It's better to have went the long way around for a couple years, than to be stubborn and stick it through and be unhappy. We make decisions, usually with inadequate information, and have to live with the bad outcomes in a very personal way. If you clip something else you are going to mess that patients life in a very tangible way. Introduction. But the privilege of literally holding someone else's life in your hands and knowing that you helped them by cutting out their cancer or sewing up the hole in the aorta from that bullet makes up for all of it. Same with ER docs, hospitalists and intensivists. Please read the rules carefully before posting or commenting. Whereas with our generation, we a) already tend to value lifestyle over income a bit more and b) already know there are way better ways to become rich. it is worth the hump. Press J to jump to the feed. I had to follow a private surgeon for a week during my Surgery clerkship. Lol, I really hate hearing that. Aim. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for General Surgeon salaries. Now currently in bed at 9pm. Did you get a fellowship or go straight into practice? It definitely changed my perspective on my future career. Really didn't decide until week of apps. If I can't, I may consider transferring to a different specialty, because I think I'm going to value doing something I like and having time with my family over doing something that I love that doesn't allow me to see my family without large sacrifices that leave me feeling unsatisfied no matter what I do. It's certainly not a field for everyone because of the sacrifice that goes with it and the fact that you need a really understanding and supportive family, but in my opinion it is totally worth it. For example even in something as simple and rutinary as a lap-chole you have to be 100% sure that you are clipping the cystic duct and artery. Cordial? Surgery intern. I spent a lot of time trying out every surgical specialty. There is little published data regarding the caseloads of general surgeons working in rural centres. Alimentary tract (esophagus and related organs) 2. What specialty are you in? It made me even more in awe of the surgery. The shortage of general surgeons in the U.S. is projected to get worse as the number of these doctors entering the workforce each year fails to keep pace with population growth, a U.S. study suggests. Are any surgical specialties compatible with a good-ish lifestyle? How does it compare to other surgical specialties? Adversarial? While somethings are different something don´t change no matter where you are. Before that experience I was fairly confident about pursuing some kind of fellowship/specialty, but I really liked the rural general surgery atmosphere. You have to get up early for rounds, I´ve always felt that rounds are tougher than what I see from the other specialties, surgeons seem to be more demanding and have lower tolerance to mistakes. Wow I came to hear about the lifestyles and this whole thread got derailed. Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of organs inside the thoracic cavity — generally treatment of conditions of the heart (heart disease), lungs (lung disease) and other pleural or mediastinal structures.. The 7-year period starts immediately upon completion of training. Trauma Despite the term "general", surgeons that practice general surge… A Mason 1500? I like most of our anesthesiologists and CRNAs, as long as everyone is focused on getting the best outcome over going home early. Reddit; Wechat; Abstract. General surgeons are like the marines of medicine. We currently train 5 interns and 3 residents per year. We make decisions, usually with inadequate information, and have to live with the bad outcomes in a very personal way. And the sacrifice is for other people (ie missing family events) as well as for yourself (ie going a whole day without eating or using the restroom, not exercising because you are too exhausted from standing all day, etc.) [M1 here]. This is essentially my plan. The highs are high, the lows are personal. I am about to go into my intern year for surgery, and I unfortunately have not met a lot of surgeons outside of my own med school/residency program whom I can ask about this stuff. Ha, I guess that sort of answers my question huh lol. Abdomen and its contents 3. He is an anesthesiologist, former Navy, noted for refusing needle exchange programs on ‘moral’ grounds. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon office usually 1-4 pm, Friday usually 4 colonoscopy and 1-2 cases. Therefore, surgeons must dedicate their lives to studying and learning so that patients get the best possible care. Competition In 2016 there were 217 ST3 posts in the UK with and average of 1.7 applications for each post*. I have to agree with /u/Valpodoc that surgeons are the Marines of medicine. You either die mediocre...or you live long enough to die a workaholic. With that said, overwhelmingly, I've only heard of examples where people leave surgery (of any type) instead of the other way around. Only one exam opportunity will be offered in each year of the 7-year period. According to the American Board of Surgery, a general surgeon has expertise in conditions that affect these bodily systems: 1. We are understaffed at my program, which is an academic program, so most of the surgeons I know do not have a great work-life balance. Any thoughts? General surgeons' attitudes toward breast reconstruction may affect referrals to plastic surgeons. Now theres nothing in the world