WATCH: (Mar. 22, 2014) It’s the brain child of a surgeon at the University of Alberta and the friendly faces of the Muppets are also helping ease anxiety for those having to go under the knife. Su-Ling Goh reports.
The iconic Kermit the Frog often sings about how it isn’t easy being green – but one would wager he’d change his tune if he ever had to work in an operating room. However, Dr. Jonathan White has drawn inspiration from Kermit and his Muppet pals to entertain — and educate — aspiring surgeons around the world.
“It’s one of those ideas that doesn’t seem to make much sense on the surface,” says Dr. White.
“‘You’re gonna take a puppet and tell me about surgery?'”
There’s more than one, actually.
Through fuzzy avatars Dr. Scalpel and his resident, Thumbs, Dr. White educates viewers around the world about the day-to-day realities of the operating room.
It started five years ago, when Dr. White, a surgeon and associate professor in the U of A’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, began creating weekly “Surgery 101” podcasts for his students using iTunes as a distribution method.
The podcast developed a worldwide following.
“1.3 million downloads almost and 175 countries,” White said.
Eventually, Surgery 101’s fans demanded visuals to accompany the podcast.
With the help of NAIT Digital Media students, the live-action Surgery 101 came to life.
Though Dr. White admits his colleagues thought he was “gonzo” at first, they eventually came around to the idea.
And they weren’t the only ones — Dr. White recently earned a 3M National Teaching Fellow award — Canada’s highest honour for post-secondary teaching.
The friendly Muppet faces also help ease tensions of those a bit wary of going under the knife.
“Somebody who’s having an operation tomorrow and is a bit worried about it can go to episode three or four and watch ‘What’s What in the OR‘ and see what the inside of an operating room actually looks like before they get there, and have a Muppet guide them through it,” said White.
“It’s genuinely fun, you know, ” says White.
“You’re allowed to be in the middle part of your career – and have fun with it.”
With files from Global News’ Su-Ling Goh and Caley Ramsay
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