Overview
General surgeons have extensive knowledge of the entire surgical process and understand all nine basic areas of surgery. Though they don’t specialize in anything, they have a broad understanding of many diseases and conditions and how to treat them.
General surgery frequently treats the abdominal organs and the musculoskeletal system, however, they can treat much more. If the conditions are too specific they’ll most likely refer you to a specialist. Unlike trauma surgeons who also don’t specialize in anything specific, General surgeons often manage the patient in all stages, including preoperative, operative, and postoperative care.
Clearly, General Surgeons deal with all types of patients whether they have been in a traumatic accident, have physical abnormalities, or surgical treatment for cancer, and much more. They develop the whole surgical plan and need the essential skill of discernment to either decide what the best course of treatment will be or refer the patient to a specialist if they don’t feel qualified for the problem.
Recently, new surgical techniques have been used more frequently in general surgery including, endoscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery. These new methods provide faster recovery times and are the most effective ways, up to date, to treat the patient. They are most commonly minimally invasive and consist of modern technology. So, if you are thinking of pursuing this career, you will have to learn about the unique, present procedures.
Pathway
To become a general surgeon in the U.S., you must obtain your undergrad, graduate with your MD degree, and complete progressive surgical residency followed by passing your two-part board exam. This certification usually takes 13-16 years to complete, longer if you would like to participate in a fellowship, which is additional training.
General surgeons, like most other surgeons, have long hours and extensive schedules, creating a poor work-life balance. They are often on call, and because they deal with the patient at all levels of their care, they often have a difficult timetable.
However, this job can be very fulfilling and is in high demand with it projected to grow 7% by 2028. Additionally, their job salaries have grown 5% in the last five years providing a more appetizing job outlook.
Personal Take
General surgery is an appetizing job to me because it is focused on many different aspects of the patient. They are needed in many treatments, of their broad education and training, so they experience many different patients and problems. However, I don’t know if this will be the career of my choice because of the difficult work-life balance. Although, general surgery is still a very rewarding career and can provide enough variance to make every day unique.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/general-surgeon
https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/how-to-become-a-general-surgeon