Not too long ago, a fourth-year medical student asked me that question. Here’s what I told him.
I became a surgeon because it appealed to me more than any other specialty. Like most others of my era, I was young and had gone the traditional route—4 years of college followed immediately by med school. I had experienced few adventures [in fact, none] and had not yet met my wife-to-be.
I never even considered what impact my choice would have on my personal life. The subject simply did not come up. I worked hard in medical school but had a great time. I think I had more fun in med school than I did in college.
My residency prepared me well for the rigors of a surgical career. I spent the first 4 years of my training taking call about half every other night and half every third night. As a chief resident, I was in call every night. Somehow I found the time to have a relationship and got married at the end of my third year.
My wife of 40 years is a saint. I have wonderful children and now grandchildren too.
I was fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to supervise the training of a number of surgeons who are helping people every day.
Although I’ll never climb Everest, go an African safari, ski the Swiss Alps or do many other things that might be important to others, I’ve had an interesting and fulfilling life. Wilderness? Not so much. But love and relationships? I got ’em.
But it is different for the millennial generation. What I considered interesting and fulfilling might not be to you.
Surgery continues to evolve. I think it may be possible in the near future to have a career as a general surgeon and also have a manageable lifestyle. By the time you finish training, everyone will be in group or hospital-based practices. Or you could be an acute care surgeon with fixed hours.
You will have to decide what compromises to make such as deciding if leaving work at 5 pm is more important than staying late to operate on your patient who has a complication you created.
No one talks about this part—you will have to find partners you can trust with the lives of your patients. The roadside is littered with the corpses of group practices that didn’t last because of productivity issues, attitudinal, personality, or philosophical differences among the surgeons.
For many surgeons, fulfillment is measured by the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.
Can you be a surgeon and have a rich and fulfilling life? You can, but it depends on how you define rich and fulfilling.
Skeptical Scalpel is a retired surgeon and was a surgical department chairman and residency program director for many years. He is board-certified in general surgery and critical care and has re-certified in both several times. He blogs at SkepticalScalpel.blogspot.com and tweets as @SkepticScalpel. His blog averages over 1400 page views per day, and he has over 9500 followers on Twitter.
I would love to be a surgeon but I love to go camping and would love to have children and a family. I don’t know if I will be able to have both. Also have many days does an average surgeon work?
Hi so I’m a new senior in high school and I’ve varied in what I’ve wanted to do but I was thinking about doing medical school and becoming a surgeon with my specialty being in OB/GYN. I love the medical field and the thought of being a surgeon but also want to have a family and a marriage someday and I’m worried about missing out on that because of my job and being stuck because of all the debt. What’s your advice?
I have been studying human anatomy for a while now, but that was before i actually did any real research on things like college and med school.I am worried that i will go through all of it and end up regretting my decision to be a surgeon. Any advise ?
For all you high schoolers with questions… I am a surgeon. Have been for 15+ years. I am also looking now at trying to find a job where all my skill and experience will be beneficial without dealing with patients. I have a wife and 3 young children, but am willing to make a leap of faith to get out of patient care. This job is no longer what skepticscalpel thinks it is. Medicine isn’t what it was even 10-15 years ago. Now most physicians are just employees of hospital systems or large medical corporate practices. You aren’t an expert because google knows better. Loan debt is high and payment is getting lower each year. You spend most of your time taking care of medical records and sitting in front of a computer. Burnout is estimated at around 50%, and in my case it’s because the job isn’t anything close to what i thought it would be. The problem is you get far down the long road and feel like you can’t get off so you keep going down through the thicket while you slowly die from a million little cuts. I would never encourage my children to go down this path, and i would encourage anyone interested in it to spend a lot of time shadowing a physician in their day-to-day. Healthcare is now provided by insurance companies and hospital executives. Doctors are just mid-level employees who do the work. You can get the same type of job In any field and will have less debt, less stress, be able to enjoy your 20s and early 30s, and even have all your weekends and holidays. I urge you to be wary. No one ever warned me. I wish someone had.
Hi, I’m a Sophmore in high school and right now it’s not going to well. Last year I had great grades, a 4.1 GPA as well. However this year my grades aren’t too good, not due to me being unable to understand the content but simply home reasons that interfered with my work. I still understand everything but that isn’t reflected in my grades. I know that junior and senior year may help balance it out and of course the SAT and ACT, but I’m worried I won’t get into a good undergrad school, then a good Med school and so on. If I don’t get into a great undergrad school, will that ruin my chances of becoming a surgeon?
