Surgeons specialize in treating injury, disease, and deformity through operations. Using different instruments, surgeon fix physical deformities, repairs bone and tissue after injuries, or perform preventive surgeries on patients. Even though a large number perform general surgery, many surgeons choose to specialize in a specific area. Specialties include orthopedic surgery (the treatment of the musculoskeletal system), neurological surgery (the treatment of the brain and nervous system), cardiovascular surgery, and plastic or reconstructive surgery. Surgeons examine patients, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, and counsel patients on preventive healthcare.
Educational Path
You need an undergraduate degree program, usually in a science area like biology or chemistry. After undergraduate school, you then must complete four years of medical school and a three-year residency. After that, a multi-year internship in the surgery department of a hospital is required. The time of this internship can vary, depending on the surgical specialty. After completing this advanced training, you'd then be qualified to start your own surgery practice or work as a lead surgeon in hospitals.