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What is a Surgeon?

A surgeon is a medical professional who has a medical degree that includes a specialty for particular organs or procedures. Their primary function is to conduct invasive, internal operations into a patient's body that correct various problems that arise from disease or injury. They might operate on a diseased heart, excise a brain tumor, or repair badly broken bones, among many other sorts of procedures. To perform these delicate operations, they rely on highly technical diagnostic information, as well as precision operating instruments. Surgeons do not perform routine physical examinations or other duties generally relegated to general practitioners. They do, however, work with patients.

Surgeons offer consultations with patients prior to their procedures, however, and may have their staff, or referred professionals, take diagnostic data from patients. The surgeon will review and analyze the data and imagery to determine how to best proceed when the operation begins.

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Steps to Becoming a Surgeon

If you wish to become a surgeon, there is a long road ahead of you. First you will need to start out in high school with top grades, and a strong aptitude for math and science. You must also have a passion for medicine and the human body. This passion will help you as you work through four years of an bachelor's degree in health science, three years of medical school, and then your residency and subsequent specialty work. You will work very hard during this entire time, but the ultimate satisfaction of becoming a surgeon will pay off in both financial and personal satisfaction.

  • Step 1: Undergraduate Degree in Pre-Med

  • Step 2: MCAT Exam

  • Step 3: Medical School

  • Step 4: Surgical Specialty and Residency

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Step 1: Undergraduate Degree in Pre-Med

During your undergraduate years, you need to focus your work on pre-medical studies. Seek out a program that has the curriculum you need to gain admission and achieve success in medical school. After all, medical school admission standards are quite high, and you also must be prepared for success on the MCAT medical school admissions exam.

During your undergraduate years, one of the toughest courses you will take is Organic Chemistry. This is typically a lab science and is often considered a trial by fire for all future doctors. Your other coursework will likely include courses not limited to:

  • General Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Vertebrate Anatomy
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology

Step 2: MCAT Examination

As you near the end of your Pre-Medical training, you'll begin preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which determines medical school admissions, similar to the LSAT for law school. It's crucial to perform well on the MCAT. Pre-medical students usually take the MCAT after their Junior year, giving them time to apply in the fall and receive admission the following spring.

Start preparing for the MCAT as early as possible. Many preparation materials are available online, including free resources from Khan Academy, recommended by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Khan's videos cover topics like molecular biology, peptide bonds, isoelectric point, zwitterions, protein structures, and globular proteins.

The MCAT is one of the toughest admissions tests. Starting a study group early in your pre-med program can be helpful. You can also find tutors and tutoring services for preparation. The AAMC provides plenty of study resources on its website.

Step 3: Medical School

No two medical schools are exactly the same. Some offer tracks dedicated to medical technology while others offer a variety of experiential and purely academic enhancements. Your medical school experience will be four years of hard work during which time you will be prepared for your residency. Along the way, you might take courses that include, but are not limited to:

  • Homeostasis, I & II
  • Mind, Brain, and Behavior
  • Professional Development
  • Practice of Medicine
  • Immunity and Disease

Step 4: Surgical Specialty and Residency

You will need to determine your specialty area around the time you complete medical school. If you are determined to be a surgeon, first assess yourself. You must be absolutely certain that you not only have a strong desire to be a surgical professional but that you have the personality that is best suited to that career. This process should begin in your first year of medical school, if not during your pre-medical years.

Once you are certain that you wish to be a surgeon and know precisely which area you wish to focus on, you should find the right residency program that will support your goals. Not only should you find programs that cover your specialty, but you should also find the mentors that will help mold your residency experience in precisely the way you wish.

Once you have completed your residency, you can move onward to find a job as a fully-fledged surgical specialist.

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What Does a Surgeon Do?

On a daily basis, your surgical practice will involve time in your office preparing for surgeries. You'll spend hours each week consulting with patients to discuss their case, expected outcomes, and practical matters like pre-surgery eating guidelines.

You may spend time consulting with other doctors involved in your patients' care, uncovering details relevant to their surgery. You might also discuss techniques with fellow surgeons in your specialty and stay updated on new surgical technologies like imaging systems, nanotech, and other medical advancements.

Later in your career, you might work with surgical residents, budding professionals like you are now. Your role as a mentor will be invaluable to them, as they will likely seek you out based on papers you've published or your knowledge of certain surgical techniques.

Skills to Acquire

Surgeons require a broad skillset, including a deep knowledge of the human body and its biology. If you specialize in a particular area, such as heart or brain surgery, you must be an expert in that part of the body. A steady hand is essential for making precise cuts without damaging vital organs. Clear communication with nurses and other professionals is crucial, along with quick decision-making and a strategic mindset to ensure surgeries are both effective and neat.

You should also have great skill in diagnosing and analyzing your patients' conditions. While some may seem routine, each individual will present their own particular anomalies that you must know how to address and work with. In general, you should be able to read diagnostic images such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs, etc.

Finally, you must be highly skilled in the tools of the operating theater. Items such as scalpels, clamps, and drills, among many others, must be as familiar to you as your own hands. However, your specialty might require more high-tech procedures where you might operate a cutting device by virtual remote control.

Surgeon Career & Salary

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Where Might You Work?

