IS IT REALLY "HARD" TO BECOME A SURGEON?

[YeLovesBoston]

if their job is hard to them it has nothing to do with having to deal with science cuz they don't do science

i'm sure your GP has a bunch of math and physics equations flying around in his head when he pokes a hole in your butt to drain a zit or asks you to cough

bro, you are fukkin retarded

 

[Music Fiend]

The complexity involved with a human body is hard.


You are comparing a hobby or skill to a complete database of knowledge of how a living organism works....

Not to mention they have to be trained to not panic

 

[capt_saveahoe]

Being a doctor is hard work but one doesn't need to have a high IQ. Surgery is intellectually and physically demanding but there is a broad range of capabilities. I know surgeons with learning disorders and i know some that are intellectual powerhouse. The common denominator is drive and hardwork.

No, being a surgeon isn't hard just hardwork

 

[2manyFCKNrappers]

The thing about being a surgeon is, your "practice" is on real people whose lives depend on your accuracy and knowing your shyt. it's not about if it's "hard" it's about being able to save someone's life with an immense amount of pressure weighing on you every single day. people's lives and deaths are in your hands. most people wouldn't be able to handle that.

 

[Colin X]

ok but he had practice and years of training. Before all that he was just a person and not a surgeon. He learned that skill. Why couldn't anyone else?

You know how many high school boys are training their ass off in the gym EVERYDAY?


If "anyone can do it with enough practice" why won't they all go D1?

 

[LandryFieldsDad]

It's difficult in the sense that after college you commit yourself to re enrolling in school getting a job in a hospital working ungodly hours and sacrificing all free time and a social life to dedicate yourself to getting through medical school

So I would think it would weed out anyone not cut out for it along with anyone who is not committed or dedicated


Please op. Please.
Find me the person who says getting though medical school is easy.

Na but namsayin if you spend another decade in school na mean it's easy

 

[Hacksaw Jim Thuggin]

I have said the same thing about astronauts
good thread op

whats so easy about becoming an astronaut?

 

[PurpleRose]

you idiots need to stop worshipping MDs

it's an applied profession, has nothing to do with science unless you're a medical researcher

a physics PhD / research scientist uses his background everyday, an MD can forget his science and still be a good physician/surgeon/whatever

i guarantee your GP don't remember nothing from calculus at this point (if he's not super young for a doctor)

as if a regular old doctor who diagnoses colds and shyt uses science day to day stop it slime, you use more business and liberal arts (interpersonal) skills

I think this is true, even if there's agreement that different skillsets are required . A medical researcher consistently works on science research which is demanding because it is an open ended approach to thinking, so the intellectual pressure is high. A surgeon, however, becomes better with training and experience where your success and reputation depends on success with riskier procedures. It's still intimidating to think about for many not in the sciences, hence some of the replies given here.

 

[EndDomination]

Before we start, please remember, "hard" and "easy" are RELATIVE terms...

1) I understand from a social perspective it is hard to become a surgeon based on educational bureaucracy...

2) Let us put those barriers aside and say that we are in a hypothetical society with unlimited resources that are spread equitably among the people, what will make becoming a surgeon "hard" in this society?

3) Think about it, most people graduate high school at 18...Do an undergrad until 22...A typical medical school until 26...A general surgery residency at 30...

Why is this significant? Because there are other skills in this world that the average human being can never truly master if he/she starts training after the age of 25...

Try learning the piano or violin at age 25 and see how well you do...But most our surgeons start at about 25 and are still able to master surgery...

4) What does that tell you? Surgery is not relatively "harder" or "easier" than other skills that humans can acquire...

5) If you have interest, a sharp memory and psychomotor dexterity (like most average humans who are engaged in mental and physical activity), I don't see why somebody would neg rep me for stating that become a surgeon isn't as difficult as people make it seem to be...

Compare the mastery of surgery to the mastery of Rachmaninoff.
Now on a daily basis, no matter how tired you are, or what time it is, play his Piano Concerto no. 3, perfectly.
There is only a small percentage of a small percentage who could do that.
Also, surgical training doesn't "really" begin after med school, it starts in undergrad, where you learn the basics of the human body, biology, and chemistry. Once you've gotten enough of a grasp of the topics to perform marginally well in medical school you show off the speed at which you can recall and apply this knowledge on the MCAT. If you show you can do that you are granted entrance into medical school, there you cram vast amounts of information into your memory, and then you again show your knowledge. If you can perform well enough in classes, research and on Step 1 and Step II, then you again apply to numerous residencies, surgical residencies have incredibly high standards, and 14 hours every single day in that field could break even the most courageous spirit. That's not even to mention that any good surgeon practices their technique while at home too. Most people wouldn't be able to do it, even in a hypothetical egalitarian society, its honestly just that difficult.

