career development
Permission to Pause
by Dr. Trisha Lal Like many general surgery residents, I’ve opted to pursue two years of academic development during my training. After two clinical years, I recently completed my first research year. It was a year of growth and learning – learning how to do research, and also, unexpectedly, learning how to rest. When I transitioned into research last July, I was genuinely elated at the idea of a slower pace. I pictured sunlit mornings with coffee and breakfast, focused work sessions, and midday walks. I told myself I would paint again. But instead, my days looked eerily familiar: I woke up early, jumped straight into work, ate lunch at my desk, and felt restless if I shut my laptop at 6 p.m. I realized, quickly and uncomfortably, that I didn’t know how to not be busy. After two years on the clinical grind, during which I spent 12-14 hours...
Applying the Growth Mindset in Surgery
By Fara Bellows In surgery, the only constant is change. With each passing milestone in our careers, we encounter new challenges, new demands, and new surroundings. We also face novelty within clinical medicine: the literature is always growing, new technologies and techniques arise, and practice changes can seemingly come out of nowhere. Surgeons tend to be perfectionists. We strive to do our best and to deliver exceptional patient care. But we are human, and as humans, we are never perfect at something the first time we do it. So it can be difficult to stray from our comfort zone and incorporate new techniques into our toolbox, perhaps due to fear of failure or fear of the unknown. It can also be painful to experience patient-related complications and struggle with learning curves. However, we cannot shy away from novel therapies or ideas. We must embrace novelty: a successful career relies on...
A Surgical Resident’s Journey to Authenticity
By Dr. Steven Xie This is a special edition blog post presented in partnership with the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies in celebration of Pride Month. Every member of the LGBTQ+ community has a unique story and journey in coming out. Often, coming out isn’t a single moment, but a continuous process of choosing to live authentically, sometimes in spaces that are not built or ready for it. Growing up at the intersection of being Asian American and gay, I internalized the idea that my identity was something to hide–something I should be ashamed of. There was a deep fear of disappointing my family, whose ideology likely stemmed from the cultural silence around queerness, and their fear of what being gay meant for my future. I immersed myself in academics, kept my head buried in books, hoping academic success would protect me from shame. I viewed excellence as a...
Training Your Subconscious Mind in Residency
By Dr. Anupama Singh This is a special edition blog post presented in partnership with the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Training my subconscious mind and building mental fortitude is a vital skill I learned at the start of my surgical residency. It molded me into a calmer person capable of adapting to any challenging situation and instilled in me a growth mindset that benefits me in all areas of my life, not just in residency. I wasn’t always like this. In high school, my friends and family labeled me as a “high-functioning anxious person.” I remember being unbothered by it. I still got the good grades and it didn’t matter if these achievements were the result of sleepless nights and spiraling, anxious thoughts that were trying to predict every outcome. That mentality was challenged when I started surgical residency,...
Breaking Barriers: Women in Cardiac Surgery
This is a special edition blog post presented in partnership with the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. By Dr. Hina Inam "Women cannot be cardiac surgeons. We have bets on when you will leave." These were the words of an attending, said just a few days after I joined the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency. I was stepping into a field where women were a rare sight, and the expectation was clear—I would not last. But I was determined to prove them wrong. I worked hard, showed what I was made of, and ultimately became the first female cardiac surgeon to graduate from my institute. It wasn’t just about proving myself; it was about paving the way for those who would follow. Since then, the landscape has started to shift. Dr. Sara Iqbal became the second female cardiac surgeon to graduate from...
Delving into The Fourth Trimester and Beyond Lectures
By Anna Hargrave, DO This past August, we had an incredible series of lectures and panel groups discussing “The Fourth Trimester and Beyond.” The Fourth Trimester is the twelve week period after giving birth, which is particularly critical to all of our women surgeons. The demands of a new baby compete with clinical responsibilities and career goals, and become challenging to balance. While this series was aimed to female surgeons starting or expanding families, the lessons I learned can be applied to all female surgeons including those without children. Some of my key reflections from the month of Surgeons' Career and Leadership Professional Education Lecture Series (SCALPELS) are shared with you in the following paragraphs. To learn more from these phenomenal female surgeons, you can tune into the recorded August lectures! Dr. Amy Vertrees, a general surgeon and veteran who served 17 years with deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, joined...
Protecting Your Surgical Career During Workplace Conflicts
by Andrea L. Merrill, MD Imagine yourself several years into your first job as a surgery attending. Things have been going well, but occasionally, you hear from your division chief that a nurse has complained about your “behavior.” Your chief hasn’t given you specific details, and no formal complaints have been made. To your dismay, your division chief has not asked you how communication and interprofessional interactions have been with the nursing staff as necessary context to receiving those complaints. You aren’t concerned because you have heard stories about male colleagues yelling, swearing, and demeaning learners, which you never do. Additionally, you rationalize that your RVU’s are high, your patient satisfaction scores are above average, the learner evaluations are favorable, and you are publishing research in peer review journals – you’re a rock star and untouchable. Then one day, you express concern about a patient safety issue with suggestions for...
From Passion to Purpose: My Journey as a 22-Year-Old Mexican Woman Towards General Surgery
by Paula Nieto Passion is a powerful engine that drives us toward our goals and dreams. When it is directed toward the well-being of others, it transforms into a meaningful purpose. As a 22-year-old woman in Mexico, my aspiration to specialize in general surgery is deeply rooted in the desire to serve others and make a difference in their lives. Currently, I am conducting a year of research to deepen my understanding of the field and enhance my skills as I prepare for my future in surgery. My family background, through which I have been involved for ten years with the association Amigo-Tez, supporting children from low-income communities in Mexico, has greatly shaped my perspective on medicine and medical practice. A Legacy of Service I come from a family that has dedicated its life to serving others. Since I was young, I have witnessed the impact we can have on...
Navigating Conference Networking & Presenting as a Medical Student
by Rachel Akers, MS I vividly remember my first medical school conference. I left the library, suitcase and poster tube in hand, and hopped into an Uber to O’Hare. A few hours later, I was somewhere across the Atlantic, heading towards Berlin. I stood in front of my poster, hoping that no one had any questions beyond my knowledge base as a medical student. I’ve attended many more conferences since, and I’m here to share what I’ve learned. Fully engage with the conference Find sessions that interest you. Many conferences have event apps that allow attendees to preview scheduled forums. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Our knowledge may not be as advanced as others, but everyone starts somewhere. It’s okay to ask questions, you’re there to learn. Exhaust all options for funding Talking about money can seem taboo, but many research grants have travel funding. Don’t be afraid to...
SBAS – Sunday Series: Finding joy in the little things
by Dr. Crystal Johnson-Mann Most would agree that achieving the idyllic dream of self-care can be challenging at baseline, let alone when trying to incorporate it into a demanding surgeon schedule. The activities that fulfill one’s idea of self-care are highly variable, depending on who you ask. For some, it is a relaxing day at the spa; for others, it may be quiet and solitude in one’s “happy” place. In the current climate, self-care is of the utmost importance. But how exactly does one achieve it? This is much easier said than done, as one would presume. I’m an academic surgeon, wife, mother to 2 little boys, and a former D-I college athlete. I have repeatedly said at the start of each new year since becoming a mom almost 6 years ago that I would make a special attempt to really lean into devoting time periodically for me…to preserve my...
