How Many Students Want To Be A Surgeon And Actually Become One?

What are the common obstacles that stop people?



This question was originally posted on Quora.com and was answered by Kyle John, Physician In Training



In dinner parties, when someone asks, “So Tim, what do you do for a living?” “Well, Kate, I am a Surgeon”. Eyebrows are oftentimes raised. Impressive, there’s a surgeon in the house!

However, many in society do not know the burdens that come with the title:

1. The work-life balance is virtually absent. Surgery is an art that depends on seeing many patients & skills that come via practice, practice & practice. As such, many surgeons cannot have any competing interest/hobby. Most time off is spent on reading/research, or in simulation labs improving their skills on a dummy. Surgeons spend precious little time with their family because they are always on the run; be it in the workplace or at home. Junior trainees have it worse because most training programs place a premium on research. They started off in Surgery because the hands-on nature of the field; but end up doing a myriad of research they are not passionate about or do not understand, just to land a spot in training programs. The next time you see a surgeon, just ask him/her, “Do you really enjoy research?”
   
   
2. Emergencies: When a patient presents to the casualty in the middle of the night, say with a perforated appendix; if he/she has to be operated on, they will be pushed to the Operating room. It does not matter how tired Tim is, how sleep deprived he has been or how complicated the previous operation is, if Tim has to work, he must get & go! No excuses!
   
   
3. Quick thinking is also the name of the game! Surgeons deal with Anatomical pathologies, in simple terms, things that can be treated only via physical intervention. Intraoperatively, if a patient’s blood pressure is going down, surgeons oftentimes search frantically for the source of bleeding. The stress can be exhilarating at times, but it might eventually take a toll of Surgeon’s well being.
   
   
4. Hierarchy is also another very real issue in Surgery. Simply put, when a patient recovers, it can be said that it was a good job of a particular surgeon. Surgeons are thus trained in this environment, to strive for perfection for their patients. This is certainly an admirable trait, however, junior trainees are often berated, sometimes publicly, when things go south. No matter where this mode of training seems to be the norm. The junior trainee eventually graduates, and carries on this tradition, the cycle continues! Notwithstanding, Surgeons can be very competitive; eager to point out other’s faults & highlight their own achievements. “After all, it was I who did well for the patient!”
   
5. Contrary to popular belief, there is also a non-glamorous side to be being a surgeon: Bile, Urine & Feces are oftentimes the media which surgeons communicate with organs. Next time you see a surgeon, just ask him: “Tim, how many Digital Rectal Examinations do you perform on a daily basis?” Just look at his face. “Kate, do you like taking care of stoma bags?” Watch her squirm! Surgeons often have to deal with unpleasant sights & unholy smells, all for the benefit of their patients.

So be kind to your friend Tim or Kate, the Surgeon, he/she probably underwent a lot of hardships to get to where they are today.

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