Looking Back, Moving Forward: My ECMO Learning Journey in 2024
Today, I stumbled across a note I had written almost exactly two years ago—a few months before starting my orientation and learning journey to become an ECMO specialist. The note captured a simple, actionable framework on how to learn anything effectively:
Learn Just Enough
Implement – Project-Based Learning
Iterate – Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Accountability
I can't remember where I got this or who shared it with me, but it was important enough to write down at the time. I will call it the LIIA method (Learn, Implement, Iterate, Accountability). As I thought about it, I realized how much LIIA has shaped my journey in ECMO—even without my conscious awareness.
Applying the Learn, Implement, Iterate, Accountability to my ECMO Journey
1. Learn Just Enough
Goal: Focus on the basics of ECMO before diving into advanced concepts.
Outcome: Gain the confidence to engage in ECMO-related discussions and tasks without being overwhelmed.
How: When I started in ECMO, there was much to learn—from understanding the circuit and physiology to troubleshooting complex scenarios. I tackled it by focusing on the basics first: the core principles of oxygenation, cannulation, and circuit components. Instead of diving into every detail, I picked just enough to apply it practically. This gave me the confidence to engage with the material without feeling paralyzed by the complexity.
2. Implement – Project-Based Learning
Goal: Actively apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Outcome: Develop practical skills by engaging with actual ECMO tasks and challenges
How: The best way to learn ECMO is by doing. During orientation and beyond, I worked on real-world cases and simulations. I created mini-projects, like designing a shift and troubleshooting checklist for myself. I am volunteering, creating educational modules for new orientees, and volunteering on the guideline committee. This will help fill my knowledge gaps. This Newsletter has helped a lot; writing about things I am learning at work forces me to dive deep into different ECMO subjects. Each task had a purpose: to help me apply my learning.
3. Iterate – Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Goal: Build mastery through continuous practice and refinement.
Outcome: Reinforce your skills, troubleshoot effectively, and deepen my understanding of ECMO management.
How: Mastering ECMO is a journey of continuous learning, where each experience adds to your understanding and ability to provide safe, effective care. It's about doing, reviewing, and refining. Whether responding to emergencies in simulations or managing patients during shifts, every experience added a layer of understanding. I try to get feedback from some of the ECMO Specialists and Physicians I work alongside, using their insights to adjust and improve my approach.
4. Accountability
Goal: Stay motivated, track my growth, and achieve my career objectives.
Outcome: Maintain focus, measure improvement, and consistently work toward advancing my career.
How: Accountability is crucial in staying on track. Most coworkers at my institution are open to questions and don't hold it against you for asking something basic or clarifying something obvious (in other words, a stupid question, LOL). While my LinkedIn newsletter has just reached an exciting milestone of 1,000 subscribers, my Substack audience is smaller, with around 30 subscribers. Both platforms play a key role in keeping me motivated and accountable. I plan to eventually introduce a paid subscription for additional content, such as in-depth articles and guides for ACLS/PALS/BLS/ATLS, and to help others prepare for the ELSO certification exam. I'm focusing on growing these platforms and ensuring the free content remains valuable to my readers. My LinkedIn subscribers have also played a significant role in keeping me accountable, fact-checking me, and letting me know if I've gotten something wrong. Thanks for that! Tracking my progress through a logbook of cases and lessons has helped me see how far I've come and where I need to focus next.
Attending conferences has also been a key part of my learning journey. These events provide valuable opportunities to learn from global experts, network with peers, and stay updated on the latest advancements. While the conferences, flights, and hotels have been expensive, they are an investment in my professional development. So far, I have been to Seattle ELSO, SWAAC ELSO in Kuwait, and a few online one-day events. Next month, I will be attending SWAAC ELSO in Abu Dhabi, and in June, I'll participate in the La Pitié Hospital 5-day course and the ECOS-TCS International Conference. If you're attending any of these events, I hope to see you there!
Looking Back and Moving Forward
When I compare where I started to where I am now, I see how much progress I've made—even through moments of doubt and distraction. LIIA has unconsciously guided me, helping me stay grounded in the learning process, even when things felt overwhelming.
I'm sharing this framework with my LinkedIn newsletter subscribers today, hoping it might resonate with others on their learning journeys—whether in ECMO or elsewhere. It's a reminder to stay the course, even when the road gets tough, and to trust the process of learning, doing, refining, and being held accountable.
As I move forward, I'm recommitting to this approach. ECMO demands constant growth, and I'm ready to embrace the journey with fresh determination. If you've found a similar learning method or have tips that have worked for you, I'd love to hear about them. Let's keep learning together.
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Other Links:
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https://bit.ly/ecmo143-newsletter
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Acknowledgments:
Here is a list of tools and resources that assisted in creating this article and others. I developed three custom GPTs for specialized research: AI ECMO Expert, ECMO Specialist Handover Practice, and Micro Definitions (MD-GPT). These tools were instrumental in gathering and analyzing information from key sources.
Special thanks to the AI platforms and tools that facilitated this research:
OpenEvidence (Daniel Nadler and Zachary Ziegler, OpenEvidence)
GPT-4o/o1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet/Opus, Perplexity, Gemini 1.5 Flash
Grammarly for editorial and proofreading assistance (can't live without it)
Leonardo AI, DALL-E3 AI Image Generator, Microsoft Designer, and Adobe Express for generating images and visual content