HealthCare

What advice do you have for medical students considering a career in surgery?

Insightful advice for medical students considering surgery

So this question asks what advice I have for students who are considering a career in surgery. I think I could probably do a two-hour long podcast on this topic but let me just hit a few highlights. I'm not here to discourage anyone from becoming a surgeon but if there's something else that you think you could be happy doing in medicine I would really recommend that you pursue that. Surgical training is intense, it requires incredible sacrifice and if you're just not completely dedicated to becoming a surgeon then it's just not gonna make you happy. Next I would recommend spending as much time as you can around surgeons and in the operating room. You want to see what the life of an attending surgeon is like because that's your ultimate goal, not necessarily the life of a resident or a fellow. I would ask you to reflect, do you actually love being in the operating room? Do you lose hours and just don't know where the time goes? Do you come home after your long days on your surgical rotations and find you actually have more energy because you're just excited to be there? I always recommend that medical students keep a journal during their rotations because it really comes down to a gut feeling. On what rotations were you the happiest? When did you feel the most fulfilled? When did the days feel shorter? Then you have to ask yourself, do I like solving surgical problems or medical problems? One of the reasons that many of us love being surgeons is that we can fix patients problems with our own hands and that is so rewarding.

If you are considering a career in surgery, it is important to remember that it requires a great deal of dedication and sacrifice. Make sure you spend time around surgeons in the operating room to get an idea of what a surgeon's life is like. Reflect on which rotations made you happiest and if you enjoy solving surgical problems.

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For medical students considering a career in surgery, here's my advice. While I could spend hours discussing this topic, I'll touch on a few key points. First, if you have another area of medicine that you think you could be happy in, I encourage you to explore that option. Surgical training is intense and demands significant sacrifice. If you're not fully committed to becoming a surgeon, it may not bring you true fulfillment. Next, spend as much time as possible around surgeons and in the operating room. Observe and understand the life of an attending surgeon, as that is your ultimate goal. Reflect on your experiences - do you genuinely love being in the operating room? Do hours fly by unnoticed? Do you come home with more energy after long surgical rotations because you're genuinely excited to be there? Keeping a journal during rotations can help you gauge your happiness and sense of fulfillment. Pay attention to which rotations bring you the most joy and make time feel shorter. Lastly, consider whether you prefer solving surgical problems or medical problems. Surgeons find great reward in using their hands to fix patients' issues. Ultimately, trust your gut feeling and pursue what brings you the most satisfaction and purpose.

How has your experience as a Ph.D student helped you as a surgeon?

Ph.D student turned surgeon: Mental toughness and critical thinking

So the question is how has my experience as a PhD student helped me as a surgeon? I think this is an excellent question. I think there are two main ways it's helped me. The first way is that it made me really tough. Getting through a PhD is difficult. As anyone who's done it can tell you there are grueling hours and you have to endure a lot of failure to get to the end goal. This is the same type of mental toughness that you need to get through surgical training and to become a surgeon. This may sound obvious, but it does take a lot of dedication to get through surgical training and to be an excellent surgeon. The second main way I think my PhD training has really helped me as a surgeon is by teaching me how to think critically about complicated questions. Obviously as a scientist you do this in the lab, but as a surgeon I do this at the bedside with my patients either in the ICU or in the operating room. We're confronted with complicated questions and it takes a logical and rational approach to solve them. Thank you.

My PhD training has helped me as a surgeon by giving me the mental toughness to get through surgical training and by teaching me how to think critically about complicated questions.

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My experience as a PhD student has greatly benefited me as a surgeon in two main ways. Firstly, it has made me resilient and tough. Completing a PhD requires enduring grueling hours and facing numerous failures along the way. This mental toughness is essential in surgical training and becoming a skilled surgeon. The dedication required to excel in surgery is similar to that needed for a PhD. Secondly, my PhD training has honed my critical thinking skills when tackling complex questions. While scientists apply this in the lab, as a surgeon, I employ critical thinking at the bedside, whether in the ICU or the operating room. Confronted with intricate queries, it's vital to approach them logically and rationally. Overall, my PhD experience has instilled mental fortitude and sharpened my problem-solving abilities, both of which have greatly aided me in my surgical career.