Not necessarily. I know many good doctors who went to colleges most people never heard of. You can get into medical school having gone to a lesser known college. You will have to work hard, get good grades, and do well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Good luck.
Hello , I’m really interested in surgery , but I’m too worried about med school . You see , I live in Morocco , and medical schools here aren’t great at all . I don’t have the money to study abroad , I know about scholarships but I don’t know how can one get them? I’d love to study medicine in Germany, heck , I’d love to study it at any decent school . My biggest problem is money , my dad has already told me that he won’t be paying anything… Also , I’m an introvert, I have weak social skills ,but that doesn’t really worry me , I can develop them if I try hard enough.
One other thing that bothers me is the lifestyle of a surgeon, I don’t know wether I’ll be able to enjoy it .
Never less ,my biggest issue is finding a decent med school , I’m still 16 but time sure flies by, I’ll try to get good marks , a bac degree as we call it here.
Do you know something about universities and medical schools that accept Moroccan students and provide them with a scholarship? I’d appreciate it , really .
(P.s: I can speak French , English ,Arabic , russian . By any chance , can I find a med school that teaches in any of the languages that I’ve mentioned? I don’t understand Deutsch, and I’ve heard they don’t teach in English??)
I know there are medical schools that teach in the languages you speak. What I don’t know is which schools, if any, would accept Moroccan students. I’m sorry I can be more helpful.
Thank you for Sharing your amazing and inspiring story. I also think we can live our full life as a surgeon but at the same time You have to manage your personal life as well
So I’ve spent hours looking at different websites and blogs about what people are saying about different surgical specialties, and I’m not finding what I need. I am a freshman in HS and honestly, all I’m worried about right now is my GPA. I’m taking Honors Bio this year and most likely Honors Chem the next. Math, to me, is tough right now. What were your strong points in school and how have they helped you? What classes did you take in Highschool and what was your gpa like. I’m also worried about vaca time. I, like everyone else, have seen the rough side of things like divorces and failed relationships. Do you know anything about orthopedic surgeon or anesthesiologist vacation time?
Thank you for your comments. I have been thinking about your questions. I don’t think any subject you take in high school has any bearing on whether you will be accepted to medical school or how you function as a physician. In addition to studying, high school is for maturing, having fun, and attending football games. We didn’t have honors courses and GPAs greater than 4 when I went to high school.
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Of course, the subjects you take and your grades will be important when you apply to college. You also need to be a well-rounded student. It’s not just about the academics anymore. I always tell young people to attend a college whose name might be recognized outside of their home town. There are hundreds of excellent colleges out there. Each one is capable of turning out students who will be admitted to medical school.
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Your last question troubles me. There is no set vacation time for each specialty. It is probably a little easier to take vacations when you are an anesthesiologist radiologist, or an emergency medicine physician because in those specialties, continuity of patient care is not a factor. However if you choose a specialty based on the way vacations are taken, you will be a very unhappy doctor. You should base your choice on whether you like what you are doing. The career of the average doctor lasts about 35-40 years. That’s a long time to be doing something you hate just so you can have an extra week off per year. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Thanks for reading my post. The subjects you study in high school don’t matter. You need to get good grades and get into a good college preferably one that people recognize. In college you need to major in whatever you like and take the science courses that are required by the medical schools you apply to. Most med schools are de-emphasizing science requirements and looking for more well-rounded students. I hope it works out for you. Good luck.
hello sir skeptic! im turning 8th grade soon and i [really] want to become an orthopedic surgeon (or any surgeon really but ortho is interesting for me). tho i am worried since most surgeons, if not all, have very busy lifestyles but i want to be there for my children and spouse. can i live a family-oriented life while being an orthopedic surgeon? thank you 🙂
Thank you for commenting. As I have told others, I suggest you try to find an orthopedic surgeon willing to talk with you about how he or she is managing to combine work and family. I know many male and female orthopedists who are doing just fine with both. I would also say that you are a little young to have made up your mind that you want to be a doctor and specifically, an orthopedic surgeon. When I started med school, I wanted to be a psychiatrist. But I found I enjoyed gross anatomy. In my third year general surgery clerkship, I realized surgery was for me. Study hard in high school and get a good college education. Best of luck to you.
How much do you know about surgeon-scientists? I’ve heard about surgeons who also conduct research, though it seems like too much of an overload. Being a surgeon is hard enough to lead a normal life outside of work, and to incorporate research into it just seems to add to the stress and burden. However, I’m passionate about both research and surgery and want to find a way to incorporate both into my life somehow while still having time for my own life. Are there surgical specialties or better ways of approaching this? How would I go about it?
