Martin Harssema, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who formerly served the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgical Center in Maryland. Additionally, Martin Harssema, MD, holds an interest in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is a group of neurodegeneration disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes. While FTD is similar to Alzheimer’s disease, a number of aspects distinguish the two. A progressive loss of brain functions occurs in both FTD and Alzheimer’s disease due to brain atrophy. However, the average onset is vastly different, with symptoms for FTD appearing at a much earlier age than Alzheimer’s disease. While FTD most commonly occurs between the ages of 45 and 65, Alzheimer’s disease usually affects people over the age of 65. The younger onset of FTD becomes particularly problematic for patients who develop speech and language problems, a typical cognitive symptom. One key symptom of FTD that further differentiates it from Alzheimer’s disease is behavioral change. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may experience shifts in personality later in life due to memory loss. For FTD patients, behavioral changes are often an early sign of the condition as the frontal lobe atrophies. This area of the brain is responsible for inhibition control and behavior regulation, meaning that its deterioration can lead to impulsiveness, apathy, and socially inappropriate behaviors.
A board-certified anesthesiologist, Martin Harssema MD consulted on perioperative management and supervised certified registered nurse anesthetists for challenging cases as a staff anesthesiologist for Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgical Center. Martin Harssema belongs to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), which partnered with CAE Healthcare to develop Anesthesia SimSTAT.SimSTAT provides simulation anesthesia education in a virtual environment that enables practicing physicians to further their anesthesia knowledge from anywhere with an Internet connection. The program delivers high-fidelity simulation scenarios through a gaming environment designed to help users improve performance in managing anesthesia emergencies. Users learn through a virtual operating room that incorporates modeled patient physiology and a full complement of anesthesia-related equipment. CAS Healthcare’s team of simulation authorities collaborated with ASA anesthesiologists to develop modules that fulfill requirements for continuing medical education and MOCA 2.0 Part II and IV. Available modules include trauma, appendectomy, robotic surgery, post-anesthesia care unit, and labor and delivery. Each module features realistic patients with a range of diseases and appropriate responses to clinical interactions. The program also tracks a user’s actions and provides formative performance feedback to help him or her identify strengths and weaknesses.
A combat veteran and board-certified anesthesiologist with more than 15 years of experience, Martin Harssema, MD, most recently served as a staff anesthesiologist at the Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgical Center in Maryland. Alongside his day-to-day activities, Dr. Martin Harssema maintains membership in the American Medical Association. The American Medical Association (AMA) oversees a variety of activities and initiatives aimed at improving medical care and patient health. In recent years, the organization has been particularly focused on preparing medical students and physicians for the health care innovations that will affect how they diagnose and treat patients in the future. As part of these efforts, the AMA oversees the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium, an initiative to help medical schools prepare students for the changing health care system. Initially launched with 11 schools in 2013, the consortium expanded two years later to include a total of 32 schools across the United States. In September 2017, the AMA held a conference to highlight the work of the consortium and further advance the efforts to improve medical education. During the three-day ChangeMedEd 2017 conference, which took place September 14-16, leaders of health systems and medical education organizations nationwide came together to learn about curriculum-redesign projects currently under way as part of the Accelerating Change initiative. Attendees also had the opportunity to get their first look at the AMA’s Coaching in Medical Education Handbook, which offers best practices for medical education professionals who train student physicians.
From 2009 to 2016, Martin Harssema, MD, served as the staff anesthesiologist for Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Surgical Center. In this role, his responsibilities included supervising CRNAs in challenging cases while also acting as a consultant in perioperative management. Outside of his professional pursuits, Martin Harssema enjoys camping.While many campers view the wetter fall and winter months as bad times to go camping, a little preparation will go a long way in protecting you from rainy weather. Some of the most important aspects of camping in wet conditions include the type of tent you use and where you set up camp.When it comes to camping in the rain, spending a little bit of extra money on a quality tent will help keep you dry and comfortable. Look for a tent that has a waterproof coating, which will allow the water to slide off your tent instead of soaking into it. Another factor to pay attention to is the tent’s rain fly. Look for one that provides enough overhang to allow the water to drip away from your tent and its front door, which will also help prevent mud from pooling in front of your tent.In terms of camping location and tent placement, high ground is your best bet. Placing your tent at the bottom of a slope or any place water collects will leave you and your belongings soaked. Also, avoid setting up too close to a river or lake, which pose a risk of swelling shores in a storm.
