Surgical Expertise, Training, and Specialties
A surgeon is a physician who is trained to perform surgical procedures.
It takes no less than 13 years of training and education to become a general surgeon.
Those wanting to specialize can expect to add another one to two years to the training.
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The surgeon is involved in all stages of surgery, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care.
Preoperative
Preoperative careis primarily used to verify that a person is fit and ready for surgery.
The surgeon is ultimately responsible for reviewing the findings and giving the go-ahead to proceed.
The surgery will ultimately involve some sort of incision.
Open surgery is the traditional form of surgery in which a larger incision is made with a scalpel.
The surgeon would also review the outcomes with the patient, disclosing any findings whether adverse or favorable.
The same applies to podiatry or otolaryngology.
Training and Certification
Becoming a surgeon is a long and challenging process.
The educational pathway takes an average of 13 years to complete upon graduation from high school.
This can be broken down into undergraduate school, medical school, residency, and fellowships.
If accepted, you would enter the program in June of the year you complete medical school.
The first year of residency is called the intern year.
The attrition rate among surgical residents is around 18%, according to a 2017 study inJAMA Surgery.
Upon the completion of residency, you would obtain licensing in the state in which you intend to practice.
This typically requires passing a national and, in some cases, a state exam.
Doing so significantly increases your employment potential as well as your standing in the surgical community.
For orthopedic surgeons, it was about $378,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can take at least 13 years after high school to become a surgeon.
The mean annual salary for surgeons equals about $180 per hour.
Orthopedic surgeons help diagnose and treat conditions involving the joints, bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
They may recommend nonsurgical treatment, such as medication and rehabilitation, or repair your condition through surgery.
Vascular surgeons diagnose and treat conditions involving your blood vessels.
A vascular surgeon may perform open surgery or minimally invasive surgery to restore blood flow.
In other cases, they may prescribe nonsurgical treatment, such as medication or exercise.
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