Collaborated: Gustavo Fraga, professor at SMS Unicamp

Daniele Evangelista Leite da Silva, a sixth-year medical student from the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of University of Campinas (Unicamp) recently completed a Trauma Surgery elective at the University of Pittsburgh Medicine College (UPMC). Daniele embarked on a one-month observership throughout December and January 2024, with support from Gustavo Fraga, chief of Trauma discipline and professor of Surgery Department at the Unicamp. She immersed herself in the trauma bays and operating rooms of the Presbyterian Hospital, being mentored by Juan Carlos Puyana, a trauma/acute care surgeon at UPMC and the Director for Global Health-Surgery.   

The student explained that she chose Pittsburgh because "UPMC has a well-known reputation for trauma care, state-of-the-art facilities, and access to high-quality trauma cases. It was an honor to experience the synergy within an outstanding surgery program that supports strong teamwork and also focuses on research and innovation”.

“In that healthcare setting, all the medical professionals carried pagers that would buzz when a trauma case was incoming. Everyone was briefed on the vital signs and trauma mechanisms. When the patient arrived in the Emergency Room (ER) bay, the team was ready to act swiftly. They evaluated the severity of injuries, taking immediate steps to stabilize the patient while also ordering diagnostic tests such as X-rays and CT scans for a more accurate assessment. Effective communication with patients' families was crucial throughout, and maintaining detailed documentation was a constant priority. If emergency surgery was necessary, the team would use a special elevator to go directly to the operating room. After the surgery, they stayed involved in the recovery process, monitoring and learning from each case to continually enhance their skills and provide the best possible care. It was an exhilarating and challenging journey where every decision made contributed to refining everyone's abilities and delivering optimal healthcare”, shared Daniele about her hospital experience.

The student also told she aspires to pursue a career in surgery, backed by her academic achievements, clinical experience, and passion for the field. She previously completed her college education in the United States, where she double-majored in Chemistry and East Asian Studies at Wellesley College in 2014. For three years, she conducted organ engineering and regeneration research projects full time under the mentorship of the Thoracic Surgeon Harald Ott in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, one of the affiliated hospitals of Harvard Medical School.

In addition, Daniele holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Surgery in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of São Paulo, pursued concurrently with her medical education. Her specialization focused on studying the protective effect of decellularized lung extracellular matrix hydrogel in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis models. Her research earned her the CAPES Doctoral Scholarship. Daniele has presented her research at various conferences and contributed to the scientific community through publications in many journals, covering topics such as extracellular matrix-derived hydrogel therapy, organ engineering, and the regenerative potential of human airway stem cells.

During her fourth year at SMS Unicamp, Daniele gained international experience by completing a one-month observership in the Lung Transplantation Service of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. During this period, she observed donor organ harvesting, lung transplant surgeries, and pre and post-operative care.

Daniele, currently a member of the American Physician-Scientist Association, is eager to assist fellow students interested in pursuing careers as physician-scientists or seeking experience in medicine abroad. She stated: “I am very grateful to my family, friends, and professors for their invaluable contributions to my achievements and unwavering support in pursuing my career aspirations"