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Surgeons most frequently are affiliated with a hospital that houses their surgical theater. You might have your own offices either inside the hospital or nearby, but your employer is likely to be the hospital itself. Or you could have a private surgical practice; this is more common for surgeons who perform outpatient procedures. Oral surgeons, plastic surgeons, and ophthalmic practitioners frequently have stand-alone offices. These might be affiliated with larger health systems or hospitals. On the other hand, special circumstances might require that you use a hospital's special facilities.

While some surgeons perform operations on set schedules, many are called into operate on a moment's notice. No matter your specialty, you might have patients who experience emergencies and be called into surgery immediately.

Potential Career Paths

If you decide that you wish to become a surgeon, you will soon discover a myriad of options for your future career. Each choice involves highly specialized training and if you later decide to change your specialty you will need to undergo a whole new residency, which is among the most grueling professional training experiences. To begin the decision process, consider the brief list below, but also take time to discover what part of the body, or what sort of disease, calls to you. Whether your initial motivation comes from a heartfelt emotional story or pure scientific fascination, they are all equally valid. The most important thing is that you be dedicated to your specialty and your patients.

Neurosurgeon:
Frequently called brain surgeons, neurosurgery can involve delicate operations in the brain, but also on the spinal cord or elsewhere in the nervous system. For instance, you could specialize in disorders related to the more peripheral nerves in the legs or hands. Other neurosurgeons specialize in oncology, vascular nerves, epilepsy, or pediatrics.

Plastic Surgeon:
Most often, we think of plastic surgeons as performing elective, cosmetic procedures, such as nose jobs or mole removal. However, if you pursue this field you may also perform reconstructive procedures on patients from dramatic car wrecks, burn victims, or people born with problematic abnormalities that may restrict breathing.

Heart Surgeon:
This field's surgical procedures are commonly discussed, since heart disease is one of the most common causes of mortality in the United States. You will help people overcome a variety of problems including blockages or murmurs.

Orthopedic Surgeon:
If you broke your arm as a child you might have had an orthopedic surgeon take a look at your case. Most patients require a simple cast, but as an orthopedic surgeon you might be tasked with piecing together bones shattered by high-velocity projectiles, or which have been crushed. Orthopedic surgeons help piece the skeleton back together after injury or replace joints with much-needed prosthetics.

Pediatric Surgeon:
This is an umbrella term for surgeons who operate on children for a variety of reasons. If you are a cardiac specialist, you could further specialize in immature hearts. The same applies to oncology, ophthalmology, and neurology.

Oral Surgeon:
Though you won't need full medical training for this specialty area, it is worth noting. Your practice will help create healthy mouths for your patients. You could spend your time extracting wisdom teeth, repairing badly damaged mouths after an accident, or replacing teeth with implants.

Ophthalmic Surgeon:
If you are fascinated with one of our most delicate organs, the eye, this is the field for you. You could make a strong practice from restoring vision through the Lasik procedures or you might help patients suffering with cataracts or glaucoma, among a wide range of issues.

Salaries

Occupation Entry-Level Mid-Career Late-Career
Cardiac Surgeon $290,000 $394,000 $484,000
General Surgeon $123,000 $292,000 $405,000
Neurosurgeon $155,000 $418,000 $795,00
Oral Surgeon $207,000 $227,000 $303,000
Orthopedic Surgeon $307,000 $388,000 $479,000
Pediatric Surgeon $263,000 $350,000 $245,000
Plastic Surgeon $198,000 $269,000 $398,000

**Salary info provided by PayScale

Career Outlook

As long as the human race is subject to injury, disease, and old age, we will have a need for surgeons. Given that our population is rapidly aging, the need for surgeons is on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the need for Physicians and Surgeons will increase by 13% through 2026.

After you endure the rigors of pre-medical school, medical school, and then your residency, you will be happy to find that your pay is quite handsome. In 2017, median pay for physicians and surgeons was $208,000. On top of a fine salary, you and your family will surely enjoy great health benefits, and you might also receive bonus money or other financial incentives though your employer.

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Travel Nurse RN - Med Surg - $1,928 per week
Shape Created with Sketch. Host Healthcare
Mount Vernon, OH, USA
With access to tens of thousands of travel nursing, therapy, and allied jobs in all 50 states, our responsive and friendly recruiters find your dream position based on what's important to you. During ...
Travel Nurse RN - Med Surg - $1,775 per week
Shape Created with Sketch. Triage Staffing
Mount Vernon, OH, USA
We staff all five major divisions of acute care--nursing, lab, radiology, cardiopulmonary and rehab therapy, offering: - Competitive, custom pay packages - One point of contact for both travelers and ...
Travel Nurse RN - Med Surg - $1,958 per week
Shape Created with Sketch. Ardor Health Solutions
Mount Vernon, OH, USA
Over the years we have expanded our staffing and recruiting capabilities to include therapy services, nursing services, and all allied services. If you would like the personal service that comes with ...
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Advancing from Here

Once you establish a strong surgical practice your career will have pretty well reached its peak. However, you could take on other responsibilities on a hospital's board. You could also open your own private practice that can generate healthy incomes for yourself and your partners. Doctors also frequently become investors in various business ventures. For instance, you might put your expertise to use as a consultant to medical equipment manufacturers.

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