society. He is also an active member of the choir at St. Michael’s Church in Houston. Singing appeals to Dr. Taylor because he knows that it is a hobby that boasts a number of surprising health benefits.

Harmonic Cardio – By using proper singing and breathing techniques, singers can give their lungs a good workout as well as strengthening their diaphragm and core.

Lift Your Voice, Lift Your Mood – Singing has some impressive anti-depressant qualities. Music in general is strongly associated with mood boosting properties including having the power to release endorphins, part of the body’s natural feel-good system.

A Powerful Lullaby – Singing a soft song before bed isn’t the only way music can contribute to healthier sleep. Singing strengthens muscles in the mouth and along the throat which can help alleviate snoring, giving people a more restful night’s sleep.

Stamina Boost – The breathing control you need for singing means you learn to process more oxygen. Over time, this builds up the power of your lungs which can boost your lung capacity and cardiovascular system.

Get Focused – Singing properly requires a great deal of concentration in order to control breathing, tone, pitch and, of course, memorizing the words.

These are some of the physical benefits Dr. Thomas Taylor enjoys as a part of his favorite hobby. He enjoys sharing this information – and his passion for music – with fellow singers and musicians.

Dr. Thomas Taylor – Getting The Most Out Of Your Lessons

Dr. Thomas Taylor spent much of his career teaching medical students, particularly when he was the Chief of Academic Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Medical students who want to succeed and progress in their careers need to make the most out of the time that they spend in lessons, so make sure you do all of the following.

No Distractions

A couple of minutes of looking at your cellphone is time that could have been spent listening to the lecture. You may have missed something important while allowing yourself to become distracted, even if it was for only a short period. Make sure that you maintain your concentration at all times and keep your attention on the lecturer.

Make Notes

Being active in your learning is always encouraged and one of the best ways to do this is to take notes during the course of the lecture. These notes will help you to get a better understanding of what you are being told and can be used in the study sessions that you hold once the lesson has been concluded.

Ask Questions

Dr. Thomas Taylor points out that he aimed to provide all of the help he possibly could to his medical students. However, if you don’t ask questions when you are uncertain, there is no way for a lecturer to know you don’t understand. Take advantage of your time in class by raising any subjects that are causing you trouble. Remember that no question should ever be considered too silly to ask.

 

Dr. Thomas Taylor – Tips For Creating A Study Space

Dr. Thomas Taylor worked with many medical students during the course of his career, helping them to learn what they needed to know and providing advice on how to further their studies. One of the most important factors in successful studying is the area that you choose to revise in, so follow these pointers if you want to create a good study area.

Get Rid of Distractions

Anything that has the potential to pull you away from your work should be disposed of too. This includes televisions, cellphones and videogame consoles. These and similar distractions will only serve to make you lose your concentration and may act as undue temptation when you are starting to struggle with a difficult subject. Use them as rewards for when you have finished instead.

Use Plenty of Light

A poorly-lit study area is going to cause you a lot of problems, as areas with low light contribute to fatigue. Trying to read large volumes of text when sitting in conditions that require you to squint in order to see properly is only going to serve to lower your concentration levels and tire you out, so make sure that there is an abundant light source available.

Get Organized

Good time-management is one of the most essential skills that Dr Thomas Taylor used during his career as a surgeon. Once you have created your study area, you should create a schedule that is clearly visible and manages your time effectively. This will serve as motivation to complete your studies whenever you enter the area.