How many of you gunners are going for General Surg?

[PoorMD]

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I know, inside every gunner, he/she thinks every other medical student is going for their specialty of choice and will "steal their spot" lol... im really not a gunner, in fact im right around the average or a little below at my school.. but i still get those feelings..


i am just curious, because I find general surgery to be the most appealing specialty to me. For a number of reasons:

1) Great diversity of clinical cases/problems
2) Interesting surgical procedures
3) Manual dexterity required
4) Big Bucks $$$ (bigger than psych anyway)
5) sub-Specialties (trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular)
6) Not entirely competitive right now because of the tough hours/lifestyle
7) saving lives, helping folks

There are some negatives...

1) Horrible hours as a resident
2) Bad hours as an attending
3) Pay might not be all that good (180? 200?)
4) Big Malpractice issues
5) Envy of ENT, Ortho, and neurosurgeons because they are "better at life" lol
(jk !!)
6) long hours (thought I would add that again to emphasize..)

I will admit, I find Ortho to be more interesting. Bones and structural relations are the coolest thing on earth, putting it back togethor with plates and rods is just such a blunt, obvious solution and I love it. However, I will take the soft, delicate slice approach of general surg happily if offered in a few years when I try to match. NJMBD HELP ME, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO

Any insight from others who are planning on this?? p.s. no offense with callout to gunners. I just want to see some other peoples views, positives/negatives that ive forgotten (or never knew)

 

[yeah_brah]

I know, inside every gunner, he/she thinks every other medical student is going for their specialty of choice and will "steal their spot" lol... im really not a gunner, in fact im right around the average or a little below at my school.. but i still get those feelings..


i am just curious, because I find general surgery to be the most appealing specialty to me. For a number of reasons:

1) Great diversity of clinical cases/problems
2) Interesting surgical procedures
3) Manual dexterity required
4) Big Bucks $$$ (bigger than psych anyway)
5) sub-Specialties (trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular)
6) Not entirely competitive right now because of the tough hours/lifestyle
7) saving lives, helping folks

There are some negatives...

1) Horrible hours as a resident
2) Bad hours as an attending
3) Pay might not be all that good (180? 200?)
4) Big Malpractice issues
5) Envy of ENT, Ortho, and neurosurgeons because they are "better at life" lol
(jk !!)
6) long hours (thought I would add that again to emphasize..)

I will admit, I find Ortho to be more interesting. Bones and structural relations are the coolest thing on earth, putting it back togethor with plates and rods is just such a blunt, obvious solution and I love it. However, I will take the soft, delicate slice approach of general surg happily if offered in a few years when I try to match. NJMBD HELP ME, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO

Any insight from others who are planning on this?? p.s. no offense with callout to gunners. I just want to see some other peoples views, positives/negatives that ive forgotten (or never knew)

hernia repairs and bowel resections are not exactly soft and delicate...i think they're quite monotonous and boring

another negative you forgot about is dealing with a bunch of dingus attendings who think that they are god's gift to medicine and feel they can treat you like ****e cuz they were made fun of extensively as a child and now are in a position of power and can take it out your ass....and to add on to their already miserable existence, their wives are probably cheating on them with the radiologist. yeah, i'm not bitter about my experience in gen surg

 

[BaylorGuy]

hernia repairs and bowel resections are not exactly soft and delicate...i think they're quite monotonous and boring

another negative you forgot about is dealing with a bunch of dingus attendings who think that they are god's gift to medicine and feel they can treat you like ****e cuz they were made fun of extensively as a child and now are in a position of power and can take it out your ass....and to add on to their already miserable existence, their wives are probably cheating on them with the radiologist. yeah, i'm not bitter about my experience in gen surg

Count me in...however, i would almost prefer to go into one of the surgical subspecialties instead of general surg...for some reason, they seem more appealing.

 

[synapse lapse]

General surgery is hardly competitive, why are you worried about this?

 

[Brainsucker]

ENT, Ortho, and Neurosurg are better at life? Where did that come from?

 

[PoorMD]

ENT, Ortho, and Neurosurg are better at life? Where did that come from?

ENT, ortho and optho residents tend to have slightly higher Step 1 scores.
it was a bad joke, I will admit.