Thanks!
Basic science research is a part of most university hospital surgical residency programs. In your fourth year of medical school, you will be applying for residency. A mentor should to help you chose a suitable program. You can look at the website of any program now and see which ones incorporate a year or two of research.
Does the research have to be based off of our surgical specialty? Can we conduct applied research in the future?
I guess it doesn’t have to be based on your surgical specialty. But why would you want to become a surgeon and do research on another topic? You can do research throughout your entire career not just as a resident.
I want to be is a surgeon. Thank you for your article and advice.
Hi, I hope you see this.
I am entering my freshman year of high school after summer. Since I was little, I’ve wanted to be a vet. Then I started watching greys anatomy and was inspired to become a surgeon. (I know it’s unrealistic, it’s the medical things that inspire me.) I want to be either a trauma or pediatric surgeon, but probably pediatric. But I also really love animals. Will I be able to have a normal life as a surgeon? Like, be involved with my children? Also, what is an operating room like? How many people, etc. I also don’t want to disappoint by not becoming a vet.
Thank you!
Will I be able to have a normal life as a surgeon? Yes. I know many female surgeons who are doing just fine. I suggest you speak to a few of them. Most are happy to discuss and/or mentor women like you.
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Like, be involved with my children? See above answer.
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Also, what is an operating room like? How many people, etc. Usually a surgeon, an assistant, a scrub tech or nurse, a circulating nurse and an anesthesiologist or anesthetist. It can be anything from routine or chaotic depending on how things are going.
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I also don’t want to disappoint by not becoming a vet. Who are you going to disappoint and why do you care what they think? Do what will make you the happiest and most satisfied.
Thanks for replying! ❤️
Am currently a Sophomore in high school although school about to let out in two weeks
I’ve always known that I wanted to go into medicine and be a surgeon, now am sure I want to be a trauma surgeon because I feel that there is a certain importance that you can’t get anywhere else, a few days ago my friend told me that all the surgeon’s he has ever met are either single or divorced, my teacher said he only knows one who is married but the dad’s a stay at home parent, and a lot of friends are like regular surgery is hard enough but trauma surgery is even more time demanding, is it possible to have a family be a very involved parent and still have time for vacations in this line of work
I know lots of happily married trauma surgeons and other surgeons. I did some trauma and critical care surgery. Last month my wife and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. I hope this answers your question.
Hello, my name is maya, and I’m a freshmen in HS, I’ve always loved medicine since i was 9, i want to be a doctor and i know i will be, but I’m scared because i want to be a nuerosugeon but then I’ve red that nuerosugeons do not have a normal life style, like if i get married and have children, i will miss their games or whatever, and i dont want that, but at the same time i love surgeries and like i dont know what else i can specialize in because i feel like surgries are the most thing that intrest me. My mom told me if i want to have a normal lifestyle and you want to live as well, be a pediatrician becasue i love children, so im thinning about that as well but i wanted to ask you before i fully go because i really do want to do surgeries and i just love them so do you have any suggestions other than nuerosugeon that have a normal life style
Thanks for your comments. Luckily you have time to figure things out. I suggest you try to contact a female neurosurgeon and discuss things with her. Maybe she would let you shadow her for a day to see what things are like. You should know that you will need four years of college and four years of medical school. After med school, you will have to take at lease seven years of residency training. Neurosurgery is one of the most difficult specialties to get a residency in. You will have to get very good grades in med school. Good luck.
Hello,
The blog is very awesome article possible live a full life surgeon.
Thank you for share us
Almost a million dollars in debt? How is he ever going to pay that off? One hour a night? It sounds like a miserable existence. He needs some professional help because of the suicidal thoughts. Please encourage him to do that. I am so sorry for you and him.
Hello! Thank you for your contributions, guidance and pearls of wisdom. I really enjoy your blog. I was wondering. If you had some insight into changing specialties later in one’s career. I am a general practicioner at an academic center and find myself longing for a field with more technical skills and technological advancements. Diagnoses and prescriptions can only go so far with insurance limitations and patient non-adherence. I am considering changing specialties and would like to pursue general surgery as I feel it would be deeply satisfying and much more fulfilling. I am aware of the obstacles. Residency funding issues, age, years out of med school, significant salary reduction etc. I’m in my mid-30s and still plan on practicing for as long as I’m capable (never wanted to do anything outside of medicine). How could I approach this. I would ask surgeons at my hospital but don’t want my department to find out that I’m considering a change (at least for now) which might lead to some backlash. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I’m happy that you have seen the light. It’s possible to do what you propose, but it won’t be easy. I have written three posts somewhat covering the same issues you will face. Two also discuss going to medical school at an advanced age which is not your situation. Here are links to them. [https://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-prospects-for-switching-to.html and http://askskepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2015/01/going-to-med-school-and-becoming.html and http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-medical-school-tuition-debt.html%5D Please read the comments too. If you still have questions, Comment again here or email me at skepticalscalpel@hotmail.com. Good luck.