I want to do 12-14 hrs a day 6 days a week but if I had to choose that schedule of surgery or an 8 hr deskjob then count me in for surgery! jay, i did more cases my first year out than in five years of residency. I wish I had thought more seriously about this a year ago, but I was so caught up with how much I loved surgery, I didn't really give anything else a chance. I´ve had the chance of doing some rotations in USA and at public and private hospitals in my home country. Some people consider lifestyle when deciding what specialty to choose. I'm an MS4 from the Midwest going into general surgery and I spent some time recently with a rural general surgeon. Cookies help us deliver our Services. General surgeon for twenty years in the midwest. So you’re compensated for that harder lifestyle. And what year of training/out of training? The propensity to refer to plastic surgeons prior to surgical treatment decisions for breast cancer varies markedly across general surgeons and is associated with receipt of reconstruction. What is the scope for rural orthopaedic surgery in the US? Broad training in diverse areas keeps the general surgeon essential in today's market. I agree with everything PensieveAuror said and I'll add this. Sorry this ended up being a rant, if you guys need more specific answers or want to talk about surgery outside the US just ask. Academic or private? It's pointed out in "Forgive and Remember" that when someone dies in medicine they say "What happened?" i would never tell a colleague how to do their job. I used to want to be a hand surgeon when I was at university which meant doing plastic surgery or orthopaedic surgery. Why did you choose general surgery? But I sure was hoping for more relevant anecdotes about lifestyle than discussions about the shitty stuff I've already come to terms with. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I want to be around for a lot of the daily stuff, and I want to know that I can have flexibility in my life as a surgeon once I'm out of residency. There is no chance to wait a bit and go read about your patient and sometimes you know what the patient needs but you are simply not dexterous enough to do it. General surgeons help people live better lives by performing surgery to treat injuries and illness. Toll free: 800-621-4111 (P) 312-202-5000 (F) 312-202-5001 (E) postmaster@facs.org How Much Money Do General Surgeons Make? As a surgeon you have to be quick and precise. You still have to pre-round at the crack of dawn and read when you finally get off work, but you get the reward of learning how to do simple procedures and the satisfaction of seeing that you're getting better. Try it for a year, but be real with yourself. This is true in both the context of training in surgery then leaving, or vice versa. What's your relationship with the anesthesiologist(s) like? Thanks. One piece of good advice I got from a surgeon mentor...it's never too late to change your mind. I'm a chief resident. ITS SUPER FUN. So the takeaway here is that if you're dead-set on a work-life balance, look elsewhere? If your career is not your #1 priority, surgery may be a pretty rough ride. There's definitely still a place for good general surgeons in spite of 70+% of residents going into fellowships. According to the American Board of Surgery,2 general surgeons are trained to operate on the: 1. Reddit; Abstract. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the General Surgeon job market in both Chicago, IL and the surrounding area is very active. mutual respect. But I think there may have been more people who went into medicine for the wrong reasons (e.g., money, prestige) than there are now, probably because so many of them realized it and then told us about how we shouldn’t do medicine/should think twice about going into medicine. But not a surgeon. I know, I should be studying for ABSITE but I need a break. I pick the lifestyle of general surgery: operating, constantly improving my skills, and giving my patients the opportunity for a better life. Got home today at 530, cut the grass and worked out. I have also worked with a decent number of general surgeons at my medical school who didn't pursue a fellowship, and they seem very satisfied with their practice. Both are general surgeons who also specialize in trauma and surgical critical care. Stanford's Division of General Surgery is made up of subspecialty sections in colorectal surgery, minimally invasive and bariatric surgery, trauma/critical care and acute care surgery and surgical oncology (breast, gastrointestinal, hepatopancreaticobiliary and endocrine surgery), and general surgery at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. 1, 2 It remains difficult to attract and retain surgeons in rural areas of Australia, with similar difficulties in the USA and Canada. We get called when things go bad, car accidents, gun shot wounds, organs rupture bad infections. