From the Classroom – Surgical Photography Class

From Michael Peres and Dr. Ralph Pennino, instructors for Surgical Photography

In the fall of 2008, the Biomedical Photographic Communications program offered the first edition of a class entitled Surgical Photography. To our knowledge, no where else in the U.S. can a student enroll in such a class. It is a very special opportunity and honor to observe surgery separate from the opportunity to photograph it. Dr Ralph Pennino and I team teach this class with great assistance from Alumna Lynne Tseng and many members of the Rochester General Hospital. Students in the 1 credit hour class can sign up for various cases during the semester. There are weekly critiques and students hear about how their photography functions on many levels. They also learn about human medicine and the what goes on in an operating room. During the course’s five year run, a number of students have gone onto surgical photography positions at the world renown Mayo Clinic and other organizations around the country. Photographing in the O.R. has its own unique challenges. The lighting can be very difficult to manage photographically as well as point of view and isolation are real challenges. Below are a few photographs made during the Fall 2013 orientation visit for the 14 students enrolled in the class as well as 2 examples from alumni.