Reading this makes me want to become a surgeon even more. I really like how you mentioned that it’s the feeling of fulfillment that really keeps people going and knowing you made a difference in their lives. You are also right that it’s filled with compromises that all have their different outcomes.
I hope it works out for you. Good luck.
I think this post is helpful not only to medical students, but to residents in community programs that may not be affiliated with a large academic center. Thank you for such a helpful reference to share with mentees!
Thanks for the information, No it not to live like as a surgeon whole life. Everyone has their own personal life also.
Hello, I’m a sophomore in High School, and I have been thinking of becoming a surgeon. Maybe I’m watching too much of Grey’s Anatomy, but I can definitely say that show has inspired me. Freshman, I took Honors Physics in an I-STEM program and I enjoyed it. Math has been one of my favorite subjects ever since I was a little kid. This year, I am taking Honors Chem and I honestly love that class. I understand it, and I usually end up helping other people with their work. I have an overall grade of 89 for a semester and a half. Junior year, I plan to take AP Chem and Honors Bio. The reason I am reaching out, is because I don’t think my parents will take me seriously. If I tell them that I got inspired by a show, they might think it’s just a phase. But I have done my research and looked on several websites about how a surgeon’s life is, and how much school is needed to pursue this career. With my interest in Math and Chem, I think I will end up going into the medical field. So my question is, how do I tell my parents, and how do I make them take me seriously?
I suggest you tell your parents that the science courses you are taking have made you interested in becoming a doctor. I can’t imagine why your parents would not take you seriously. I understand that Grey’s Anatomy is one of the better medical shows, but it is not a true depiction of what it’s like to be a doctor in real life. As I have advised others, you should begin talking to some doctors to get an idea of what they actually do. Study hard and good luck.
I am currently a JR in high school. I have always wanted to have a career in medicine, but the end of last year I realized that I wanted to be a trauma surgeon, simply because I don’t see myself with a career other than a surgeon. I love medicine, I love helping people, and I want to save lives. I’m doing everything I can right now, as I take 4 AP Classes 2 of them being Biology and Chemistry. I volunteer at a hospital, as an EMT, and I attend “Mini Med School” programs. I am also an athlete and do speech and debate. I don’t have a social life. I’m constantly busting my tail and I’m no the smartest, but I am hardworking and persistent. As crazy as this sounds, I’m ready to commit myself to hours on call, no love life, and no kids when I’m older. I only really love medicine.
It changes after high school please put more effort in people work is important but so are people friendships,love,marriage
Hi, I am a freshman in high school and i’ve considered looking into becoming a surgeon and possibly a neurosurgeon for my career. My father is a veterinarian and so since i was a young kid i was interested by surgery. I want to become a surgeon so i can help people. The fact that i could save someone’s life just makes me want to become a surgeon. Although, i have wondered what this would mean for my future family, and private life. It sounds selfish putting my private life up there with saving someone else’s life but this is important to me. I would appreciate your reply on what i should do or what you recommend. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment.
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As I have told others on this post, I can’t tell you what to do. I know there have been a lot of comments on this post, but please take a few minutes to read some of them and my responses. I have no recommendations other than you should speak to a few surgeons and have them discuss with you what their lives are like. You might even try to “shadow” a surgeon or two for a day. This would give you some real-life perspective.
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Good luck.
Hi there! I’ve aimed to become a Neurosurgeon. But I am unsure of choosing my pathway as becoming a Neurosurgeon. Either by completing MBBS in India and continuing further courses in Australia or embark my Neurosurgeon career in Australia itself followed by bachelor and required courses.
Help me guide my future in a better way. I do need to know the followed up stairs in each pathways. Thank You!
I’m sorry I cannot help you with your decision. I am not familiar with either of the two options you mentioned.
Im a sophomore in high school and always wanted to work in the medical field. Recently I have been seriously considering become a surgeon ( I otherwise want to definitely be an anesthesiologist/pain management doctor) but I am worried that my public high school education has not been getting me far enough to advance into the world of surgery. If I do become a surgeon I want to be a trauma surgeon, which seems very exciting. I am only worried that sad to say, that I am not brilliant enough to have what it takes to become a surgeon. Does anyone have any advice for me?
