2 answers
Kaden
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
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How could I become a heart doctor??
I always want to become a heart surgeon or a neurosurgeon because my mom was always a PA and I always wanted to follow her steps.
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2 answers
Perry Zuckerman
Psychiatrist
40
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Perry’s Answer
Hello Kaden et al,
[Unless things have changed since my training days. Disclaimer: I'm a psychiatrist, obviously not a surgeon.]
One must go to college, medical school, then
For cardiac surgery, you do a 5 year General Surgery residency. AFTER that, you do a 2 year Thoracic Surgery fellowship.
For neurosurgery, I'm sure that you do a first year General Surgery internship, and then I'm less certain but I believe that Neurosurgery is a residency unto itself. 5 or 6 years I believe. So one year general surgical internship, and then 5 to 6 years of a neurosurgery residency.
I hope others will correct me if I got any of this wrong.
The chronology is simple enough, but surgery is a HARD field. Residency is difficult. Long hours. Not for the faint of heart. But those who love it, love it.
I hope this helps.
[Unless things have changed since my training days. Disclaimer: I'm a psychiatrist, obviously not a surgeon.]
One must go to college, medical school, then
For cardiac surgery, you do a 5 year General Surgery residency. AFTER that, you do a 2 year Thoracic Surgery fellowship.
For neurosurgery, I'm sure that you do a first year General Surgery internship, and then I'm less certain but I believe that Neurosurgery is a residency unto itself. 5 or 6 years I believe. So one year general surgical internship, and then 5 to 6 years of a neurosurgery residency.
I hope others will correct me if I got any of this wrong.
The chronology is simple enough, but surgery is a HARD field. Residency is difficult. Long hours. Not for the faint of heart. But those who love it, love it.
I hope this helps.
Hwal Lee
Health science researcher, adjunct instructor, primary care internal medicine PA
303
Answers
Albany, New York
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Kaden,
The information on the "how to" shouldn't be too difficult to find as long as you're on the web. Check out this information I found:
https://www.yousmle.com/how-to-become-an-cardiologist/
Since you mentioned your mum was a PA, and I'm a PA, here's a link to an article on what's it's like to be a cardiology PA:
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2019/02/day-life-cardiology-pa/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with. Good luck!
Hwal
The information on the "how to" shouldn't be too difficult to find as long as you're on the web. Check out this information I found:
https://www.yousmle.com/how-to-become-an-cardiologist/
Since you mentioned your mum was a PA, and I'm a PA, here's a link to an article on what's it's like to be a cardiology PA:
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2019/02/day-life-cardiology-pa/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with. Good luck!
Hwal