Cardiothoracic Surgery

The primary goal of being a cardiothoracic surgeon is to specialize in and perform surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.

Education

• Undergraduate (4 year college)
• Medical School (4 years)
• Residency Training - General Surgery (5-6 years)
• Specialized Surgical Training (2-4 years)
• Learning for the REST of your life (Forever)

This profession is most interesting to me because I like the rush and challenge, as well as the opportunity to save lives. I want to pursue this career b/c of my uncle's dedication to his patients and career as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Typical Daily Activites

• Pre-Ops and Rounds
• Paperwork
• Surgery (of course) which can last up to 12 hours or more!
• Individual research for scientific publish

You'll be working an average of..

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Quick thinking and good retention
• Confidence
• Empathy to patience
• Patience
• Perfectionism/Preciseness
• Problem Solving Skills
• Communication Skills

You'll be directed by the Chief of Surgery and will be working and collaborating with other doctors and surgeons, as well as the members of your OR staff like the nurses and anesthesiologist.

A challenging situation would be letting a patient and their family down after being trusted with their lives and having to deal with it afterwards.

You need to be very communicative and empathetic to not just your patient, but also their family and friends.

If interested...

• Pursue a highschool and college career focused on your goal
• Seek out best schools for majoring in Pre-Med
• Excel at your studies and work hard

The job outlook for surgery is...

The projected income for cardiothoracic surgery is...