You won’t know if you are brilliant enough unless you try. Go to college. Major in something else that interests you, but take some science courses that are required for medical school. If you do well, go for it. If not, you haven’t lost anything. Good luck.
hey man I’m a junior in high school and I’ve been thinking of becoming a surgeon I did a lot of research and you need a 3.5 gpa or higher but yet if you don’t have it you can always retake classes most high schools let you.
Hi! I heard that doctors study their whole lives. Is this true for surgeons as well? In addition, should I have a steady hand in order to be a surgeon? Last but not least, what are some things that I have to consider before choosing to be a surgeon or not? Thanks!
Yes, good doctors study throughout their entire career. It’s true for surgeons too because surgeons are also doctors. Before you decide to become a surgeon, you should consider whether you want to study hard, work hard, make some sacrifices regarding your personal life, help people, and enjoy a rewarding but demanding career. I always tell people who ask me questions like this to speak to some surgeons, both male and female, to get their perspectives on a surgical career. If after talking to a couple of surgeons you still want to find out if it’s for you, I recommend “shadowing” a surgeon for a couple of days to see what he or she actually does.
Just wanted to say thank you for your posts and after reading through the comments, thank you for the time you take to wholeheartedly answer the questions. Regardless of how often you get the thank you, I thought it be needed. I’m in the same situation as many of these readers having finished a BS in biochemistry and have been on the rocker about whether or not to continue my studies towards surgery or to take an alternate route into Nursing in order to balance the idea that I could juggle two professions (I’m very into art and fashion and am in the works of trying to create my own brand). My struggle is wanting to balance two professions and being afraid that time won’t allow me to do so as a surgeon. Although I’ve always had a pull towards surgery, my mental conflict is coming to terms with the idea of it really being something I want to pursue for me, or it being that me, as a (competitive) black female, want to increase the representation of women and women of color in the field. Morally I feel like, even if not excel, I’ve been given a gift of placement and the ability to understand science based criteria that I would be doing an injustice to not pursue that career based on the opportunities that have been given to me that may not have been given had I been born a different time. I’d appreciate any sort of response on that if you’ve got it. Thanks again!
I receive many comments and emails from men and women who aren’t sure that they want to go through the rigors of medical school and residency. It’s amazing how often I can tell from the the way they describe themselves that they don’t seem committed. Many times I say, “Read what you wrote to yourself again or read it to someone you trust, and see what they think about your desire to be a doctor.” Or sometimes they ask about how much vacation time there is or how much money they can make.
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I like the way you stated your intentions. I think you get it. There are many ways to accomplish what you want to do. I suggest you speak to some women surgeons and find out what they think about your plans. The Association of Women Surgeons has a website [https://www.womensurgeons.org/] that might help you find people to talk to. Best wishes and good luck.
Hi, Im a junior in high school, taking part in a special design and art program. I having a similar dilemma or problem; I love science and knowing how things function and why, but I’m also very design and art oriented. If I were to pursue medicine, I would want to be a surgeon. Im afraid, this being such a demanding career I won’t have enough time to do other things that interest me like art/design. Traveling for one is very important to me and I would hate to have to give it up. The another thing I’m worried about is being able to raise children and have a family. If you have any advice or anything you would have like to have known at my age I would really appreciate it, thank you.
Thanks for your comment and question. Here’s a post from 2014 that covers a lot of your concerns [https://www.physiciansweekly.com/possible-live-full-life-surgeon%e2%80%8f/]. I caution you that most of the time, caring for patients has to be one of the most important things in your life next to family. If travel is more important, do something else. I suggest you talk to some women surgeons to gain some insight about how they manage family life. Good luck.
Hi there,
Ive just completed reading this article and a lot of the comments. Im 21 yrs old with a license in neuromuscular massage therapy. Ive always been interested in the medical field, and Ive recently been thinking about my next step in life. Im curious to what type of personalities do well in a career like yours? The massage therapy business is a bit more laid back, which is enjoyable, but I love being a student and I feel like massage isnt fufilling enough for a long term gig. Have you ever seen someone flourish as a surgeon even if other people thought they werent mentally cut out for it?
Yes. I have seen people succeed in medicine who “weren’t mentally cut out for it.” Don’t let stereotypes influence your decision.
Thats great to hear.. Thank you! Do you have any tips for me as I start researching more about becoming one? I read some of your comments talling those to find someone to shadow for a day and I think im going to do that as soon as I can.
Shadowing and having some serious discussions with some doctors including some women doctors would be my top suggestions.