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I'm sure a general surgeon will be along shortly. Clinic days he would round on his hospital patients at 730 then clinic from 9-4ish. Residents often do not get good general surgery role models at the medical centers. what kind of mower you got? once I have children. A: General surgeons operate on patients to treat diseases and injuries. General Surgery Residency Program Surgical Training in Connecticut’s State-of-the-Art Medical Center. Surgeon at a university hospital. General Surgery at The University of Vermont Medical Center is staffed with highly skilled surgeons who also teach and conduct research. BACKGROUND. You mentioned the lows being personal, I can imagine that things don't always go well despite your best efforts and it might become easy to be harsh on yourself. I'm completely invested in the job and always have been so my perspective is skewed. The hard part is trying to determine what my priorities will be and how they might change in the future. I´m on vacations and not used to the free time. Its worth the hard work because I like being at work. They repair damage to organs, remove diseased tissues, and seal open wounds. General surgeons are like the marines of medicine. General surgeons in such areas require a wide range of competencies, including some from other surgical specialties. We round and see consults and all that but its to facilitate life saving, rewarding and most of all FUN operations. I post my schedule pretty regularly but it’s changed recently. Breast, skin and soft tissues General surgeons also receive intensive training in surgical critical care, surgical oncology (cancer treatment) and trauma treatment. We have two ultrasound machines available for immediate exams. Overall a pretty good schedule for a General Surgeon, He made a ton of money and drove a brand new Tesla. This is a highly moderated subreddit. I obviously understand the realities of being a woman in surgery, and already admitted I should have given more thought to the issue earlier. We got Jerome Adams because he was Pence’s Indiana State Health commissioner. We get a lot of flak for our egos and while some surgeons do have an attitude problem most of it comes down to how we HAVE to think to get the job done. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. This study aimed to survey consultants’ experience of working as or with emergency general surgery (EGS) surgeons and to investigate the role they fulfil in the management of general and subspeciality emergencies. Try it for a year, but be real with yourself. If he had afternoon cases then it was till 730- 4pm with no clinic. Franciscan Health General Surgery Olympia Fields At Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, our general surgeons focus on a variety of diseases and conditions. Endocrine system In addition, general surgeons are expected to have knowledge and experience in: 1. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of long days, a lot of worrying about your patients when you go home, and a lot of sacrifice. The Stamford Hospital/Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons program is an ACGME accredited site since 1958. Days are long and pressure/stress is constant. level 2. Me too :/. I´m a last year general surgery resident although not from the USA. Highly variable ..? General surgeons typically perform procedures of the digestive tract, breasts, the abdomen and internal organs, surgeries of the veins and major glands, and the removal of cysts and cancerous tumors. Until the death toll climbed too high for comfort. We own our patients in a very real way that no other service can claim. Or quit. Surgical oncology3 3. Specialists are good in the big city, probably not whats needed in 80% of the hospitals in the US (80% are 100 beds or less). Abdominal organs 3. As a result, they are driven toward specialization. Rural general surgery, only 65 bed hospital for the county with 2 partners. Breast, skin, and soft tissue 4. Thank you! General surgeons are valuable not only in the eyes of the patients, but also to the health-care providers. All that being said, the current changes in medicine have not been a positive for us. Here's another question I have for general surgeons: I'm somewhat interested in anesthesia, but I'm not sure I want to spend a good chunk of my career taking directions from general surgeons (which some people have said is a part of the job that you have to deal with). /r/medicine is a virtual lounge for physicians and other medical professionals from around the world to talk about the latest advances, controversies, ask questions of each other, have a laugh, or share a difficult moment. Gensurg chief resident here as well. Don't be afraid of the possibility! As you complete your fourth year of medical school, it's time to start interviewing with the institutions where you're considering completing your general surgical residency. Method. This is the type of answer I was looking for. So we demand everything to be the way we need it to be for it is hard enough and we don´t need to be improvising and putting our patient under more risks. American College of Surgeons 633 N Saint Clair Street Chicago, IL 60611-3295. Message the mods if you are interested in being one! What types of hours do you work, and what sort of pay cut is associated with decreased hours in favor of more personal/family time? Our surgeons have had additional training in ultrasound techniques. As surgeons, patients trust us enough to let us make incisions and operate inside of their bodies, and we owe it to them to make sure they have the best possible outcome. Endocrine system 4. Press J to jump to the feed. A General Surgeon in your area makes on average $323,228 per year, or $7,478 (2%) more than the national average annual salary of $315,750. i might voice my concerns about specific patient care going in but once the case is started i do my job they do theirs. Welcome to the Residency subreddit, a community of interns and residents who are just trying to make it through training! If there's an anesthesiologist who really cares about getting the best