However, I think anyone who is F.A.C.S certified is quite prestigious and very qualified (i.e. any surgical specialty). I predict that general surgeons will be in higher demand in the next 10 years, because so many folks are avoiding the long hour specialties and taking ENT/optho with lots less call.
I find the cases in general surg to be very interesting, so I think that's what I'm going into (assuming I do ok on Step 1 =220 or better) Maybe 215 would get me in with a research project under my belt.. ::sigh::

 

[skypilot]

However, I think anyone who is F.A.C.S certified is quite prestigious and very qualified (i.e. any surgical specialty). I predict that general surgeons will be in higher demand in the next 10 years, because so many folks are avoiding the long hour specialties and taking ENT/optho with lots less call.
I find the cases in general surg to be very interesting, so I think that's what I'm going into (assuming I do ok on Step 1 =220 or better) Maybe 215 would get me in with a research project under my belt.. ::sigh::

I agree with you that surgeons will be in great demand in the coming years with retirements and reduced working hours. It will be a great field if it is what you love to do. A 215 or even less will get you into General Surgery somewhere, maybe not your ideal location but somewhere.

 

[Blade28]

Yes! We need more people going into G Surg.

 

[marcus_aurelius]

another negative you forgot about is dealing with a bunch of dingus attendings who think that they are god's gift to medicine and feel they can treat you like ****e cuz they were made fun of extensively as a child and now are in a position of power and can take it out your ass....

i used to think that the dingus surgeon was a stereotype....now i'm thinking its true 70 percent of the time. i might have gone into it, if the culture was more laid back and less "i'll stab my neighbor in the back" type.

i think the arrogance among surgeons and malignancy in the residency throw a lot of med students off....and surgery loses a lot of good candidates.

i also know of many residents dropping out of programs to go into IM etc....is this very common?

are residencies as bad as they used to be hrs wise?

 

[Misterioso]

i think the arrogance among surgeons and malignancy in the residency throw a lot of med students off....and surgery loses a lot of good candidates.

They lose the ones who couldn't hack it or weren't surgeon material. In the end, those who were meant to be surgeons become surgeons.

 

[marcus_aurelius]

They lose the ones who couldn't hack it or weren't surgeon material. In the end, those who were meant to be surgeons become surgeons.

...typical "surgeon" comment...

or they were more interested in something with a more pleasant atmosphere...ever think of that?

not everyone wants to be a surgeon

 

[Misterioso]

or they were more interested in something with a more pleasant atmosphere...ever think of that?

not everyone wants to be a surgeon

As I said, those who can't hack it (for whatever excuse) don't become surgeons.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Per Misterioso surgery is the end all be all of medicine.. hmm perhaps they should change the name of the whole field and just call it all surgery.. yeah I got into surgery school...😛

 

[Callogician]

They lose the ones who couldn't hack it or weren't surgeon material. In the end, those who were meant to be surgeons become surgeons.

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Classic!

 

[yeah_brah]

i used to think that the dingus surgeon was a stereotype....now i'm thinking its true 70 percent of the time. i might have gone into it, if the culture was more laid back and less "i'll stab my neighbor in the back" type.

i think the arrogance among surgeons and malignancy in the residency throw a lot of med students off....and surgery loses a lot of good candidates.
QUOTE]

i honestly would have done urology if it weren't for the ONE year of general surgery that i would have had to have done. i know that's pretty sad on my part. i'm just wondering what happened to humility and self-deprecation...i guess that's med school for ya

 

[EctopicFetus]

Bart Simpson (spelling "Impervious" in a spelling B): I...M...P
Nelson: Bart is pee!
Ralph Wiggum: I made Bart in my pants!

Just a thought... from an ortho reject!

 

[PoorMD]

ENT, ortho and optho residents tend to have slightly higher Step 1 scores.
it was a bad joke, I will admit.

However, I think anyone who is F.A.C.S certified is quite prestigious and very qualified (i.e. any surgical specialty). I predict that general surgeons will be in higher demand in the next 10 years, because so many folks are avoiding the long hour specialties and taking ENT/optho with lots less call.
I find the cases in general surg to be very interesting, so I think that's what I'm going into (assuming I do ok on Step 1 =220 or better) Maybe 215 would get me in with a research project under my belt.. ::sigh::

Blade, I wanted to ask - do you see a wide variety of cases? Is the variety enough to keep the job interesting? How much overlap is there for you between cardio thoracic work, vascular, ortho cases and your more typical abdominal work?