 

[nineteeneightysix]

Compare the mastery of surgery to the mastery of Rachmaninoff.
Now on a daily basis, no matter how tired you are, or what time it is, play his Piano Concerto no. 3, perfectly.
There is only a small percentage of a small percentage who could do that.
Also, surgical training doesn't "really" begin after med school, it starts in undergrad, where you learn the basics of the human body, biology, and chemistry. Once you've gotten enough of a grasp of the topics to perform marginally well in medical school you show off the speed at which you can recall and apply this knowledge on the MCAT. If you show you can do that you are granted entrance into medical school, there you cram vast amounts of information into your memory, and then you again show your knowledge. If you can perform well enough in classes, research and on Step 1 and Step II, then you again apply to numerous residencies, surgical residencies have incredibly high standards, and 14 hours every single day in that field could break even the most courageous spirit. That's not even to mention that any good surgeon practices their technique while at home too. Most people wouldn't be able to do it, even in a hypothetical egalitarian society, its honestly just that difficult.

To summarize,
The stuff that it takes to master surgery is pretty much the same with mastering any skill that requires heavy memorization and psychomotor dexterity...

Everybody wants to believe that their profession is some how "more difficult" than any other profession...People want to feel special like they slayed dragons and climbed mountain everest with no supplies and Sherpas before reaching the promised land...

Coal mining is tougher than Surgery...

 

[Cynic]

There are easier ways to make money....

you should only pursue it, if it's your passion

 

[EndDomination]

To summarize,
The stuff that it takes to master surgery is pretty much the same with mastering any skill that requires heavy memorization and psychomotor dexterity...

Everybody wants to believe that their profession is some how "more difficult" than any other profession...People want to feel special like they slayed dragons and climbed mountain everest with no supplies and Sherpas before reaching the promised land...

Coal mining is tougher than Surgery...

Coal mining?
Stop the hyperbole

 

[yung Herbie Hancock]

Consistent effort is all you need for many things, really.



Did you do poorly in physics? The guy was talking about science in general.

But physics isn't that hard as much as it requiring one to work and give up socializing. I don't know why people go into a class, see some math, and then walk right out. IF you can read, you can do physics (may take you longer if you have a slower processing brain, otherwise, you can get to the same level with consistent effort).

As for medicine, specifically being a surgeon... I don't know. I know I am not one and until I undergo the necessary training, I won't know.

Wrong. You can still do well in physics if you suck at reading and language because physics is spoken in the language of mathematics. If you're a good at math (a good problem solver) then physics should be a walk in the park. You also don't have to give up socializing to do well in physics because, as I mentioned before, physics is easy if you're good at math. In fact the most time consuming classes are those with lots of assigned reading (bullshyt history classes, English Lit etc.).

 

[yung Herbie Hancock]

Before we start, please remember, "hard" and "easy" are RELATIVE terms...

1) I understand from a social perspective it is hard to become a surgeon based on educational bureaucracy...

2) Let us put those barriers aside and say that we are in a hypothetical society with unlimited resources that are spread equitably among the people, what will make becoming a surgeon "hard" in this society?

3) Think about it, most people graduate high school at 18...Do an undergrad until 22...A typical medical school until 26...A general surgery residency at 30...

Why is this significant? Because there are other skills in this world that the average human being can never truly master if he/she starts training after the age of 25...

Try learning the piano or violin at age 25 and see how well you do...But most our surgeons start at about 25 and are still able to master surgery...

4) What does that tell you? Surgery is not relatively "harder" or "easier" than other skills that humans can acquire...

5) If you have interest, a sharp memory and psychomotor dexterity (like most average humans who are engaged in mental and physical activity), I don't see why somebody would neg rep me for stating that become a surgeon isn't as difficult as people make it seem to be...

OP I hate using ad hominem arguements but you're a special case... you're either really stupid or you just underestimate how smart you have to be to become a surgeon. You can't just work hard and become a surgeon, you actually need to have the innate intellectual ability to become one. Oh and surgeons can't afford to screw up.

 

[TheNig]

It's extremely hard, the book work of medicine alone is very difficult.

Probably the worst part of school to me.