Can a cardio thoracic surgeon practice general Surgery?

[missrv]

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If someone were to go through an Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency Program, can they be certified in thoracics and also general surgery? I feel like that is a dumb question, but I have been told if someone wanted to get certified in GS then they would have to go through a second residency in general surgery after thoracic residency.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

A traditionally trained thoracic surgeon could (i.e. gen surg residency followed by CT fellowship).

An integrated residency trained CT surgeon could not.

The better questions though are:
(a) could you realistically practice both with any degree of quality? (no)
(b) would you ever want to? (no)
(c) would you be able to set up a practice which did both? (maybe)

There are some general thoracic surgeons that do general surgery as well. You won't find cardiac surgeons that would do general surgery, though. And to be honest, I don't think that the general thoracic surgeons that do some general surgery are probably all that excited about the general surgery cases and are just doing it to make up for a lower thoracic volume.

 

[addy]

There are some general thoracic surgeons that do general surgery as well. You won't find cardiac surgeons that would do general surgery, though. And to be honest, I don't think that the general thoracic surgeons that do some general surgery are probably all that excited about the general surgery cases and are just doing it to make up for a lower thoracic volume.

Just out of curiosity, why is this?

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Just out of curiosity, why is this?

There is very little overlap between cardiac surgery and general surgery. General thoracic and general surgery are a bit closer together. Cardiac surgeons are generally busy enough with cardiac to not need general surgery. If they need more to do, some will do general thoracic as well.

 

[addy]

There is very little overlap between cardiac surgery and general surgery. General thoracic and general surgery are a bit closer together. Cardiac surgeons are generally busy enough with cardiac to not need general surgery. If they need more to do, some will do general thoracic as well.

Is it possible to have good and well-rounded General Surgery practice these days? (in or out of the context of CT surgery) My mentor told me of a guy who does CT/cardiac work for 3/5 days and and the other 2 days he's doing general surgery stuff like Appy's, thyroids, etc. I've never really heard of anyone having a practice like this except for this one guy...who I know nothing about. Is this a thing?

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Is it possible to have good and well-rounded General Surgery practice these days? (in or out of the context of CT surgery) My mentor told me of a guy who does CT/cardiac work for 3/5 days and and the other 2 days he's doing general surgery stuff like Appy's, thyroids, etc. I've never really heard of anyone having a practice like this except for this one guy...who I know nothing about. Is this a thing?

When I was looking for general thoracic jobs, I saw some that included general surgery, so those are out there if you really want it...

 

[Apollyon]

There are some general thoracic surgeons that do general surgery as well. You won't find cardiac surgeons that would do general surgery, though. And to be honest, I don't think that the general thoracic surgeons that do some general surgery are probably all that excited about the general surgery cases and are just doing it to make up for a lower thoracic volume.

When I was looking for general thoracic jobs, I saw some that included general surgery, so those are out there if you really want it...

There was a guy in Hawai'i that cuts neck to nuts. He does cardiac transplant, and everything else. About 6 years ago, my boss (in the ED) had a patient that was crashing, and couldn't find an Ob anywhere. This guy was just about to go "old school" and do the hysterectomy!

It's not status quo, but it's not completely dead, and the guy's numbers don't make him out to be a butcher. I don't know. I do recall 37 or 38 years ago, when Michael DeBakey was hit up to operate on the Shah of Iran, even though he hadn't been under the diaphragm in over 20 years. I see your point.

 

[addy]

There was a guy in Hawai'i that cuts neck to nuts. He does cardiac transplant, and everything else. About 6 years ago, my boss (in the ED) had a patient that was crashing, and couldn't find an Ob anywhere. This guy was just about to go "old school" and do the hysterectomy!

It's not status quo, but it's not completely dead, and the guy's numbers don't make him out to be a butcher. I don't know. I do recall 37 or 38 years ago, when Michael DeBakey was hit up to operate on the Shah of Iran, even though he hadn't been under the diaphragm in over 20 years. I see your point.

I assume he was a CT surgeon if he was doing heart transplants? How does that work, how do these guys keep their knowledge/skills up to date in non-CT stuff if their days are dedicated to CT surgery for 2-3 years?

 

[Ismet]

Moving to pre-allo

 

[moisne]

Moving to pre-allo

Why? I think this is more relevant for medical students.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Because OP doesn't seem to have been accepted to med school just yet. But I agree with you

 

[Ismet]

Why? I think this is more relevant for medical students.

Because it was posted in the surgery forum and OP is a pre-med.

 

[addy]

I'm a medical student (M3) and I thought this was helpful, kinda irritated it was moved. Threads get lost in traffic here, and are in general more superficial conversations. Not to mention that those would can answer this question aren't going to be plowing through the crap-show that is pre-allo.

Can we not move things around based on the OP's year in training? It makes no sense.

 

[addy]

It's not purely based on the OP's stage of training; its based on the nature of the topic.

The surgical forum is for residents and attendings to discuss topics of relevance to their stage of training, not to do a Q&A for premeds.

It's exactly the same as moving WAMC threads from allo to pre-allo.

I know residents who have the same questions as the one I asked, but sure, I see your point. Thanks!

 

[Wolf3D]

Maybe OP should work on getting into college instead of obsessing over some super specialty 🙄

 

[Psai]

I know residents who have the same questions as the one I asked, but sure, I see your point. Thanks!

Sorry, but no surgical resident would have this kind of question
Premed questions belong in the premed section

 

[w0rldw3y3d]

Why would a CT surgeon even want to do Gen Surg? Unless it's a super rural/isolated area, and you are the ONLY doc for some significant radius, I've never heard of jack-of-all trades surgeon or doctor. Typically you turf stuff off to the right person for the job (from what I've noticed).

 

[Wolf3D]

I know residents who have the same questions as the one I asked

lol no. They would already know or ask their PD