 

[synapse lapse]

Per Misterioso surgery is the end all be all of medicine.. hmm perhaps they should change the name of the whole field and just call it all surgery.. yeah I got into surgery school...😛

Haha maybe he goes to Columbia college of physicians and surgeons

 

[Misterioso]

Surgeons are the rock stars of medicine...everyone else is their groupies and roadies.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Haha maybe he goes to Columbia college of physicians and surgeons

nah.. he goes to the Medical College of Georgia

I think mysteryman should petition for a name change!! this way MCg can be more like Columbia

Harvard Medical School
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Brown Medical School
Yale University School of Medicine
NYU Medical Center / School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine

Should I continue?

 

[EctopicFetus]

Surgeons are the rock stars of medicine...everyone else is their groupies and roadies.

Keep telling yourself that

Everyone is just a wannabe surgeon... SURE!!

 

[Misterioso]

Keep telling yourself that

Everyone is just a wannabe surgeon... SURE!!

LOL, I knew that would get you.

You're an easy mark, roadie.

 

[EctopicFetus]

LOL, I knew that would get you.

You're an easy mark, roadie.

Yeah it got me.. Dude im so jealous.. i mean im only going into EM cause it is the ONLY field that would take me.. You are so cool you are my hero.. my little internet troll in augusta!!

 

[EctopicFetus]

I do want to thank you for giving me a reason to post. Its funny whenever I decide to hit up this forum you are always on.. its amazing.. enjoy your life little guy..

 

[Misterioso]

Yeah it got me.. Dude im so jealous.. i mean im only going into EM cause it is the ONLY field that would take me.. You are so cool you are my hero..

LOL, got you again roadie.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Thanks.. for making it clear. I just didnt understand.. i want to be a midget with a napoleon complex living in Augusta.. you got me.. you are my hero..

 

[EctopicFetus]

For your viewing pleasure little guy.

 

[Misterioso]

I do want to thank you for giving me a reason to post. Its funny whenever I decide to hit up this forum you are always on.. its amazing.. enjoy your life little guy..

...and again

 

[Misterioso]

Thanks.. for making it clear. I just didnt understand.. i want to be a midget with a napoleon complex living in Augusta.. you got me.. you are my hero..

...and again

 

[EctopicFetus]

loser.. am i upsetting you napoleon?

 

[EctopicFetus]

dont cry..

 

[Misterioso]

loser.. am i upsetting you napoleon?

...and again

Me 3
You 0

 

[Misterioso]

dont cry..

...and again

Me 4
You 0

 

[EctopicFetus]

Congrats to you... As I leave to socialize (something you obviously dont know how to do) Ill leave with with some food for thought..

1) You are a hero only in your own mind.
2) You have made a complete azz out of yourself and your future speciality in this and other threads
3) You are a sad excuse for a med student ..
4) You will sit anxiously awaiting someone to feed your trollish tendencies while they are out with friends drinking relaxing and enjoying the SB.
5) the true count my friend is The forum -15, You - 0

Im really sad 🙁 for you..

 

[Misterioso]

...and again

Me 5
You 0

 

[CANES2006]

For your viewing pleasure little guy.

I really like that diagram. It made me laugh so hard. I bet you my chosen field: OB/GYN would be included with Surgery (hardworking and mean). 😀

 

[Arsenic]

For your viewing pleasure little guy.

that flow chart rawks!

 

[Hoo\/er]

hernia repairs and bowel resections are not exactly soft and delicate...i think they're quite monotonous and boring

another negative you forgot about is dealing with a bunch of dingus attendings who think that they are god's gift to medicine and feel they can treat you like ****e cuz they were made fun of extensively as a child and now are in a position of power and can take it out your ass....and to add on to their already miserable existence, their wives are probably cheating on them with the radiologist. yeah, i'm not bitter about my experience in gen surg

LOL, my thoughts exactly.