I want to become a Cardio Vascular surgeon, I have always wanted to be. As a freshman in High School, I was taking college biochem and it was amazing. My only delay now is how the life of a surgeon actually is. Do you work 3 days and get 4 off? How many weeks off do you get? Do you get paid By a Normal hour and Surgical hour? And most importantly considering Greys Anatomy messed me up, how is residency? When do you perform your first surgery etc?
Matthew, thank you for commenting and your questions. I don’t know any cardiovascular surgeons who work three days and get four days off. How many weeks off you get depends on whether you are in private practice, which by the time you get out of your training will probably not exist, or work for a hospital and get a salary. Usually, employed physicians get anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks off per year. Employed surgeons are not paid by the hour. They receive a yearly salary. Some employed physicians receive productivity bonuses which may or may not exist in the future. To become a cardiovascular surgeon, he would need to do four years of medical school and a minimum of six years of residency during which time your salary would be about $60,000 per year. Residency is long and hard. Most residents begin to do surgery in their first year of training.
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I suggest you see if you can talk to a surgeon where you live and possibly follow her around for a day to see what she does. I hope you don’t mind the following advice. When you are considering a career as a surgeon, your first few questions should not be how many days do I work and how many vacation days will I have. Like most careers, if you don’t love the work, you will be miserable.
I am interested in becoming a neurosurgeon but I hear that it consumes your life and divorce is dominant when taking a job like this. I was wondering if this is true and if you can pick your hours as a surgeon?
Neurosurgery is quite time consuming. Most neurosurgery residency training programs last 7 years after med school graduation. Many areas do not have enough neurosurgeons so the ones who are there have long hours and many nights and weekends on call. It’s probably not the specialty you are looking for if you want to “pick your hours.”
Now i am in 12th standard and i want a degree of doctor with my name. But people suggests me that, don’t take admission in mbbs it’s too hard n i should have to struggle alot for being a mbbs is it true?
I’m sorry. I can’t answer that. I am not familiar enough with the UK system to give you proper advice.
I am an indian sir
Sorry, I did not realize that.I am even less familiar with the Indian system. Can you find a mentor in India who you might discuss this with? Good luck.
i really wanted to be a doctor but i also want a life.. traveling is one of my goals, too. i’m having doubts now…
You can still travel and afford to do it in style. You just can’t do it as often as you might like.
omg. that’s great to hear! i’ve read some articles saying you can’t completely travel and such. but you can, atleast once or twice a year, right?
Yes.
Doctors can travel a lot also. Some kinder docters even travel to third-world countries for free to treat the people who can’t pay for it themselves. It’s a kind task. Hehe I wanted to be a doctor but I fell into my art habits.
Hey there, I’m 23 years old with only one year of community college completed. Finally I feel like there is something that interests me enough to go BACK to school but is it too late me for to become a surgeon? What should my first steps be towards achieving my goals be? Any information you can give me would be awesome!
Definitely not too late. Many have succeeded in med school after starting at age 30-35. Go for it. Study hard. Ace the MCAT. Good luck.
Hello,
Thank you for your article and advice. I am 31 and I am a career change student. In my twenties, I travelled and lived life well, but was always unfulfilled. I started to go back to school for PA school. It turned out my under grad was useless since it was a for-profit college. So I started from scratch. I’m a year and half into it and have a PA school willing to interview me, but after all my shaowding I found my love of surgery and women’s health. The female MD I shadowed the most inspiring but encouraged me to go to PA school due to the time medical school cost her.
I fear going to medical school because of time. I would have to complete a undergrad at a California state school to save money and then apply for medical school, (if I can get in) it could be as much as ten years from now and I would not be practicing until I was 42. I am struggling with this decision. Do you have any advice?
I apologize for the delay in posting and responding to your comment. It is difficult for me to tell you what to do. I have heard from several non-traditional medical students and residents who were aware of the difficulty of completing premed requirements and medical school at an advanced age. But they did it anyway.
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A close friend of mine has done just that, and he could not be happier. Granted, not practicing until you are 42 sounds daunting, and it’s not for everyone. Here’s a link to a post I wrote in 2015 [http://askskepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2015/01/going-to-med-school-and-becoming.html].
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I recommend you read it including the comments. It may help you sort things out. I know that the female physician you shadowed recommended you stick with PA school. However, the problem with that advice is, it’s what she would have done in your place not what you want to do.
