Black Intelligentsia Libraries

The New Way Of Thinking

Surgeon

Have you ever seen doctors (Physicians) on a TV show performing surgery in an operating room?  Ever wondered what actually goes on during surgery?  Would you like to become one of these gifted professionals who test, exceed, and reset the limits and knowledge of medical science?  If so and if you are gifted in Science and Math, are blessed with dexterity and the ability to "think outside the box," and have "nerves of steel," then you could be the ideal Surgeon.

Surgeons are Physicians who diagnose and treat diseases, illnesses, injuries, and deformities in and of patients by using invasive (opened-body), minimally-invasive, and non-invasive surgical methods and by using instruments, appliances, and/or manual manipulation.  With patients under anesthesia, Surgeons correct physical deformities, repair bones and tissue after injuries, and perform preventive surgeries on patients.  And though a large number perform general surgery, many Surgeons choose to specialize in a specific area.

The duties of a Surgeon include but are not limited to:  examining patients; operating on patients to treat injuries (broken bones, torn tendons and ligaments, etc.), diseases (cancerous tumors, etc.), and/or deformities (cleft palates, etc.); taking patients' medical history; updating charts and patient information to show current findings; prescribing medications; performing, ordering (for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform), and interpreting diagnostic tests; reviewing test results to identify any abnormal findings; recommending and designing a plan of treatment; educating patients, addressing their concerns, and answering their questions about maintaining their health and well-being by discussing proper nutrition, hygiene, preventive healthcare, etc.; and conducting research and teaching at universities.

High school students interested in eventually becoming a Surgeon benefit from taking Nursing, Nutrition, Health, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology/Anatomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Physical Science.  Students entering Pre-Medical Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous Surgical training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.  Surgeons must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete residency training in their specialty, and pass written and practical exams.  In the final two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced Surgeons in hospitals, through rotations in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics.  ​To qualify for a license, all Surgeons must pass the standardized national licensure examination, and M.D.s take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).  ​All states require Surgeons to be licensed.  

Surgical specialties include Orthopedic surgery (treatment of the musculoskeletal system), Neurological surgery (treatment of the brain and nervous system), Cardiovascular surgery (treatment of the heart, veins, and arteries), and Plastic/Reconstructive surgery.  Surgeons also who work as a number of sub-specialist such as:  Allergists (diagnose and treat hay fever and other allergies); Cardiologists (heart specialists); Dermatologists (skin, hair, and nails specialists); Gastroenterologists (digestive system specialists); Pathologists (body tissue specialists); Radiologists (review and interpret x-rays and deliver radiation treatments for cancer and other illnesses); Pediatric Surgeon (serious medical conditions that commonly affect younger patients, such as autoimmune disorders or serious chronic ailments); and many others.

Due to the continued expansion of the healthcare field and to our growing and aging population, employment of Surgeons is expected to grow by 24 percent over the next decade.  Job prospects should be particularly good for Surgeons/Physicians in specialties dealing with health issues that largely affect the aging baby boomers and for those willing to practice in rural and low-income areas, areas that tend to have difficulty attracting Physicians.

Job Description

Median Salary & Range

​Median Salary:  $320,000

Salary Range:  ~$234,840 - $435,970+

College Majors & Attainment Routes

The normal routes to becoming a Surgeon have been to attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Medical, Physics, Biology or Biological Sciences, Physiology or Physiology Sciences, Chemistry (Pre-Professional), Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Engineering Physics, Biochemistry, Optical Engineering, Pre-Professional Education, and Optics.

All Surgeons complete 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years in internship and residency programs, depending on their specialty.  Applicants to medical school must have at least a Bachelor's degree and submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters of recommendation.  While a specific major is not required, all students must complete undergraduate work in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.  Students often volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain experience in a healthcare setting.

Colleges That Provide Above Majors

Colleges and universities that have Medical/Surgery Schools and related majors are:  Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Howard University (Washington, DC); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson (Austin, Texas); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); and Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama).

Available Scholarships

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);