This month, inspired by Saint Patrick’s Day, I centered my content around “The Luck of the Surgeon.” Throughout March, I pulled back the curtain and focused on the person behind the surgeon’s mask..
Let’s break it down…
My Journey
I started the month by sharing more about my personal path, how I got here and what shaped me along the way. In a world that is driven by technology, efficiency, and data, it’s easy to forget that medicine is still human. Patients aren’t just looking for my expertise, they’re looking for connection. The reality is, my journey hasn’t been overly traditional. From being a college athlete to earning my MBA, each step gave me a different perspective on discipline, leadership, and decision-making. All of that ultimately shaped the kind of surgeon I am today.
Choosing a Medical School
Getting into medical school is no small feat. But once those acceptances come in, a new challenge begins: Where do you go? Do you choose a big-name program in cities like New York, Boston, or Chicago? Or do you take a more cost-conscious route somewhere like Texas or New Mexico? My advice has remained the same over the years, and it’s what I tell every mentee:
Pick the best school you can get into… at the lowest cost. Your medical education is a serious investment, and debt follows you. Your success will come from how you train, not just where.
Choosing a Specialty
Choosing a specialty. One of the most important decisions medical students face. For me, general surgery was the initial draw. I loved the variety, the ability to do a little bit of everything. Hernias. Gallbladders. Appendectomies. It kept me engaged, constantly learning, constantly adapting. But as my career progressed, something became clear: the best surgeons aren’t generalists forever… instead, they become masters in one craft.
And, that’s where hernia surgery came in.
Hernias are among the most common procedures performed, yet for a long time, they weren’t truly mastered. The anatomy is complex. The nerves matter. The technique matters.
So, I made it my focus to master hernia repairs.
Loans
I’ll be honest, this one sparked more conversation than I expected. I shared that, even in my 50s, I haven’t fully paid off my medical school loans. And for me, that’s been a deliberate choice. With a low interest rate, it hasn’t made financial sense to finish paying them off.
People in medicine understand that immediately. Others didn’t…and that’s okay.
Choosing a career in medicine means accepting a significant financial burden. Years of training. Delayed income. Accumulated debt. General surgery is not the highest paying surgical speciality. But those challenges don’t outweigh the rewards. If you’re in this field for the right reasons, helping people and making an impact is far greater than financial stress.
Healthcare Around the World
For a special St. Patrick’s Day post, I took a step back and looked at the bigger picture: healthcare systems around the world. In the United States, our system is complex- private insurance, private institutions, multiple payers. Heavily flawed.
But, is there any system that’s truly perfect?
Every country approaches healthcare differently. Each has strengths. Each has trade-offs.
Understanding those differences gives us perspective, and reminds us that improving healthcare isn’t about copying one system. It’s about learning from all of them.
What to Expect From Your Surgeon
If there’s one takeaway I hope patients carry with them, it’s this: your surgeon should be a good listener. They should understand your concerns, your fears, and your day-to-day life.
And if you don’t feel that connection with your provider, it’s okay to get another opinion. The right surgeon for you is the one who treats you like a person first, and a patient second.
Back to the Basics: Hernias
To close out the month, I brought everything back to where it all started…hernia care.
I revisited the fundamentals I discuss with my patients every single day:
- The importance of a thorough physical exam
- Why imaging like ultrasounds isn’t always necessary
- How clinical judgment still plays a critical role in diagnosis
Like I mentioned earlier, in a world full of advanced technology, it’s easy to assume more testing means better care. But that’s not always true.
To wrap it up
In the sense of my content this month, “luck” isn’t by chance.. Rather, it’s built over years of training, shaped by the decisions you make, and reinforced every time you show up for your patients.
This month was about showing that side of medicine, the human side. The journey. The trade-offs. The purpose behind it all.
Stay tuned for April… where my content will SPRING FORWARD, focusing on recovery and PT following your surgery.