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If you are really committed and willing to pay the price in both money and time, then go for it. But be aware that there are many other hurdles including undergraduate grades and the MCAT in order to get into medical school, the USMLE exams and grades in medical school, and the type of medical school you attend. I caution you to think twice about going to a medical school outside of the US. It is going to be harder and harder for graduates of those schools to find residency positions. Go to my personal blog skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com and enter the word ‘Caribbean’ in the search field for more information about offshore schools.
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I’m sorry if is is not as helpful as you were hoping. Good luck
Good am/pm sir, I’m still a high school student probably, soon to be a grade 11 student in Philippines. I chose stem as my track, and i’ve already taken an entrance exam in a medical school and passed.
I dont have any connections in my family even so, i really wanted to become a doctor. I have decided to have med tech as my pre-med (bcoz most of my teachers preferred it).
Being a general surgeon also inspires me a lot but at the same time, the thoughts of not going to make it or “impossible” always hits me, i also considered our country not that productive, especially to our city because of the lack of med school ( there is only one medical school that has “medicine” (dunno about the term yet)) even though it is like that, i just wanted to ask if being a general surgeon is hard, or does it require a student who is likely intelligent(lol i know this question is stupid), how many years or estimated years to study to become a general surgeon, what do you do after graduating as a general surgeon? Did you get a job directly? Or did you still have a following training? How many years did you finish training? While in training, do you have somewhat an income? After training what do you do? What are your advice?
*ps, i know some of my questions are really stupid and i apologize for that.
*if you ask why should not i talk to a general surgeon in our country, it’s because i don’t have any connections, not just in my family/ etc. Lol. Even though i’ll go out, and go to an hospital, it’s really hard.
Yes, being a general surgeon is hard, and you have to be intelligent in order to make it through medical school and residency training. In the US, most surgeons spent four years in college, four years in medical school, and a minimum of five years in general surgery residency training. These days, most graduates of general surgery training take at least one year of fellowship in a subspecialty of general surgery. However, this is not mandatory, and many begin to practice and do well directly after residency training. Yes, there is “somewhat of an income” during residency training. I’m not sure what advice you are looking for. It might be difficult for you as a citizen of the Philippines to go to medical school in the US and/or obtain a residency in surgery here. Since it is a long way off for you, things may change. Good luck.
I’m looking to pursue a career in medicine. Eventually, I hope to join Doctors Without Borders or a similar organization. Any advice you have in regards to my college choice, what I major/minor in, and what sort of internships and/or study abroad programs I participate it before med school? Additionally, I’m wondering if I’ll be able to pursue other interests along with a medical degree? Since I was little, I’ve always been interested in acting or music or photography… but clearly these don’t align well with the training that goes towards being a doctor. Will I have time to partake in other interests? Thanks!
This is just my opinion, but I think many people believe what I’m about to say. Regarding a college choice, you should attend a college with a name that someone more than 50 miles away from it would recognize. You can major in anything you want as long as you take the required science courses. Medical schools today are looking for well-rounded individuals who are not science nerds. Studying abroad is not necessary, but you need to demonstrate an interest in medicine by doing some community service or working in some medical capacity as a college student. Doing some research is also recommended.
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Busy people can always make time for other interests. Music, acting, or photography would be good choices. Your goal is a noble one. I hope you achieve it. Good luck.
Do you recommend to pursue a private practice or hospital employment for a neurosurgeon?
I’m not a neurosurgeon. The answer to your question depends on whether you want to make a ton of money or not. If the answer is yes, choose private practice. If you would prefer a less hectic lifestyle and don’t mind less money, choose a salaried position. I am not sure how many of the latter positions there are. I know that some hospitals are so desperate for neurosurgeons that they offer a guaranteed income up front. That’s sort of a combination of private practice and salary. PS: Neurosurgery residencies are very competitive and very long. You need to do exceptionally well in school. Good luck.
Hi im a 3rd year medical student and i never rlly wanted to be a surgreon until i saw greys anatomy for 2 years now all i want to be is a surgeon and i dont care about the drama on the show the medical stuff is what intrests me, im just wondering how hard is it to be a surgeon? I’ve always been the top of my class in medical school im doing well and working hard and having a super busy schedule doesnt scare me but im wondering is it possible for me to have a normal life? Have time for my husbund kids excersice friends? And still be a great surgeon
Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, it is possible for you to have a normal life. I have two suggestions for you. One, have a long conversation with a female surgeon at your medical school and find out how she did it. Two, read some of my other posts on the subject of becoming a surgeon. Nine of them can be found at this link: http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2016/01/should-i-become-general-surgeon.html
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Good luck.
I haven’t done that great so far in school/college, but I’m ready to buckle down and work hard for this. Is it possible to still become a surgeon even though my past grades aren’t so great?
