In the midst of intricate surgeries, surgeons rely on a wand equipped with radio frequency identification technology to scan the body and detect any retained surgical sponges during or after the procedure. This innovation serves as a crucial final check to prevent complications from sponges accidentally left inside the body.
But what if this process fails? Scott Giberson, an MD/MBA student in the class of 2026, was part of a research team with Dr. Alexander Doyal that investigated this scenario with cadaver models.
“The first time we passed the wand over the sponge and didn’t get the alarm whenever it was placed next to an LVAD, that was a big moment,” Giberson said. “We were all kind of shocked by it. We repeated it over and over and over and got the same result.”
Through repeated trials, the team discovered that when a metallic object, like a scalpel or forceps, is next to that sponge, it cancels out the detection process. The scanner no longer works.
This groundbreaking research unveiled something previously unknown. Giberson and the team presented their findings at a national anesthesiology conference and are now seeking a place to publish the research.
“The takeaway we want people to have from this is to understand that this method isn’t foolproof, which is not common knowledge,” Giberson said. “From a patient safety perspective, we want people to understand that the wand is useful, but it’s not the end-all, be-all, and we shouldn’t treat it as such, which is what people currently do.”
Culture of Collaboration
A native of Austin, Texas, Giberson first engaged in research during his undergraduate years at Texas Christian University. For him, research has always been a way to explore his interests.
When Giberson arrived as a medical student at the UNC School of Medicine, he got involved right away. He was named a Castillo Scholar and received funding after his first year for a research project examining complication rates between two different surgical approaches for a common pediatric elbow fracture.
“That was really instrumental for me,” Giberson said. “It opened up the world of research at the School of Medicine.”
Giberson’s main research interests center around medical education and pediatrics. He has been involved in numerous projects.
Giberson worked with a national organization named Choosing Wisely, which focuses on value-based care across the country. He led the effort at UNC for a 16-site study looking at the ways value-based care behaviors are modeled to third-year medical students during clinical rotations. The team presented a poster at a national conference and published their results earlier this year.
Most recently, Giberson studied environmental exposures in pediatric patients and examined how residents in the clinical setting discuss these exposures with their patients and families.
He has been able to explore all these research areas because of the collaborative culture at the UNC School of Medicine.
“The culture in the School of Medicine is such that faculty are really eager to work with students,” Giberson said. “They’re willing to bring me into something that they’re working on or give me those opportunities.”
Giberson first met Doyal when the Professor of Anesthesiology was looking for a medical student to help him study resident wellness. That introduction led to Giberson’s involvement in the surgical sponge study, and Doyal has been a great mentor to him ever since.
“Scott’s one of those students you don’t forget — sharp, thoughtful, and genuinely curious,” Doyal said. “He jumps into projects with real enthusiasm and follow-through, and it’s been a lot of fun working with him.”
Bringing innovation to pediatrics
These experiences have shown Giberson the behaviors he wants to model when he becomes an attending physician, always being willing to bring people on and teach them along the way.
He’s in his MBA year now and will begin applying to residency in the fall, hoping to match into pediatrics. With his dual degree, Giberson wants to bring the business side of medicine and the research side of medicine to the field of pediatrics. Wherever he ends up, he’s well-positioned to make it happen.
“I’d love to take what I’ve learned and apply it into these two passions I have and see how we can improve pediatric care through some innovative ideas,” Giberson said.