What Advice Do You Have for Those Considering Training in Surgery?

Q: What advice do you have for those considering training in surgery?

A: I think this is an incredibly exciting time to be training in surgery. With the amount of innovation that has happened over the past decade and the technologies available to help treat patients ― there just never has been a better time.

The other important aspect about specialty training in surgery at the moment is that there has never been more awareness about the importance of structuring training and looking after the trainee. What this means is that now there is a particular focus on controlling the hours the trainees work, and making sure the work they do is as educationally valuable as possible. Their work and training is also being specifically directed to develop their technical skills using simulators and validated curriculums, such as the recent curriculums released by SAGES for laparoscopic and endoscopic training.

So what would I say to the trainee? I’d say “Do it!” I still personally believe that surgery is the best job in the world and the best opportunity for us to help patients. Not only do we have to know the medicine of the condition that we look after, but we have to be able to fix it surgically and, perhaps selfishly, this gives us a phenomenal opportunity to see a rapid cure or improvement in quality of life for each of our patients.

With that, however, comes responsibility. Because there are so many alternatives available ― and because of the expense of care, challenges with access, and increasing financial burden of care for our patients ― it has never been more important for us to put our patients first. We must always choose the right option for the patient, and sometimes realize that the right option is not necessarily to do a surgical procedure. Furthermore, if a procedure is the right thing to do it is important to do it as affordably as possible to support the patient and the healthcare system.

At the end of the day, surgery is a wonderful career ― whether colorectal surgery or otherwise. I would suggest that all trainees focus first on their clinical and technical skills. If you do a great job for every patient, that is the first mission you should live every day. But second, it becomes a wonderful way to develop your career. This brings a rich fruit of leadership opportunities, clinical opportunities, research opportunities and chances to become known on a national and international stage for what you do.

— Conor Delaney, MD, PhD
Chairman, Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute
Cleveland Clinic

Follow Dr. Delaney on Twitter @ConorDelaneyMD