Logo (AI generated): ![[Pasted image 20250112183049.png | 130]] # A Digital Home for Surgical Knowledge I grew up watching people dodge motorcycles like human bowling pins on Vietnam's chaotic streets. When Uncle Hai died from _chấn thương sọ não_ (traumatic brain injury), it wasn't just tragedy – it was preventable. Outside of Saigon's urban center, even basic procedures like decompressive craniectomies were out of reach for most. That reality still haunts me as I watch medicine race forward while leaving so many behind. > This is why I'm building this site. Because every person – whether they're a kid in rural Vietnam or a tech bro in the Silicon Valley – deserves access to world-class surgical care. My parents, who had to drop out of school early, taught me one crucial lesson: learn the best from everyone you meet. That philosophy shaped me as an engineer, medical student, and now an aspiring neurosurgeon. In today's digital age, we can create a space that brings together surgical knowledge from all corners of the globe. ## What I'm Building Here Think of the 'Surgical Synapse' as a living library where surgical knowledge can grow wild and free. While the organization and structure is evolving, you can already explore the prototype in -> [[!! The Atlas of Neurological Surgery !!!]] -> [[!! The Atlas of Plastic Surgery !!!]]. Our foundation is built on: - Following FOSS principles – knowledge that's democratically created and modified (like Wikipedia) - Breaking down walls between specialties to spark innovation based on evidence and basic science understanding - Creating digital content for future transformation, such as with AI training (e.g. [custom GPTs training](https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/tools/writing/custom-gpts-at-mit-sloan-a-comprehensive-guide/)) or partnering with [3D anatomical atlases](https://www.visiblebody.com/practitioners) - Moving beyond linear notes and books to natural networks of association, helping trainees learn Through this site, I aim to create: - Comprehensive procedure guides with surgical videos and case discussions - A platform where new and alternative techniques can be proposed, tracked, and evaluated - Spaces for discourse between experienced surgeons and trainees ## Growing Together I built this proof of concept during a 2-week plastic surgery rotation, leveraging my experience in web development for the San Quentin prison and work as a teacher. While it's currently my personal knowledge base, I dream bigger: - Expanding on the foundation throughout my neurosurgical training - Recruiting passionate teachers across surgical fields to contribute to the initial corpus (like book chapters) - Building tools for **easy peer-reviewed, web editing** like [radiopedia.org](https://radiopaedia.org/contributing) Currently running at $7/month for hosting, we'll sustain through thoughtful advertising, society partnerships, and specialized physical publications while **keeping content free and open forever.** > Remember Emerson's words? **"I will stand here for humanity, and though I would make it kind, I would make it true."** That's exactly what we're doing here – building something kind, true, and available to anyone who needs it. With high hopes and sincerity, [Cuong P. Luu](https://cpluu.netlify.app/) *fiat lux* I invite you to check out the range of content types so far: - [[!! The Atlas of Neurological Surgery !!!]] - [[Head and Neck Embryology]] - [[Wound Closure]] - [[One-hand knot tying]] - [[Craniosynostosis]] If you would like to contribute, please email me at cluu (at) wisc (dot) edu for [editing permission on the site](https://help.obsidian.md/Obsidian+Publish/Collaborate+on+a+Publish+site)