School Student
What's surgery like?
Chris Davis
Surgery careers advice
Surgery, in my opinion, is the best possible career. Operating is exciting, directly treating patients is rewarding and working with a team of surgeons, professional colleagues and patients is a privilege. Surgery is a diverse career. Each speciality has its own individual case mixture, technical nuances and professional sub-culture. Research is important, clinical audit is valuable and maintaining high quality clinical practice is essential. Surgeons are typically dynamic, pragmatic and enthusiastic people to work with. My advice for a future surgeon? If at school, arrange work experience with a surgical firm and gain exposure in the operating theatre, out-patient clinic and on the ward. If at medical school, then join the surgical society affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, maximise student-selected components and electives to tailor make a surgical curriculum and spend time in theatre, clinic and on-call during surgical attachments.
There are three character traits that I believe are important for a successful career in surgery. Firstly, a passion for surgery. This should be genuine, inherent and relentless. Secondly, manual dexterity. Operating, examining patients and performing procedures suit those with natural hand-eye coordination and strong visio-spatial awareness. Thirdly, stamina. Surgery is a competitive career with high numbers of applicants to posts. Resilience, motivation and self-belief are therefore important personality traits for the exciting road ahead.
As a junior trainee with two years experience post medical school, I would thoroughly recommend choosing a career in surgery. It may be one of the best decisions you ever make.
Chris Davis Core Surgical Trainee, St Thomas’ Hospital, London (October 2009 onwards)
