What Is a Surgeon?
Surgeons conduct operations for the purpose of treating people with diseases, injuries, or deformities. Operations are often necessary to correct physical problems, prevent certain diseases, and restore the health of a patient. Surgeons evaluate patients’ conditions by performing physical examinations and diagnostic tests. They then interpret the information and results gathered from these assessments and determine which operating procedures are necessary.
Patients’ are put under anesthesia while surgeons conduct operations utilizing special instruments to make incisions and repair or remove parts of the human body such as bones, joints, muscles, organs, and other tissues. To make sure patients receive the most appropriate care, surgeons often consult and collaborate with other surgeons, physicians, and specialists.
Many surgeons choose to specialize within a certain area like orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, otolaryngology, or reconstructive surgery. They work in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and private offices, where they spend most of their time in operating rooms. Most surgeons work over 40 hours a week and are often on call in case of emergencies.
How to Become a Surgeon
Those interested in becoming surgeons must complete an undergraduate education and then earn a doctorate degree at a medical school. While enrolled in a medical program, students learn about biomedical and health sciences and how they are applied in a clinical environment through examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Common courses include anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathology, medical ethics, biochemistry, and medical law.
Students then learn about areas of medicine, patient diagnosis, and the treatment of illness by participating in clinical rotations. After completing medical school, one will have to enter a surgical residency program which usually lasts around five years. A national licensing examination must be passed before a physician can practice independently and attaining board certification is usually required to practice a surgical specialty.
To successfully complete the education necessary to become a surgeon, one must have exceptional motor-skills, the ability to work under pressure, and be able to exercise good judgment.
Surgeon Career Outlook & Salary
When people experience unexpected illnesses and accidental injuries, they need qualified surgeons who can help put them back together. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to increase by 22% within the next decade. This is due to an expanding health care industry, growing elderly population, and advancements in technologies, therapies, and diagnostic tests.
There will specifically be a demand for physicians who are willing to work in rural and low-income areas and those who specialize in areas that affect the elderly like cardiology and radiology. Highly skilled surgeons who specialize within a certain area of surgery are expected to have the best job opportunities and most lucrative careers.
The Bureau reported that physicians and surgeons earn among the highest salaries of any occupation, with those practicing in primary care earning a median salary of $186,044 in 2008, and those practicing in medical specialties earning $339,738.
