Duties and Responsibilities: Specializing in surgical procedures related to the chest,
thoracic surgeons are some of the remarkably few people who can say they have
held someone's heart in their hands -- literally. These medical professionals
undergo many years of education and rigorous training to prepare them for a
career in the operating room -- often working long, irregular hours on their
feet. A thoracic surgeon's job is far from easy, but the career may appeal to
those who enjoy helping others and love working under pressure.
Salary: $350,000
per year
Education: Becoming
a thoracic surgeon requires 13 to 16 years of education and training, beginning
with a bachelor's degree. Students may pursue a degree in any area they desire,
though premedical studies and biology are the most commonly chosen. After earning
a bachelor's degree, students go on to attend medical school, which involves
another four years of education. The first two years of medical school are
usually devoted to laboratory and classroom instruction, while the final two
years are spent completing clinical rotations in common medical specialties.
Upon finishing medical school, aspiring thoracic surgeons enter a five-year
residency program in general surgery, followed by a year-long residency in
cardiothoracic surgery. During residency training, surgeons gain experience
working with patients and learning surgical techniques from experienced
surgeons. They observe thoracic surgical procedures, and eventually they have
the opportunity to scrub in and assist in the operating room. Residency training
is where a thoracic surgeon will gain most of the knowledge and skills he needs
to properly do his job in a career where his knowledge and abilities can mean
the difference between life and death for his patients.
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