Overview
This lecture compares medical career paths as a non-surgical doctor (physician) versus a surgeon, focusing on training, compensation, competitiveness, lifestyle, and pros and cons.
Definitions and Career Paths
- All surgeons are doctors, but not all doctors are surgeons.
- Physicians earn an MD or DO degree; surgeons are physicians with surgical specialization.
- Surgical specialties include plastic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, ENT, vascular surgery, and more.
- Non-surgical specialties include internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, radiology, and others.
Training & Residency
- Medical school is 4 years: 2 preclinical (classroom) and 2 clinical (hospital/clinic rotations).
- After med school, residency is required: 3–7 years depending on specialty.
- Surgical residencies tend to be longer (minimum 5 years; neurosurgery up to 7 years).
- Some specialties require fellowships after residency (1–3 years), for further sub-specialization.
Competitiveness & Entry
- Surgical specialties are more competitive to match into, with four in the top five most competitive.
- Plastic surgery is especially competitive; dermatology is the most competitive non-surgical field.
- All five least competitive specialties are non-surgical.
Compensation
- Surgeons generally earn more than non-surgical physicians.
- Lowest paid non-surgical: pediatric endocrinology ($218,000); highest non-surgical: radiation oncology ($569,000).
- Lowest paid surgical: colorectal surgery ($455,000); highest surgical: neurosurgery ($764,000).
- Top five highest paid medical specialties are all surgical.
Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance
- Non-surgical doctors have better work-life balance, fewer hours, and are less likely to be on call.
- Surgical careers require longer, more stressful hours and frequent on-call shifts.
- Some surgical specialties (plastic surgery, ENT, urology) have better lifestyles than others.
- Surgical procedures are mentally and physically taxing.
Pros and Cons: Non-Surgical Doctor
- Pros: Shorter training, less competitive specialties, earlier earnings, better lifestyle.
- Cons: Lower compensation (generally), work may lack hands-on technical challenges.
Pros and Cons: Surgeon
- Pros: Higher compensation, technically challenging and hands-on work.
- Cons: Longer training, later start to high earnings, riskier (higher liability), more demanding lifestyle.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Physician — A medical doctor with an MD or DO degree.
- Surgeon — A physician specialized in performing surgical procedures.
- Residency — Post-medical school training in a medical specialty.
- Fellowship — Additional sub-specialty training after residency.
- On-call — Being available to work or respond to emergencies outside normal hours.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on personal interests, strengths, and lifestyle goals when choosing a specialty.
- Review the "So You Want to Be" video series for in-depth specialty insights.
- Consider the importance of work-life balance versus compensation and training length.