PathSource - ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, IN-DEPTH: The Physical, Mechanical Work Is Very Satisfying

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ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, IN-DEPTH: The Physical, Mechanical Work Is Very Satisfying

About this video

Yassmin shares what she likes most about her job as an orthopedic surgeon. Not only does she enjoy that fact that she can help people get rid of their pain and restore their physical function, but she also finds the mechanical part of the job very satisfying. And Yassmin says the long hours in surgery can be very challenging on her body -- but rewarding.

Degree: Medicine

Job Title: Orthopedic Surgeon

Job Summary: Orthopedic Surgeon & Researcher

Job Description

Orthopedics is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients with disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and skin. These elements make up the musculoskeletal system. The physicians who specialize in this area are called orthopedic surgeons or orthopedic surgeons. Orthopedic surgeons are involved in all aspects of heath care pertaining to the musculoskeletal system. They use medical, physical, and rehabilitative methods as well as surgery.

On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency

Additional Info

Orthopaedics is an extremely competitive field. There are approximately 650 residency programs available each year in the 170 accredited programs. Candidates for orthopaedic residencies generally graduate at the top of their medical school classes. Most have completed a full orthopaedic rotation in medical school. About 7 percent of current orthopaedic surgery residents are women; about 20 percent are members of minority groups.

Certification Requirement

Required by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Quick Facts

Average salary

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$205,000 - $370,000

Projected Job Growth

20 to 30 percent

Typical schedule

Full-time, Irregular, Long hours

Typical workplace

Hospital / Clinic, Indoor, Office

Personal Qualities

Detail oriented, Empathy, Leadership ability, Likes working with hands, Organizational skills, Patience, Problem solving skills, Strength/stamina, Verbal communication skills, Written communication skills

Educational Path

Education Requirement

Bachelor's degree

Recommended Education Degree

Bachelor's degree
Master's degree

Recommended Majors

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Psychology
Biochemistry
Human Biology
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Biopsychology
Physiology
Medicine
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
Genetics
Mathematics

Related Careers

Chiropractors
Dentists
Optometrists
Physician Assistants
Podiatrists
Registered Nurses
Veterinarians.

View Detailed Career Data

P3.instances[0].transcript.parse_transcript_data({"transcript":"There's so many things. First of all, what I do actually helps people, and it's very satisfying to know that I have the skill to be able to do something that's going to change someone's quality of life and get rid of their pain. And then there's the physical, mechanical work. It's very satisfying. So what I do is I cut someone's skin, get into where the problem is, deep inside their body, find that area, and fix it. So it's a very satisfying mechanical work. And I restore people's function, so that's a great thing that I do. I don't think I'm fit enough. You have to actually stay fit, and sometimes I don't have time to exercise enough to stay as fit as I need to be. So let's say I'm on call, and I work 12 hours in the operating room, where I'm standing and fixing large bones or small bones or helping patients in one way or another-- putting things back together. You have to actually use your body to do that work. I have to pull and push on things and use drills and hammers, and that sometimes gets tiring on my body. When you're in medical school, in the third year is when you first start contacting patients and going through some specialty training. And my first very first course was orthopedics. And the people who taught me-- the senior residents and the other doctors who taught me-- were very encouraging. And they gave me a lot of responsibility and encouraged me. So that step was, I think, where I turned. And then the rest of medical school, I couldn't find anything that excited me as much. It's hard to train to become an orthopedic surgeon. It's a selective process, and you have to study hard and persevere. Once you become an orthopedic surgeon, there's always jobs for orthopedic surgeon. I don't think I know an unemployed orthopedist. I work for a large group practice, so I have many partners that support me. I think it's easy to be in a place where you lose yourself in this job. It's a fascinating job. It's very satisfying work. You solve puzzles every day. You help people. But I can see that a lot of people in this position can get lost in work. But I have a family. I have two small children. I have a husband, and we spend a lot of time with our family. So we have a very good work-life balance. ","file":{"id":293986,"video_id":"2701028574001","name":"1003-Yassmin-p-OrthopedicSurgeon2 ","duration":180164,"thumbnail_url":null}});