The making of a surgeon

I saw an episode of Grey's Anatomy (yes, I'm a fan and at times it is suprisingly accurate) a few weeks ago that has reminded me of a couple of the most monumental moments in my training. One of the actors was saying something to the effect of "every doctor can tell you the moment when they really became a physician".

Several weeks into my intern year I had that moment (well actually it was about a 2 hour period) that I walked away from knowing that I had become a physician. It was an experience that I'll never forget and think of often. If it wasn't for HIPAA (health information portability and accountability act) I would tell you all about it. It was crazy!


I've done a few small "solo surgeries" where staff are around and available but allow me to operate on my own. A couple of weeks ago due to extenuating circumstances I did my first larger solo surgery. The experience was incredible. (If you watch Grey's Anatomy my recent experiences have been like Cristina Yang's although on a much more realistic scale.) I walked out of the OR with a huge smile knowing that I had just become a surgeon. The experience has helped staff gain even more confidence in me and has opened up doors for greater responsibility and opportunities for me to grow as a surgeon. God is good!