Becoming a general surgeon is definitely a wonderful and fulfilling professional goal, coupled with medical expertise, technical skills, and a commitment to helping others. Enjoying the career will take years of preparation, direct training, and hard work. Here is the ultimate guide walking you through the path to becoming a general surgeon in Australia. Whether you’re searching for advice on how to start or simply looking for a “general surgeon near me,” this guide has you covered.
What Does a General Surgeon Do?
General surgeons perform operations to treat a variety of conditions, often focusing on areas like the abdomen, skin, breast, and soft tissues. They also handle emergency surgeries, such as treating trauma or removing appendices. While the scope is broad, general surgeons are highly skilled and trained to handle complex medical problems.
Step 1: Finish High School
It begins at high school, where you must perform well in the sciences and mathematics. Key subjects that prepare you for studying medicine at university include biology, chemistry, and physics.
Obtain a high ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) to gain entrance into a challenging medical course. Another important aspect is your extracurricular activities, where you can volunteer in a health care setting or compete in various science competitions, which all will help get your profile noticed.
Step 2: Get a Medical Degree (Undergraduate or Graduate Entry)
To become a general surgeon in Australia, you would have to complete a medical degree. There are mainly two entry pathways:
- Undergraduate Medical Degree (5-7 Years): Enter directly from high school into a medical program at university, such as the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or the newer MD (Doctor of Medicine).
- Graduate Medical Degree 4 Years: If you don’t enter medicine straight from high school, you should undertake a relevant undergraduate degree (for example, biomedical science) and then apply for a postgraduate MD program. Entry to the course is through passing the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) and an interview.
During medical school, you will study anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and clinical skills, as well as complete rotations in a variety of specialties, including surgery.
Step 3: Internship (1 Year)
You then will undertake a one-year internship in a hospital. It is a paid position where you get rotated through various departments, including general medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. The internship helps provide practical experience and is necessary for full registration as a doctor with the Medical Board of Australia.
Step 4: Residency and Basic Surgical Training
Once you’re fully registered, you’ll work as a resident medical officer (RMO) for a few years. During this time, you’ll gain experience in different specialties and refine your interest in surgery.
If you choose to walk the surgery road, then you will need to apply for the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. Admission to the SET is very competitive, so consider: Hands-on experience in surgery during residency, publications with research, strong CV, leadership positions, and surgical audits.
Step 5: Surgical Education and Training (5-6 Years)
Once accepted into the SET program, you’ll undergo rigorous training in general surgery. This program is structured as:
- Early SET: Focuses on core surgical skills and knowledge.
- Advanced SET: Offers in-depth training in specific areas of general surgery under supervision.
During SET, you’ll work in hospitals as a registrar, perform surgeries under supervision, and attend workshops, exams, and training sessions.
At the end of the program, you’ll need to pass the Fellowship Examination to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS).
Step 6: Specialization (Optional)
After obtaining FRACS in general surgery, you would then have the option of being either a general surgeon or pursuing subspecialty training with a fellowship in areas such as:
- Trauma surgery
- Colorectal surgery
- Endocrine surgery
- Hepatobiliary surgery
Subspecialty fellowships generally take about 1-2 years and allow you to further refine your expertise within a particular specialty.
Key Skills for a General Surgeon
Being a successful surgeon requires more than just medical knowledge. You’ll also need:
- Technical Precision: Surgeries demand steady hands and attention to detail.
- Quick Thinking: Emergencies often require immediate decision-making.
- Physical Stamina: Operations can last for hours, requiring endurance.
- Communication Skills: With patients, you must build trust and work closely in conjunction with medical teams.
General Surgeon: Pros and Cons
Pros
- High Impact: Every day, you change lives and restore health to your patients.
- Financial Rewards: A surgeon is one of the highest-paid professions in Australia.
- Dynamic Work: Each day brings new challenges and learning opportunities.
Cons
- Long Training: It will take over ten years to qualify to be a fully qualified surgeon.
- Heavy Schedule: Long hours and night shifts, including on-call duties.
- Emotional Pressure: Working with serious cases may be stressful.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a general surgeon in Australia is a demanding but incredibly rewarding career. From excelling in school to completing years of medical training, the journey requires perseverance, passion, and hard work.
If one is driven by the desire to make a difference in people’s lives and finds strength in an environment that is fast-paced and high-stakes, being a general surgeon could be a wonderful profession. While the path is long, the opportunity to save lives and improve health is well worth the effort.
