School Student
What's surgery like?
Mr Simon Clarke
Consultant Paediatric Surgeon
The majority of my work involves the GI tract, though I am also trained and regularly operate within the chest and the mediastinum . As paediatric surgeons we represent one of the few remaining fields of surgery where the surgeon is trained and practises within many subspecialty areas such as neonatal, urology and thoracic.
My favourite element is rather un-altruistic and amounts to a hugely rewarding and satisfying job. The most common question I get asked is ‘don’t you find it so hard working with all those sick children? ’ – well the honest answer is the majority of time – no – though at times very challenging – you wouldn’t really cope with the job if you became terribly emotional with each patient. However without doubt, empathy and the skill of communication is paramount when working with children and their parents.
I chose surgery because I have a personality that thrives on obtaining fairly instant results and I enjoy this challenging rewarding career, in which practical skill and creativity can be nurtured. I was torn initially between drama or medical school but eventually was told by the drama teacher that I wasn’t actually that good at acting!
How to balance home and work life is a tough question. I should be at work less and do more at home. However, like anyone who loves what they do, it is often quite easy to spend a large part of your time (including free time ) in some aspect of the job. I have a very understanding partner and dog who always seem happy to see me no matter how much time I spend away (the dog that is). I keep fit through the gym as well as running along the Thames path (again with the dog) – without doubt being fit helps me to cope with what is essentially a very consultant led speciality.
There are a few ways to succeed in surgery:
- Cultivate a nice personality (.... if you haven’t already got one that is)
- Appreciate everyone around you- from the medical director, to the cleaner that empties your office bin everyday (if you don’t, word soon gets about)
- Be a good listener to those above you (if not, this can be a very annoying trait to those trying to teach you)
- Be honest (once again - if you’re not - word soon gets about)
- Offer your services to your bosses above and beyond the call of duty (not every day… but more often than not). It will show you are ready for life as a consultant.
- Show initiative where possible and always safely
... and finally don’t forget: ABCD ( always be collecting data!!)
