There are many reasons why someone goes into medicine. Family connections, a desire to serve, an interest in science. And then there are those who become interested in medicine through their time as a patient.
Such is the story of Dr. Declan Feery, a fourth-year resident in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Department of Surgery. As a senior in high school, he had perforated appendicitis, also known as a ruptured appendix. “I had a laparoscopic appendectomy and I was in the hospital for a while after the surgery just because of some post-op complications. And that experience as a patient really intrigued me, and I wanted to learn more about it.”
Although he was very sick, he was amazed at how he was able to almost be immediately healed after surgery. And hearing that his surgeon did that same type of surgery five or six times a day sparked something in Feery. “I don’t know how to get there. I don’t know what to do, but I want to do that.”
Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Feery got his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and then commissioned in the Air Force as a second lieutenant before getting his medical degree from Wright State University. As a part of joining the Air Force, he received Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) assistance. “They cover the cost of medical school,” says Feery, “In return, you usually give four years of service time as a physician in whatever specialty you choose. I’m technically assigned to Nellis Air Force Base and that’s what brought me out here.”
Feery acknowledges that if it wasn’t for the Air Force commissioning, he may not have ever come to the West Coast. But a sub-internship in general surgery while in medical school led him here. “I had done it [sub] at several other places,” he says. “And when I came here, I just, for one, felt very involved with the team and the folks at UNLV. It was definitely my first choice overall.”
He continues, “They just integrated me into the team and I got assigned tasks. I was suturing, I was seeing patients, helping out in the operating room. So, I really felt like I had a role. And also, UMC [University Medical Center] as a hospital is, it’s kind of gritty. It’s the county hospital. It really appealed to me. I like the patients that they served. And then also, the residents themselves. When I was a student, the residents just seemed fearless. And we did a lot of trauma at UMC and then general surgery at the Air Force base. So obviously trauma, at times, can be pretty intense.”
Feery continues to note the admiration he had for the residents that he trained with and worked beside. “The residents that I was with, they seemed really sharp, really on top of it. Nothing seemed to phase them, and I knew that’s how I wanted to be. So, that’s kind of what drew me here, that really stuck out compared to other places. And living in Las Vegas, it’s an iconic city.”
It appears that the admiration he had for the residents he trained with has rubbed off in a big way. Earlier this year, Feery won the Outstanding Resident Teacher Award for the second time. He won his first award as a second-year resident.
“The whole thing’s very humbling, and I feel honored, I don’t feel deserving of it. I’ve [experienced] some great teaching from my attendings and co-residents. I’ve stolen some ideas from what my colleagues have said and how they’ve taught medical students. And I just implement what they say.”
So much so, that he “flipped” a resident to join surgery. “It brings me a lot of joy seeing other people learn something new, seeing the light bulb click in their head. I had one student, he actually matched into our residency program this upcoming year. When I first met him, he wanted to do internal medicine, and it was just me and him out at the Air Force base on general surgery.” Feery continues, “And I was like, ‘I’m gonna flip you by the end of this month.’ I had him doing a lot, he was very involved in the team. And in general surgery we do a lot of medicine. I feel like he had a great experience, and then he ended up switching to apply to general surgery and now he’s matched with us. I look forward to working with him again.”
Although Feery focuses on the positives, being a resident is not always an easy road. “Some days you’re the hammer. Sometimes you’re the nail. Sometimes you are crushing it and you get every diagnosis. You were right on what you were gonna find in the OR [operating room] when you finally got there, you’re like, ‘I knew this would be the problem.’"
He continues, “And you work with your attending and you fix it. Pristinely. Every stitch you throw is perfect. Unfortunately, it’s not always that way. And sometimes you’re the nail and it’s sort of the opposite. I think when things don’t go as smoothly as you had hoped or maybe you were incorrect about something or you just had a challenging day, you have to go back the next day and, it’s easier said than done, but simply worry about what you can control. And for me, that’s my attitude ... my interactions with people. How professional am I? Am I still bringing that same positive energy? Did I learn from the last case? I think that, combined with our demanding schedule, that can be challenging. But, it just all boils down to the word: resilience.”
