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How difficult is it to become a cardiovascular surgeon ?
i’ve always wanted to be in the medical field but i’ve finally chosen that i want to become a cardiovascular surgeon. I know that it’ll be a hard but how difficult?
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Midwest’s Answer
Hi Fatim, cardiovascular surgery is an extremely challenging but rewarding field! The most important advice that I would tell any student interested in cardiac surgery is that you must shadow and talk to a broad audience of people in the field and determine whether you want to do it. If you thoroughly enjoy what you are doing as a cardiac surgeon then all the challenging aspects of achieving the career are worthwhile. If you do not truly want to do it and choose it as a job along in order to make a living, then the challenges of the profession will make you unhappy and ultimately leave you unfulfilled.
In terms of the pathway to becoming a cardiac surgeon, there are two main paths:
1) Traditional pathway
-Medical school
-5 years general surgery residency (+0-2 years of research time)
-2-3 years cardiothoracic surgery residency/fellowship
-0-1 years specialty fellowship
2) Integrated pathway
-Medical school
-6 years of integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency (+0-2 years of research time)
-0-1 years specialty fellowship
No matter what type of medicine or what profession you choose, the most important decision is choosing something you love doing. If you do this, then the lifestyle, number of hours worked, balance with other activities and family, etc. will all work out. If you are not doing something you love doing, it will not work out, whether you are working 100 or 40 hours per week.
Cardiac surgery can be challenging both physically and psychologically but as with most other professions can be achieved by most anyone through hard work and dedication, with your focus kept on the ultimate goal.
Regarding length of time training, this will largely depend on the type of practice you enter, but will generally take 6-10 years, which aligns with most every other medical and surgical subspecialty length of training.
If you do enter medical school and deliberate between different specialty training, you may hear advice that cardiac surgery is "difficult" or "rigorous" and may be more difficult for female trainees who also want to build a family. This type of advice is complete nonsense and you should not let it impact your decision at all. Some of my greatest colleagues are high achieving female cardiac surgeons. Of course it is difficult, But if you decide cardiac surgery is what you want to do, then do it!
Next steps:
Gain EXPOSURE to cardiac surgery
Focus on applying and excelling in medical school
Be honest with yourself and do what you love to do
In terms of the pathway to becoming a cardiac surgeon, there are two main paths:
1) Traditional pathway
-Medical school
-5 years general surgery residency (+0-2 years of research time)
-2-3 years cardiothoracic surgery residency/fellowship
-0-1 years specialty fellowship
2) Integrated pathway
-Medical school
-6 years of integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency (+0-2 years of research time)
-0-1 years specialty fellowship
No matter what type of medicine or what profession you choose, the most important decision is choosing something you love doing. If you do this, then the lifestyle, number of hours worked, balance with other activities and family, etc. will all work out. If you are not doing something you love doing, it will not work out, whether you are working 100 or 40 hours per week.
Cardiac surgery can be challenging both physically and psychologically but as with most other professions can be achieved by most anyone through hard work and dedication, with your focus kept on the ultimate goal.
Regarding length of time training, this will largely depend on the type of practice you enter, but will generally take 6-10 years, which aligns with most every other medical and surgical subspecialty length of training.
If you do enter medical school and deliberate between different specialty training, you may hear advice that cardiac surgery is "difficult" or "rigorous" and may be more difficult for female trainees who also want to build a family. This type of advice is complete nonsense and you should not let it impact your decision at all. Some of my greatest colleagues are high achieving female cardiac surgeons. Of course it is difficult, But if you decide cardiac surgery is what you want to do, then do it!
Next steps:
Midwest recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Erwin’s Answer
It is difficult but not impossible. As with any Medical field, your focus depends on where you are in the process. If you are applying to medical school, then focus on grades.
If you are in Medical school focus on your rotations and USMLE scores. If you are in residency, then you are almost there focus on rotations and contacts.
If you are in Medical school focus on your rotations and USMLE scores. If you are in residency, then you are almost there focus on rotations and contacts.
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