The Onco-Surgeon

Non Medicos version

After passing his Master of Surgery (MS) exam from AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. SV (Fictional Name) surprised everyone by joining the newly started cancer center at AIIMS. 

This surprise among his colleagues was based on multiple reasons. As the work was still going on in the under-construction cancer center, the operation theatre (OT) was not ready and was not likely to be operational for a few months. There may be many months before the first major operation will be done. 

Most surgeons are an embodiment of the adage, ‘choose a work you like and you may not have to work again in your life’. For the diehard surgeons operating on patients is a pleasure and not work. Many surgeons feel unhappy if they have to go without doing some operation for some time. This dose of pleasure will be missing for some time in the new cancer center. 

Further, being a cancer center, only cancer-related surgery will be done in the new center. Surgical oncology (Treatment of cancer by surgery) was not a recognized / well established separate field at that time. There was skepticism that what new things they will be able to do in the cancer center as good cancer surgery was already being done in the general surgery department of AIIMS, New Delhi. 

Despite these facts, Dr. SV made the move to surgical oncology in the new cancer center. 

As expected the operation theatre was under construction and Dr. SV was free on the OT days. Instead of wasting his time, he used the time to practice endoscopy, which was available in the new center. He became an endoscopist as skilled as any gastroenterologist (a doctor super-specializing in the diseases of liver and bowel). 

When the OT was ready, they started doing regular operations in addition to endoscopic procedures. As time went, the field of surgical oncology and the cancer center become well established with Dr. SV earning national and international fame as a cancer surgeon.

An opening of a new division, unit, center, department or field may present an opportunity to make a leap in your career. Shifting to a new field/division may turn out to be very rewarding in the future. 

Don’t judge a thing by its immediate or near-future potential but by its long term potential. Dr. SV realized the long term potential of specialization in cancer surgery and made the career-enhancing move.

In the initial phase of a new beginning or even in the middle of your career, there may be time periods when you may be relatively free. Instead of wasting this free time, use this time to improve your skills, join a course, practice something new, read, research or even just build up a network of contacts.

 (Based on allegedly true incidents)

— ND

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board’s norms.