The role of photography in the digital era has transformed medical photography and profoundly influenced medical education. Surgical Photography, a course offered by RIT’s photographic sciences program, aims to engage students in this transformation by placing them directly in the field.
Gallery r’s “Controlled Trauma” exhibition features photographs from the operating rooms at Rochester General Hospital (RGH) that were taken by students enrolled in the Surgical Photography course over its 10-year existence.
The exhibit is scheduled to run from March 2-25 at Gallery r, 100 College Ave., Rochester, with an opening reception slated for 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 2.
A partnership between RIT and RGH has provided unique access to the hospital’s facilities, surgical patients and related medical procedures. Since the fall of 2008, RIT students enrolled in the class have been exposed to the issues and methods used in contemporary surgical photography.
During the 11 times the course has run, 112 students have seen fundamental photographic equipment and procedures used in operating rooms. In addition, students are trained to properly manage their files in accordance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations.
