avg age of surgical residents?

[HEME-ONC]

I am considering a career in surg and would love to pursue a fellowship in cardio thoracics. I will be 41 by the time I am done with 5 years of surg and 3 years of fellowship. Is it realistic to pursue this field with me being so old by the time i finish??

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[njbmd]

I am considering a career in surg and would love to pursue a fellowship in cardio thoracics. I will be 41 by the time I am done with 5 years of surg and 3 years of fellowship. Is it realistic to pursue this field with me being so old by the time i finish??

Hi there,
If you have the grades and can do the work, your age is not going to keep you out of a fellowship and practice. Score very high on ABSITE, perform well in your residency, and get into the fellowship. CT fellowships are not a cake-walk so keep your academics high.
njbmd 🙂

 

[Winged Scapula]

41 is not that old, nor unusual these days for those with extended residencies. If you feel that the "ravages of age" will not affect you, I think you will find little bias or difference in comparison to your younger colleagues.

I am not sure of the average age of surgical residents but it certainly ranges from late 20s to early 40s in general. I am nearly that age and was only asked by 1 program when interviewing about my age and how I would "handle it."

 

[supercut]

If you have to ask if you are (or will be) to old, maybe you are.

It never occured to me to think that I was too old, or ask anybody if I was. I started med school at 38 and began my surgical residency at 42. I just did it because I wanted to, and I can't imagine doing anything other than surgery. I plan on a fellowship as well (not CT, though).

My program has also had several 40+ CT fellows in recent years.

If you are willing to do the work, and otherwise quallified, chronological age alone is not a factor. How old you feel and behave (which is unrelated to your chronological age) IS a factor, however.

At any rate, good luck!