What does a Surgeon do?
Surgeons are medical professionals who perform operations on patients. They usually specialise in one area, for instance, reconstructive, neurological, oral or paediatrics. The operations they perform can serve a range of purposes, including treating an injury, preventive measures such as removing a body part to stop the spread of cancer or improving a bodily process like digestion.
Surgeon skills and qualifications
A successful Surgeon candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Organisation skills
- Time management skills for consulting with multiple patients at once
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work in team, as they are leaders of a surgical team
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Interpersonal skills for forming positive relationships with patients
Surgeon experience requirements
After medical school, a Surgeon is usually required to complete at least three years of residencies and internships. Each of these experiences is a type of on-the-job training in which a prospective Surgeon learns effective patient interactions, proper surgical procedures and compliance with hospital policies. During a residency or internship, prospective Surgeons usually receive training from a senior professional in their field and earn a stipend as payment for their work.
Surgeon education and training requirements
Before pursuing a medical degree, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, usually in a field like pre-medicine or a scientific subject like anatomy, chemistry or biology. After earning a bachelor’s degree, prospective Surgeons need to complete medical school, which usually takes four years to complete. After medical school, Surgeons need to complete further training in surgical sub-specialities. During this time, they obtain a specific surgical qualification such as the Membership of The Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS).
All Surgeons who want to practise medicine in the UK must register with the General Medical Council (GMC) to obtain a licence to practise.
Surgeon salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of a Surgeon in the UK is £50,404 per year. Their actual salary varies depending on their level of experience, the geographical location of the job and the specific medical facility they work for.
Job description samples for similar positions
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