Pediatric Surgery

[RJGOP]

Similar to a previous thread about trauma, I thought I'd make one about pediatric surgery. It seems like a very small field and one you hear very little about. I have some inquiries about the field I thought I'd ask about.

What is the typical lifestyle of a pediatric surgeon?

Are the majority of surgeries small procedures like repairing hernias on babies or are there still a fair amount of complex and interesting cases?

What is the future of the field? Do y'all foresee further subspecialization in the field, or will it remain as is?

Thanks in advance!

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[ACSurgeon]

Similar to a previous thread about trauma, I thought I'd make one about pediatric surgery. It seems like a very small field and one you hear very little about. I have some inquiries about the field I thought I'd ask about.

What is the typical lifestyle if a pediatric surgeon?

Are the majority of surgeries small procedures like repairing hernias on babies or are there still a fair amount of complex and interesting cases?

What is the future of the field. Do y'all foresee further subspecialization in the field, or will it remain as is?

Thanks in advance!

- Peds is very small field, very competitive. 30-40 fellowship spots per year. Job prospects when you're done are great either.

- lifestyle in general sucks. Usually very few attendings so you're on call a lot.

- majority of procedures are bread and butter general surgery cases. I think appys or port placement is most common. Obviously you do some of the coolest operations with enough frequency that it's pretty cool.

- there's ready some specialization at major centers. Transplant and vascular is done by adult surgeons or a small group of people who've done both fellowships. I know some places have peds colorectal specialists. This trend will probably slowly continue to grow, but I wouldn't use it to make a decision.

- probably most important thing to know: a lot of high maintenance people in the field. You spend most of your adulthood appeasing others. If you can put up with that, it seems like a very rewarding field

 

[RJGOP]

- Peds is very small field, very competitive. 30-40 fellowship spots per year. Job prospects when you're done are great either.

- lifestyle in general sucks. Usually very few attendings so you're on call a lot.

- majority of procedures are bread and butter general surgery cases. I think appys or port placement is most common. Obviously you do some of the coolest operations with enough frequency that it's pretty cool.

- there's ready some specialization at major centers. Transplant and vascular is done by adult surgeons or a small group of people who've done both fellowships. I know some places have peds colorectal specialists. This trend will probably slowly continue to grow, but I wouldn't use it to make a decision.

- probably most important thing to know: a lot of high maintenance people in the field. You spend most of your adulthood appeasing others. If you can put up with that, it seems like a very rewarding field

Thanks for the insight. By the way, how come the job prospects are bad? And do you know if it's easier to find a job in a bigger city vs a smaller or mid size town or suburb?

 

[ACSurgeon]

Thanks for the insight. By the way, how come the job prospects are bad? And do you know if it's easier to find a job in a bigger city vs a smaller or mid size town or suburb?

Not sure why the job market sucks, or really anything aside from the fact that it sucks. Every Peds surg fellow that I've known over the last 4 years didn't have a job secured until weeks or few months before graduating.

 

[Señor S]

- Peds is very small field, very competitive. 30-40 fellowship spots per year. Job prospects when you're done are great either.

- lifestyle in general sucks. Usually very few attendings so you're on call a lot.

- majority of procedures are bread and butter general surgery cases. I think appys or port placement is most common. Obviously you do some of the coolest operations with enough frequency that it's pretty cool.

- there's ready some specialization at major centers. Transplant and vascular is done by adult surgeons or a small group of people who've done both fellowships. I know some places have peds colorectal specialists. This trend will probably slowly continue to grow, but I wouldn't use it to make a decision.

- probably most important thing to know: a lot of high maintenance people in the field. You spend most of your adulthood appeasing others. If you can put up with that, it seems like a very rewarding field

Just rotated through and this was my impression as well. I was told that there are a lot of calls to expand the number of fellowships but the accrediting board refuses. Quality control or something.

Anecdotally I'd say that Peds surgeons appear to be happier than the surgical norm.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Just rotated through and this was my impression as well. I was told that there are a lot of calls to expand the number of fellowships but the accrediting board refuses. Quality control or something.

