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General Surgeon - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA general surgeon deals with a very broad spectrum of medical/surgical conditions that affect most parts of the body. The surgeon makes the diagnosis and then provides the necessary preoperative, operative and postoperative care to their patient.
Usually a surgeon is also responsible for the management of a critically ill trauma and surgical patients. A general surgeon is knowledgeable in anatomy, metabolism, nutrition, wound healing, intensive care, physiology, neoplasia, shock and resuscitation, immunology and pathology that are common to every surgical specialty.
The primary components that a general surgeon has experience and specialized knowledge in, which relates to their diagnosis through postoperative management including complications are:
- Breast, soft tissue and skin
- Abdomen and contents
- Parts of the vascular system
- Endocrine system
- Alimentary tract
- Head and neck
- Vascular system excluding the heart and intracranial vessels
- Surgical oncology
- Surgical conditions of critically ill patients in intensive care, emergency rooms and trauma/burn units
With today’s advanced technology and high tech instruments, general surgeons are able to do major surgery, such as abdominal, with laparoscopic techniques, which are less invasive. This often reduces the pain, speeds healing time and becomes more cost effective.
Every day, general surgeons provide life saving procedures such as surgically removing the spleen, curative cancer surgery and appendectomies. Because of a general surgeon’s broad training in so many diverse areas, they are not only valuable to patients but also within the health care community and indispensable in today’s market. As they deal with new patients and diverse problems, it tests a general surgeon’s skill, knowledge and confidence daily.
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Career RequirementsThe required training to become a general surgeon is at least five years with a maximum of one year devoted to a single surgical discipline except the main components of surgery. Non-surgical clinical disciplines must be no more than six months.
Four and a half years is devoted to clinical surgery, with experience in surgical intensive care, endoscopes and emergency care and three years concerned with principal components. After ten years, a general surgeon requires recertification.
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Job OutlookThe need for general surgeons is extremely fast growing and expected to continue growing through 2014. Rural areas are always looking for general surgeons to work in their communities.
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Career TrackA general surgeon may choose to specialize in such areas as:
- Pediatric surgery – dealing with surgical conditions in adolescents, children and premature/newborn infants.
- Vascular surgery – blood vessel disorders requiring surgery but not including the heart or intracranial vessels.
- Hand surgery – investigating, restoring and preserving structures of the wrist and hand using surgical, medical and rehabilitative means.
- Critical care surgery – expertise in postoperative and critically ill patients especially trauma victims or patients with multiple organ dysfunction.
A general surgeon may also choose to teach at universities or colleges or go into research-based careers.
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CompensationThe American College of Surgeons states that annually there are far more positions open for surgical residency than there are students applying for them. For general surgeons, the annual salary ranges from approximately $249,000 to $366,300.
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