I’m going to need a little more info. How not so great are your grades? Have you taken any science courses and how did you do? Are you attending a school that anyone may have heard of? Do you already have significant tuition debt?
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You can email me if you would rather. SkepticalScalpel@hotmail.com
I’ve looked Into becoming a surgeon for four years now, but all I have seen is negative commentary. I’m well aware that being a surgeon requires a lot of dedication but is it really that bad? I plan to study nursing but yet I know I will regret never taking the chance to become a surgeon like I’ve been wanting too. I guess the only thing that I fear is not spending time with my family. On top of that, I come from a low income family so how will I end paying my debt?
It’s not nearly as bad as some people say. And don’t forget that people who complain are much more likely to speak up than those who are satisfied. Regarding the debt, I can’t help much. Go to state schools. Live modestly and save money to pay off your loans after you finish training.
Is it worth financially becoming a surgeon? I want to know that after those 12 – 16 hard years Im earning a lot of money.
I would say it’s worth it, but if you just want to make money, become a hedge fund manager or an investment banker. It takes a lot less time to be trained.
When you say, “Although I’ll never climb Everest, go an African safari, ski the Swiss Alps or do many other things that might be important to others, I’ve had an interesting and fulfilling life. Wilderness? Not so much. But love and relationships? I got ’em.” Does this mean general surgeons rarely, if not ever, find the time to travel or enjoy some personal time off every now and then?
I’m glad to hear that love and relationships are possible to have even within a demanding profession. Any insight you can provide on how much time is possible to have with loved ones during med school, residency, and beyond? (Little to none/fair amount/more than enough?) Although I’m sure it helps if loved ones are very understanding and supportive when personal time may not always be available.
Also, I am a non-traditional student, just about to start my undergraduate studies. Any advice to those who feel it may be too late to pursue a career as a general surgeon?
I’ve traveled a lot, even when I was a chief of surgery and in practice. We even took our 6 kids to Europe twice. I found more than adequate time for family. It helps to have an understanding and self-sufficient spouse.
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I’ve complied a list of several posts I wrote about becoming a surgeon on my personal blog. Here’s the link: http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2016/01/should-i-become-general-surgeon.html
Thank you!
Hi… Im a 1st yr surgery resident who happens to b d only female n d 1st ever female in d dpt since d college started other dan d interns who come n go…. I took up surgery cause i never felt d kind of lov n passion to any other branch like i do for surgery… But some how now a days i feel its a mistake…every day i get tormented by my seniors just cause im a woman n i even get comments like its still not late to change streams… N my family also keeps tellin me its a bad choice..Do u really think its true… I mean i lov surgery n one day i wana even take up plastics… Its just dat sometimes i feel may b dey all r rite… What do u think? Can women not b gud surgeons?
Women can be good surgeons or even great surgeons. You need to join Twitter and follow some of the many women surgeons who are very happy and successful. You can start by following the Association of Women Surgeons (@WomenSurgeons). There are blogs to read and you can see who the association is following and follow some of those women.
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Good luck.
Hi, Can you facilitate your email or something to contact you??? Is important
SkepticalScalpel(@ sign)hotmail(dot)com
When you are little, have you ever dreamed to become a surgeon or the chance to become a surgeon never crossed your mind?
Good question. I never thought of it until late in high school when I decided I wanted to become a doctor. At first I thought I would be a psychiatrist. That notion disappeared when I did my first anatomy lab in med school.
Being a cardiac surgeon can I enjoy my life??????
Or will I be regretting for my choice as I am fun loving person…
I think you will be fine. Don’t let medicine get you down.
Have you ever regret that you chose medicine because of stress? What kind of stresses did you experience most often as a surgeon. What kind of volunteers did you do to get accepted into a med school?
As a surgeon, were you able to
have a summer and/or any breaks?
what do you do hour by hour/
Right now, I am retired. I assume your question is about what I did hour by hour as a surgeon. That is a difficult question to answer simply, because every day was different for me.
Because I was a surgical chairman and residency program director for most of my career, my days were not typical for a surgeon. The average surgeon sees patients in an office or clinic setting on some days and operates on other days. If there are patients in the hospital, most surgeons will see those patients every day and write progress notes. There are also emergency consultations and operations to be dealt with. Most surgeons take night call once or possibly twice a week. It is different for surgeons in teaching hospitals with residents versus those in nonteaching hospitals who may be working only with physician assistants or nurse practitioners.
If you want to know more about what a surgeon does on a daily basis, you might consider “shadowing” a surgeon for a couple of days.