Anecdotally I'd say that Peds surgeons appear to be happier than the surgical norm.

Might be happier, but still very nit picky. I assume part of this is because of the higher stress that comes with operating on little babies. Part of it is having to play the game so perfectly for so long to get one of those coveted spots that it being a perfectionist is all you know.

I think Peds surgery is the coolest kind of general surgery. The process is too miserable for my liking.

 

[Señor S]

Might be happier, but still very nit picky. I assume part of this is because of the higher stress that comes with operating on little babies. Part of it is having to play the game so perfectly for so long to get one of those coveted spots that it being a perfectionist is all you know.

I think Peds surgery is the coolest kind of general surgery. The process is too miserable for my liking.

I only spent time with a couple so my sample is very limited. Nit picky is a good way of putting it; they do seem more anal retentive (again, by surgical standards). Not a lot of the surgery "bro" types around it seemed to me.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for the insight. By the way, how come the job prospects are bad? And do you know if it's easier to find a job in a bigger city vs a smaller or mid size town or suburb?

Peds Surg requires a fair bit of infrastructure/staff if you're doing the more complex cases: genetic counselors, Child Life reps, trained nurses, NICU/PICU for peri-operative care, etc. It can be difficult to do much in a smaller community because of that. Thus, you will find most Pediatric surgeons at larger institutions, pediatric hospitals or doing only the most basic bread and butter cases when that's all the community will support (how many PSARPs are you going to have in a town of 50K?)

 

[Señor S]

Why would they expand when their current grads already struggle to find jobs?

This is the point that I don't get, because it seemed very high volume. Those guys operate a lot. So I'd think they'd have no trouble getting jobs, but per above there may be infrastructure-type issues I don't appreciate.

 

[RJGOP]

Peds Surg requires a fair bit of infrastructure/staff if you're doing the more complex cases: genetic counselors, Child Life reps, trained nurses, NICU/PICU for peri-operative care, etc. It can be difficult to do much in a smaller community because of that. Thus, you will find most Pediatric surgeons at larger institutions, pediatric hospitals or doing only the most basic bread and butter cases when that's all the community will support (how many PSARPs are you going to have in a town of 50K?)

Also in very small communities I would assume general surgeons might just take the pediatric cases unless they're very complex and need to be transfered to a larger hospital.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Also in very small communities I would assume general surgeons might just take the pediatric cases unless they're very complex and need to be transfered to a larger hospital.

That is true. Of course, you cannot underestimate the desire for parents to want their precious baby to be in the hands of "world's best hospital" and the fellowship trained surgeon.

 

[Apollyon]

That is true. Of course, you cannot underestimate the desire for parents to want their precious baby to be in the hands of "world's best hospital" and the fellowship trained surgeon.

Senior Moderator, Administrator, Chief Administrator...have the "NASCAR mods" returned? Or will there be gold stripes attached to your profile (like the Chief Justice, although CJ Roberts took them off)?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Senior Moderator, Administrator, Chief Administrator...have the "NASCAR mods" returned? Or will there be gold stripes attached to your profile (like the Chief Justice, although CJ Roberts took them off)?

Those are nothing new. They've been on our profiles for ages.

What happened with the recent upgrade is that the badges that said things like pharmacist or verified physician were lost. They will return as well.

 

[Apollyon]

Those are nothing new. They've been on our profiles for ages.

I just noticed the new "Chief Administrator". If that was visible to you, then it's always been. Here in the cheap seats, it's new! ('Cause I tend to see what you posted, not that I am looking for you, but we are looking at the same threads.)

 

[Winged Scapula]

I just noticed the new "Chief Administrator". If that was visible to you, then it's always been. Here in the cheap seats, it's new! ('Cause I tend to see what you posted, not that I am looking for you, but we are looking at the same threads.)

Ah well yes, that one is new.

Still waiting for the 15 year badge.

Moar flair!!!