How a summer surgery program inspired Dr. Hwang’s journey into medicine

For Dr. Lyahn Hwang, one summer experience changed everything.

As a college student at Rice University, Hwang was deeply interested in research and the sciences, but it wasn’t until she was accepted into the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program at Baylor College of Medicine that her future truly took shape.

“I was fortunate enough to be selected, and it really changed my life,” said Hwang, assistant professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery. “It’s the reason why I went into medicine, and it’s the reason why I’m a surgeon.”

The program – created by Dr. Michael E. DeBakey in the 1960s – was designed to expose talented students to the field of surgery and encourage them to apply their scientific talents toward medicine. What began as a unique opportunity for science fair winners has evolved into a highly competitive eight-week summer program for college undergraduates. Each year, more than 200 students apply for just 15 coveted spots.

Participants are paired with a surgical faculty mentor and fully immersed in the clinical world – rounding with surgical teams, observing complex operations and learning the fundamentals of surgical care. Students rotate through hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including Ben Taub Hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and Texas Children’s Hospital, gaining exposure to a range of specialties like trauma, pediatric surgery, vascular surgery and surgical oncology.

For Hwang, it was the first time she truly experienced the operating room.

“I came from a research background – I loved working in the labs at Rice and MD Anderson,” she said. “But there weren’t a lot of opportunities to go into the OR and work directly with surgeons. Once I heard about the program, I knew I had to try it.”

That summer, Hwang saw everything from trauma cases to bread-and-butter general surgery procedures like gallbladder removals. She also spent time with pediatric surgeons – an experience that broadened her perspective and confirmed her passion for working with her hands.

“I knew I wanted to tangibly help people, and surgery was the best way to do that,” she said. “This program really laid the foundation for me. I still remember that summer so fondly – seeing all sides of surgery, spending time with incredible mentors, and feeling like I was part of the team even as a college student.”

Hwang went on to attend medical school in Dallas, where she kept an open mind, even considering pediatrics and internal medicine. But she kept coming back to what she learned that summer – her love for procedural work and the impact of surgery.

“You get thrown into everything during your clinical years, but I realized I couldn’t just sit and talk about patients — I needed to do something with my hands,” she said. “That’s when I knew I was meant to be a surgeon.”

Her experience as part of that summer’s class also made a lasting impact on medicine. “I remember our group from 2012 – every one of us went into medicine, about a third of us into surgical fields,” she said. “I’m the only woman from that group who became a surgeon. My sister is also a neurosurgeon, so we still talk a lot about the importance of experiences like this and how much early mentorship matters.”

More than 40 years since its expansion, the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program continues to give students like Hwang the chance to witness the art of surgery up close – building confidence, skills and mentorship connections that last a lifetime.

Learn more about the program and how to apply.

By Tiffany Harston, senior communications specialist in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery