What it’s like in general surgery—from 3 physicians who know

As a medical student, do you ever wonder what it’s like to specialize in general surgery? Over the years, three general surgeons from around the country and working in a variety of practice settings have taken the time to be featured doctors in the AMA’s "Shadow Me” Specialty Series, which offers advice directly from AMA member physicians about life in their specialties. Check out their insights to help determine whether a career in general surgery might be a good fit for you.

1. Shadowing Boris Cehajic, MD

   1. Dr. Cehajic is employed in a private practice within Hattiesburg Clinic, in Mississippi. Hattiesburg Clinic is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
   2. He said the most challenging part of the specialty is that “there's a new surprise every day and you must be ready to deal with a wide variety of surgical problems. Our local population is generally composed of sicker-than-average patients with more medical comorbidities that can significantly impact their outcomes.” On the other hand, the most rewarding part is “fixing someone's problem—especially for those coming to you in their most vulnerable state, such as after a new colon or breast cancer diagnosis.”
   3. Regarding the untested skills every physician in training should have for general surgery, Dr. Cehajic cited three: humility, focus and compassion. “Know when to ask for help!” he said. “You must maintain focus and patience during cases, sometimes for a few hours, to help avoid complications that are within your control. Take time to connect with your patients, as this will provide perspective on how the work you are doing makes an impact on their lives.”

2. Shadowing Philip Gachassin, MD, MHCM

   1. Dr. Gachassin is employed by Ochsner Health, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Ochsner Health also is part of the AMA Health System Member Program. He said his weeks are usually split with three days in the operating room and two in clinic.
   2. “On operative days, we start at 7:30 a.m., arriving at the hospital around 7 to confirm the patient's presence, ensure they don't have any lingering questions and prepare for surgery,” he said. “Elective surgeries typically start at 7:30 a.m., and we then proceed with the day's scheduled procedures. Depending on the day's agenda, we may be occupied with surgery, taking calls about other patients, consulting new patients or attending to patients in the hospital or clinic.”
   3. “If it's a clinic day, we begin in the hospital, checking on any inpatients, followed by attending our clinic, where we see established and new patients and cater to all sorts of issues,” Dr. Gachassin said. “These clinic days usually run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both kinds of days are demanding.”

3. Shadowing David Welsh, MD

   1. At the time of this profile, Dr. Welsh had had more than 30 years in private practice, much of it in Southeast Indiana. His days were usually made up of surgeries in the mornings and clinic in the afternoons.
   2. “As a general surgeon in a rural setting, my practice takes me to satellite offices in small towns and several critical access hospitals,” he said. “Each small town also has an extended health care facility that I visit on a regular basis.”
   3. Dr. Welsh said his lifestyle wasn’t quite what he had imagined in medical school: “As medicine has become more complex, the effects on lifestyle and practice requirements have changed the manner and environment of practicing medicine. The sheer volume of medical knowledge and the rate at which it progresses adds to the challenge of being a good physician.”
   4. But he had succeeded in building his own schedule: “Saturdays are good to catch up on records and extended-care facility visits. It is also a good day for visiting my farm and attending martial arts classes.” Many of his evenings were filled with other events, including local high-school sporting events, where, he said, “parents, players and coaches appreciate having a physician on the sidelines.”

The AMA Specialty Guide simplifies medical students’ specialty selection process, highlights major specialties, details training information, and provides access to related association information. It is produced by FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database^®. 

Learn more with the AMA about the medical specialty of general surgery.