Surgical training can be a bit demanding. Sometimes it feels like all you get to do is fulfill external obligations. Much of what I do is tick a box, get a reference, impress a boss or meet a prerequisite.
This year I have no extern conference obligations – no papers to present, no people to meet. I decided to deducate my unpromised conference leave to one of my personal passions. I chose to become a faculty member on a surgical education course (Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient, or CCrISP).
The process of becoming accredited has been incredibly rewarding. I love interacting with junior trainees, and I believe in the material we are teaching. I have just returned from an instructors course, learning how to educate. This was great fun – stuff I have never covered before.
However, I was so completely shattered from working the last three weekends, late shifts and busy shifts that I wasn’t able to relax and enjoy myself. I sort of cranked out by the end of it, and got frustrated by how much time I was spending, rather than learning as much as I could.
I feel pretty over my lifestyle at the moment. Seems like keeping up with obligations is all I have the energy for. Problem is, I don’t want to be that person. I don’t have answer. I’ll have to be a work in progress.
Just want to thank you for your honesty here. As a med student who’s considering surgery as an option for the future, it’s really valuable to hear what the lifestyle is really like. I hope you get a good break soon though.
@Sharp Incisions:
Don’t build a career based on my posts. I try to be brutally honest about my lifestyle, but all training is hard. There is intrinsically something strength sapping about being out of control. My sister tells me I am overemphasizing the bad at the moment, which is probably a lot to do with my current rotation. It’s a well-known ball buster. It’s great to have you reading. Please remember I love surgery.
Oh, I’m certainly not basing my career plans on one blog post! But it’s good to get a sense of the hard parts as well as the easier parts – many of the surgeons I’ve been talking to tend to gloss over the harder aspects when talking to students. I’m trying to get as much of a realistic experience and insight as I can, both through talking to others and my rotations etc. Glad to hear that you do love surgery – hope you’re back to a less-overwhelming rotation soon!