What do you like most about being a trauma and acute care surgeon?

Why Trauma Surgeons Love the Adrenaline and Saving Lives

This question is, what do I like most about being a trauma and acute care surgeon? Obviously there are a lot of things that I love about my job and that's why I pursued this as a career, but I'm just going to list a few. First, I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie and I think most trauma and acute care surgeons would probably confess the same. I like not knowing what's going to happen during my day and dealing with emergencies as they come in. I think I'm one of those people that does their best work under pressure and I really like those intense moments of taking care of very sick patients. Next, I really like the variety of care that we get to provide as trauma and acute care surgeons. We get to operate all over the body and take care of many different types of problems. You can think of this as being more of a jack of all trades versus a master of some very small part of medicine. Finally, I just like the idea of knowing that my care and my hands were what saved somebody's life. It's really cool.

I like being a trauma and acute care surgeon because it provides me with adrenaline rushes, variety of care, and the opportunity to save lives.

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What I like most about being a trauma and acute care surgeon is the adrenaline rush and unpredictability that comes with dealing with emergencies. Being an adrenaline junkie, I thrive in high-pressure situations and enjoy taking care of very sick patients. Additionally, I appreciate the variety of care that we provide as trauma and acute care surgeons. We get to operate on different parts of the body and tackle various medical issues. This role allows us to be more versatile, like a jack of all trades in medicine. Lastly, the satisfaction of knowing that my care and expertise have saved someone's life is incredibly rewarding. It's a cool feeling to make a tangible difference in someone's well-being with my own hands.

What is the most difficult part of being a Critical Care Fellow?

The Challenges of Being a Critical Care Fellow: Long Hours, Emotional Strain, and the Reality of Death

So this question is, what is the most difficult part of being a critical care fellow? And I think I'm going to cheat and say there are two parts. The first thing is just the hours that we work. I never thought that an ICU fellowship would be harder than general surgery residency, but somehow it is. It's a lot more responsibility being a fellow, and we have incredibly sick patients here at Shock Trauma. The sheer breadth and depth of clinical experience is just something I have never seen before. The second most difficult part are some of the really emotional experiences that I have with patients and their families. Obviously we take care of a lot of critically injured patients, and some of those patients don't make it. Breaking that bad news to families is just devastating, but it's an important and critical skill to learn as an ICU physician. Some of the patients that we take care of are very young, people who have their entire lives ahead of them, and some of them die. I really think that's one of the most difficult parts. It's seeing previously healthy people sustain horrible trauma, and despite our best, most heroic efforts, we aren't able to save them. Death is a part of our job as ICU physicians, and sometimes it's hard to compartmentalize the patient experiences.

The most difficult parts of being a critical care fellow are the hours and the emotional experiences with patients and their families, such as breaking bad news or dealing with the death of a patient.

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As a critical care fellow, the most difficult aspects are twofold. Firstly, the hours that we work are incredibly demanding. Surprisingly, an ICU fellowship can be even more challenging than general surgery residency. The level of responsibility is greater, especially when dealing with severely ill patients at Shock Trauma. The clinical experiences here are vast and profound, unlike anything I have encountered before. Secondly, one of the toughest parts is facing emotional experiences with patients and their families. We care for critically injured patients, and unfortunately, not all of them survive. Delivering that heartbreaking news to families is devastating, but it is a crucial skill for an ICU physician to learn. Some of these patients are young individuals with their entire lives ahead of them, yet we cannot always save them despite our best efforts. Witnessing previously healthy people endure traumatic events and being unable to rescue them is truly challenging. Death is an inevitable part of our job in the ICU, and at times it can be difficult to compartmentalize these patient experiences.

What tips would you give to families preparing for a surgical procedure?

