Steps to Becoming a Surgeon
1. Research the Profession. To ensure that a career in surgery is right for you, it’s essential that you first gain a complete and thorough understanding of what exactly the profession entails. Below is an overview of job duties, skills, working conditions and salary information.A surgeon’s job is not confined to the operating theatre. Their typical day-to-day duties may include:
- meeting patients (and possibly their families) before the operation to decide on the best course of action for their condition
- explaining procedures and risks involved
- taking tests and arranging X-rays
- performing pre-booked or emergency operations as part of a team (including other surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists and administrators)
- carrying out ward rounds to check the state and progress of patients in their care
- writing to GPs about patients’ conditions and treatments
- performing administrative duties (e.g., completing paperwork).
Essential Skills and Qualities. To succeed as a surgeon, you will need to have specialist knowledge to diagnose a patient's condition accurately. But, you will also need to:
- have excellent communication skills
- have the ability to explain choices to patients
- be able to work under pressure
- be able to make quick, accurate decisions
- have excellent hand-eye coordination
- have strong practical skills
- have the ability to put people at ease
- be able to inspire trust and confidence
- have excellent leadership and management skills
- work to high professional standards
- have emotional resilience
- be able to support your team in difficult circumstances
- be able to adapt to a changing environment.
Working Hours and Conditions. Working as a surgeon can be highly demanding. Your working day will be long, with early starts and late finishes, and you’ll also work nights, weekends and public holidays. You will be part of an on-call rota. The EU Working Time Directive limits working hours to 48 hours a week. Due to the nature of the job, it can be emotionally draining, especially when surgeries don’t go as planned. You’ll also have to deal with patients’ families.
2. Get the Qualifications. Training to become a surgeon takes time – a lot of time. A typical surgical trainee will not qualify until the age of 35-40 or later. It, therefore, requires a lot of dedication on your part, while you also need to be absolutely sure this is the right career path for you.
Specialty Training
- cardiothoracic surgery – operating on the heart, lungs and other thoracic organs
- general surgery – focusing on abdominal contents, including the colon, liver, oesophagus and stomach
- neurosurgery – diagnosing, assessing and performing surgery to treat nervous system disorders
- oral and maxillofacial surgery – diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the mouth, jaw, face and neck
- otorhinolaryngology – diagnosing, evaluating and treating diseases in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) region
- paediatric surgery – working with young patients, including premature and unborn babies
- plastic surgery – performing reconstructive surgery after illness or trauma
- trauma and orthopaedic surgery – diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal system conditions
- urology – treating problems of the female urinary system and the male genitourinary tract
- vascular surgery – diagnosing and managing circulation conditions
You may, alternatively choose to become an academic surgeon. This means undertaking research and teaching. The NHS Health Careers website contains information about the training routes for each speciality.
3. Land Your First Job. The biggest employer of surgeons throughout the UK is the National Health Service (NHS). You will also be able to find job vacancies in the private sector. You’ll be able to find suitable opportunities online by exploring major job boards like Indeed, Monster and Reed. Our very own CareerAddict Jobs is another great option.
4. Develop Your Career
Working as a surgeon means that you need keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career. Continuing professional development (CPD) is an excellent way to ensure this. Surgeons in the UK should:
- Complete 50 hours of CPD every year and a minimum of 250 hours in a revalidation cycle
- Choose CPD activities that are relevant to the surgeon’s practice and that support his/her current skills, knowledge and career development
- Achieve a balance between academic, clinical and professional activities – the GMC stipulates that CPD should not exceed 20 hours in a single type of activity
- Record CPD activities
Are you considering a career in surgery or have you already completed the journey to becoming a surgeon? Do you have any advice and wisdom you’d like to impart on future surgeons? Join the conversation below and share your thoughts and experiences with us!
Marwan Farouk is a retired surgeon.
