Discover the Common Characteristics Skilled Surgeons Share

Summary: 

Skillful surgeons share a handful of characteristics that help them succeed professionally. Discover what it takes to make it in this important field, plus online courses high school students can take that center on the skilled masteries of surgery and medicine. 

Key Points:

• A surgeon is a specialized physician who receives advanced medical training to perform complicated procedures to treat diseases, deformities, or injuries through surgical interventions.
• Becoming a surgeon takes a variety of skills, some obvious, others not as obvious. 
• Top surgeons share similar characteristics, including being accountable, reliable, a skilled communicator, and a strong leader. 
• Top universities including Georgetown University, Rice University, and the University of Notre Dame offer relevant online medicine and surgery courses for high school students.

Precision. Excellent eye-hand coordination. Patience. These are all key attributes commonly shared by top surgeons. Being a surgeon is a life-changing profession — not only for the surgeon, but certainly for the surgery’s recipient. In this article, we’ll review what it means to be a surgeon, key attributes surgeons commonly possess, plus college prep courses online you can take focusing on surgery and medicine while in high school. 

What Does a Surgeon Do? 

A surgeon is a specialized physician who receives advanced medical training to perform complicated procedures to treat diseases, deformities, or injuries through surgical interventions. Some surgeons repair bodily issues, remove diseased organs or tissues, replace existing organs, or implant components into the body. Others specialize in work for cosmetic needs (think plastic surgeon).

According to Indeed.com, there are 14 surgery specialities today. These include cardiology, cosmetic, oral, and neurological surgeons. All surgeons develop core knowledge of anatomy, physiology, metabolism, immunology, pathology, wound healing, shock and resuscitation, intensive care, and more. 

But, what makes a good surgeon? How do you know whether becoming a surgeon is the right path for you? There are 7 skills or traits that successful surgeons share. 

Seven Qualities Good Surgeons Share

1. Accept accountability: A great surgeon is prepared to accept the responsibilities and challenges that come with the role. While most surgeons learn to keep their teams motivated, a surgeon should also be able to accept responsibility. After all, surgery is a field that demands continuous improvement.  Individuals who can think on their feet, accept responsibility for their actions, and occupy positions of leadership are cut out for this role.
2. Exercise adaptability: Advances in technology are taking the world by storm. Surgery is no exception. No matter how perfectly a surgeon has mastered their techniques, the willingness to adapt when better techniques emerge is important. In addition, situations can arise during surgery that derail initial plans. Surgeons must maintain composure when something unexpected happens. If you are someone who does not hesitate to adapt to a changing environment and know that you will experience commitment and enjoyment for learning new skills and techniques, you would thrive in surgery.
3. Skilled communicator: Surgeons are leaders, making good communication skills essential. All successful surgeons have the ability to convey honesty and understanding with patients and their loved ones in a quiet, confident way. Since surgery is a team effort, surgeons also need to communicate with coworkers and accept differing perspectives. 
4. Masterful eye-hand coordination: Fine-motor skills (small, coordinated movements of the hands, fingers, and wrists) are a vital part of a surgeon’s artillery, as they need to perform intricate movements during surgery. Surgeons should exercise superior manual agility and the ability to cut accurately with surgical tools, without harming patients. While hand-eye coordination and dexterity are innate skills, they can nonetheless be acquired and honed with practice. Gardening, knitting, making jewelry — even baking can help improve dexterity. 
5. Professional gratification: Surgeons spend each day changing people’s lives. Leading surgeries, helping lives be forever changed, and then putting patients back together can be especially awe-inspiring and gratifying. Being able to enjoy the satisfaction of conducting successful procedures is an asset to surgeons. 
6. Strong leadership skills: Strong leadership skills are the hallmark of a master surgeon. Think of a surgeon as the leader of the operating room. They need to ensure cohesion and clear communication exists with all the individuals on the surgical team. In addition, surgeons need to demonstrate their skills as a leader with patients, as it instills confidence in their capabilities. 
7. Strength and stamina: Mental and physical exertion are a necessary byproduct of being a surgeon. It is likely that you might be on your feet for long hours and possibly miss meals, given the unpredictable nature and length of certain surgeries. This can lead to back and knee issues. Surgeons must take care of their physical health to endure the pitfalls of surgery.
   

If you’re able to confirm that the above characteristics fit you, then becoming a surgeon just might be in your future. And, if you’re a driven high school student, starting your journey in your teen years is a possibility. 

Online Medicine and Surgery Courses for Teens

Georgetown University offers a number of courses spanning the field of medicine, ranging from subjects like surgery, biology, medical research, and more. In their Becoming a Surgeon: Skills, Specialties, and Diseases course, you’ll watch a tour of a real operating room, and experience real surgeons completing surgeries. Learn about various surgical procedures and the professionals who execute them, while hearing from anesthesiologists, trauma surgeons, urologists, radiologists, and colorectal surgeons. 

But, it's important to remember that the foundations of a profession in surgery are medicine and biology. Many renowned universities offer biology and medicine classes to take in high school. Here are a few.

Another exciting program available to aspiring medical professionals is the biology course from the University of Notre Dame, Biology: The Impact of Genetic Mutations. You’ll explore how genetic mutations occur in cancer, how energy is transformed in living systems, and the differences between metastatic and non-metastatic tumor cells. 

Another notable option for classes to take in high school for medical school is from Rice University. In Medicine: Diagnostics, Treatment, and Patient Care, you’ll be introduced to patient-care procedures, from initial exam and evaluation of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment. You’ll study diseases of the heart, the lungs, the brain, and the endocrine system, and identify the basic science of various pathophysiologies.

Aspiring surgeons should demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills, along with the technical skills acquired during college years and beyond. If you are a motivated teen with sights set on a potential career in this important industry, start today with pre-college online courses.