outcome for the patient, then it's almost always a pleasant or even fun interaction. TL;DR: I'd love to hear about the various hours and lifestyles surgeons lead after graduating residency. We get called when things go bad, car accidents, gun shot wounds, organs rupture bad infections. A normal day's work might include removing a cyst from an … How many years out of residency are you? Alimentary canal (the path food takes through the body) 2. I can't image doing anything else with my life. Not this good everyday but your freedom outside of the hospital is proportional to your efficiency in the hospital. Gen Surg Intern checking in. I have recently started thinking about what I want my future to look like (I know, it's pretty late in the game to be thinking about this after I've already matched, but better late than never? Being on time is sacred although there is no set time, you just need to make sure you get there before all your seniors. There is a 20% drop out rate in general surgery for a reason. Moving on to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2017, General Surgery is higher up on the list with an average annual salary of $352,000. Surgeons who complete general surgery residency after July 1, 2012, will have no more than 7 academic years following residency to achieve certification in general surgery, i.e., pass both the QE and CE. On his OR days he was in the OR from like 730- 12, with clinic in the afternoon. I do not think other specialties have to deal with that kind of stress or have to be that precise under pressure all the time. but when someone dies on a surgery service that ask "What did you do?" Hope that helps. When I was in my second year out of med school, I was trying desperately to get a term in orthopaedics. This is a subreddit specifically for interns and residents to get together and discuss issues concerning their training and medicine/surgery. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 10 days of home call a month. A lot of people quit. Surgeons of Reddit: can you describe what your lifestyle is like out of residency? How do you get over the loses so you don't lose your own confidence to a string of bad luck? Surgical critical care 2. Tbh, I kind of expected some sort of mention about how women people who wanted better lifestyles should just stay away from surgery, but I've already heard all about that from a few of my asshole classmates and the internet. I loved that surgeons take ownership of our patients from when they come into the hospital until they leave the hospital. Successful surgeons possess specific characteristics and outlooks that contribute to fulfilling careers. I suppose for most residents, the hours also depends a lot on which rotation you're currently in. Our general surgeons perform many types of surgery using conventional techniques and laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique to treat cases from routine to medically complex. Intern year is nowhere as bad as they made it seem. But, I have to say, the payoff as an attending had better be worth the sacrifices. Find more subreddits like r/GeneralSurgery -- This is a Forum for Surgeons, Residents, Medical Students and other health personnel to discuss topics related to General Surgery. If I'm not operating on a regular basis when I graduate then I want my money back! But he also told me he hated medicine and told me I was making a mistake becoming a doctor lol. You make a decent living as a general surgeon, although if you think about the lifestyle, it’s harder. We're on the same team. Usually have to go back in for emergent cases 5-10 times a year. What were the reasons for these choices? General surgery, orthopaedics, plastic surgery. Theres often at many hospitals a very collegial and entertaining relationship between a surgeon, the scrubs and the circulators. I just finished Forgive and Remember. This is all just anecdotal, but it’s the impression I get. He used to take call but the hospital just hired Emergency General Surgeons so he was pissed about that cause it decreased his income by 50K. Dr. But I want to give surgery a chance since I love it so much. ), and I really think that although I love working a lot now, I'm going to value my personal time much more once I have a family, i.e. General Surgery Residency Interview Questions. They must have a doctor of medicine degree and licensure. I had a huge dilemma during my MS4 year leading into applications as well. If your career is not your #1 priority, surgery may be a pretty rough ride. The UVM Medical Center offers a setting that combines education, training and the latest advancements in technology. Although a strong desire to become a surgeon is We now have the capability to perform ultrasound for breast disease, vascular disease, varicose veins, thyroid evaluations, lymph node evaluations and examination for possible fluid collections under the skin. I hope I'm not coming off as lazy, but as passionate as I am about my work and medicine, I hope to have some level of a family life outside it. I have read various places that it allows you to practice both medicine & surgery to a degree that isn't really true with the others. Depends on the anesthesiologist. I could not imagine rounding all day every day. There is a 20% drop out rate in general surgery for a reason. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Bowling, a Lincoln native, received his medical degree at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. They're all too busy to be responding to posts on here.