Key Tips for Families Preparing for Surgery

So this question is, what tips do I have for families preparing to undergo a surgical procedure? I'm going to focus this specifically on the patient. So of course after you've already selected your surgeon and where you're going to have the procedure done, there are definitely things that you can do to get yourself ready for any type of surgery. The first thing I would really strongly recommend is stop smoking cigarettes, stop smoking marijuana, any drugs that you use recreationally, and really stop drinking alcohol. If you can, doing these things will make your body stronger and healthier and better able to heal from any surgical procedure, no matter how small. If you are a heavy alcohol drinker, I would recommend doing that under the guidance of your primary care physician. Next I would really focus on the physical aspect of preparation. This includes two things. One is focusing on eating a healthy diet. That would be one that's high in vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and cutting out all that processed stuff that we know we shouldn't be eating. The second part is trying to incorporate or increase your exercise regimen. Doing a little bit of light weight lifting or even some walking can make a huge difference. And I understand that might not be accessible for everyone. Finally and perhaps the most important aspect is just the mental preparation. I would recommend using some visualization exercises, visualizing yourself, getting through the procedure safely, calmly, and successfully. I think this really helps.

To prepare for a surgical procedure, stop smoking, drinking and any recreational drug use, focus on eating healthy and exercising, and use visualization exercises to help with mental preparation.

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When it comes to families preparing for a surgical procedure, specifically focusing on the patient, there are several tips I would like to share. After selecting the surgeon and the surgical facility, there are things you can do to prepare yourself for the procedure. First and foremost, it is highly recommended to stop smoking cigarettes, marijuana, and any recreational drugs, as well as reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption. These steps will help strengthen your body and improve its ability to heal post-surgery, regardless of the procedure's magnitude. If you are a heavy alcohol drinker, it is advisable to consult with your primary care physician before making any changes.

Next, it is important to focus on physical preparation. This includes maintaining a healthy diet that is rich in vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains while avoiding processed foods. Additionally, incorporating or increasing your exercise routine can make a significant difference. Even light weight lifting or walking can have a positive impact. It is essential to acknowledge that accessibility may vary for individuals.

Lastly, mental preparation plays a vital role. I recommend practicing visualization exercises where you imagine yourself successfully and calmly getting through the procedure. This kind of mental preparation can be incredibly helpful in creating a positive mindset.

Overall, these tips aim to enhance your overall health and prepare you physically and mentally for the surgical procedure.

Hi Dr. Morgan! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Dr. Morgan Hennessey: Expertise in Surgical Critical Care

So this is just to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Dr. Morgan Hennessey, currently a surgical critical care fellow at Shock Trauma, which is associated with the University of Maryland. I did my general surgery training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and I'm a trauma and acute care surgeon. I did my medical school training at Harvard where I completed an MD PhD. My PhD training was in the study of brain stem neurons that secrete serotonin as a neurotransmitter and that I did before I fell in love with surgery. My interests are complex general surgery, intensive care of the surgical patient, physician wellness and well-being, and education and mentorship, both of medical students and residents.

I'm Dr. Morgan Hennessey, a surgical Critical Care fellow at Shock Trauma associated with the University of Maryland. I did my general surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital and my MD/PhD at Harvard. My PhD was in the study of neurotransmitters. My interests include complex general surgery, intensive care, physician wellness and well-being, and education and mentorship.

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My name is Dr. Morgan Hennessey, and I am a surgical critical care fellow at Shock Trauma, affiliated with the University of Maryland. I have a background in trauma and acute care surgery, having completed my general surgery training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to pursuing surgery, I obtained an MD PhD from Harvard, focusing on the study of brain stem neurons that secrete serotonin as a neurotransmitter. My areas of expertise include complex general surgery, intensive care for surgical patients, physician wellness and well-being, as well as education and mentorship for medical students and residents.

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Dr. Morgan Hennessy, MD is a Surgical Critical Care and Trauma Fellow at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is an expert in traumatic, critical care, and emergency surgery and has published many papers. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Hennessy is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to her patients and advancing the field.

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