Why i Want to be a Surgeon: a Journey to Saving Lives

The Path to Becoming a Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Imagine a world where you are deemed as a savior. You are seen as the hero who helps people overcome what may seem to them as imminent death. You are a cardiothoracic surgeon. Cardiothoracic surgeons are the specialized doctors who perform surgeries on the chest cavity. They perform surgeries on many organs, such as the heart, lungs, and the throat. This career path has always been a very interesting idea to me. As a young boy, I used to watch many hours of surgeries and medical mysteries being solved.

It fascinated me that the body systems fit together like a sort of puzzle. Ever since that young age, I have wanted to be a surgeon.

The Growing Need for Cardiothoracic Surgeons

First, it is best to establish what a cardiothoracic surgeon does. Cardiothoracic surgeons perform surgeries on the chest cavity. They are the doctors who perform open heart surgeries, lung transplants, and cancer removals from many organs. The main thing that cardiothoracic surgeons do is try to treat heart disease. According to the CDC, “About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every four deaths.” This alone causes a big need for cardiothoracic surgeons in society today.

As a matter of fact, the job availability for cardiothoracic surgeons is estimated to grow about 20 percent between now and 2024. This is a good growth rate, which will provide many openings in the future. It is projected that many more cardiothoracic surgeons will be needed by 2035. At the moment, approximately 4,000 cardiothoracic surgeons are qualified to take patients. “They estimate that cardiothoracic surgeons would have to increase their caseload by 121% to meet demand, something that is not feasible.” This means that many more cardiothoracic surgeons will be needed in the future. Many positions will be open in large hospital complexes in large cities.

Challenges and Sacrifices in the Life of a Cardiothoracic Surgeon

In reality, working as a cardiothoracic surgeon is not an easy job. As a cardiothoracic surgeon, you must make quick decisions that can mean life or death to your patients. Many surgeons can become depressed or have a host of mental issues from losing patients. While performing surgeries, the surgeon must stand for multiple hours at a time, which can lead to many problems with posture and back pain. Scheduling can also lead to many problems with family life. Surgeons must always be ready for emergency situations. No matter where they are or what they are doing, they must be able to drop everything and leave (Environment for a Cardiothoracic Surgeon 1). Most surgeries will last up to 12 hours and may take place day and night. You must constantly monitor patients that are in critical condition and be ready for anything. Normally, 2-3 days of the week will be dedicated to surgery. Other days will include meetings, research, and lectures. I will be working closely with many doctors and medical professionals.

Overcoming Obstacles and Skills Required

Furthermore, many cardiothoracic surgeons believe that the hardest part of their job is the education and training required to get it. “Cardiothoracic surgeons must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, a 5-year general surgery residency, and a 2-3 year specialized cardio or cardiothoracic fellowship.” This training sums up to nearly 15 years of training after high school. This aspect of the career is what mainly causes such a job shortage in this field. Some surgeons specialize even more and enter programs that will take about two extra years.

For this reason, I believe that there are many obstacles that I must overcome to become a surgeon. Medical school will be a very hard task to complete, as well as all of the training required. I hope to pass my medical exams by studying hard and staying away from poor influences. Also, standing and performing surgeries for multiple hours a day will take a toll on my body. Many surgeons complain of carpal tunnel and orthopedic problems. To combat this, I need to live a healthy lifestyle and work out regularly. Another obstacle will be the stress of dealing with life-or-death situations every day. Some surgeons show signs of depression and anxiety after losing a patient. It would be very hard to go on with your life after being the reason for a person’s death. If I was the reason a patient died, I would feel like I was never good enough to be confident in my work.

Skills and Qualities for Success

Nonetheless, I have many skills that will help me obtain this job. Such examples are a steady hand, good communication skills, a good immune system, and curiosity. I will need a steady hand to perform precise movements and incisions during surgeries. Another very important thing is being a good communicator. I need to be able to talk to my patients and help them understand what the operation will consist of. A good immune system is necessary because I will be working in close quarters with sick people on a daily basis. I believe curiosity will be a good skill because “Too many doctors are eager to make a diagnosis and be done with it.” Curiosity will help solve new cases and brainstorm new ideas.

In conclusion, I believe that becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon is a great career path for me. I love medical mysteries, and I am very interested in helping others. Once my medical schooling and training are completed, I will be ready to take on the challenges of performing surgical procedures on people’s hearts and lungs. I am well prepared and have the drive and passion to study hard and reach the level of perfection required to save lives. I am well on my way to becoming a hero of the future.

References:

1. What is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. 

2. Heart Disease Facts & Statistics. 

3. Cardiac Surgeons: Career Information. 

4. Environment for a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Working Life: Cardiothoracic Surgery. 

5. What Makes a Good Doctor. 

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