How hard is it to become a cardiothoracic surgeon?

Cardiothoracic surgery is not for the faint-of-heart. Long years of training, working, studying, and practical surgical experience require intense focus. A residency as well as years practicing as a cardiothoracic surgeon are required. That’s how you become the best surgeon you can be in this delicate specialty.

Is Heart surgery dying?

Cardiac surgery has been described as a dying specialty with the astronomical growth of the field becoming overshadowed by its impending decline. The increasing use of less invasive methods is shifting the landscape away from open surgery toward the interventional techniques already dominated by other specialties.

How competitive is cardiothoracic?

Finally, CT surgery is incredibly competitive, particularly if you want to get into an integrated residency or get into a strong general surgery residency to position you well for a CT fellowship. And who better to learn from and be mentored by than CT surgeons themselves.

Is cardiothoracic surgery right for You?

Cardiothoracic surgery is not for the faint-of-heart. Long years of training, working, studying, and practical surgical experience require intense focus. A residency as well as years practicing as a cardiothoracic surgeon are required. That’s how you become the best surgeon you can be in this delicate specialty.

How do you become a cardiothoracic surgeon?

Obtain a 4-year undergraduate degree in pre-med with an emphasis on science. Attend and graduate from a 4-year medical school. Complete a 5-year general surgery residency program. Enter a 2- or 3-year cardiothoracic surgery residency program, or enter a 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency.

How hard is it to become a CT surgeon?

Last year, there were only 37 individual positions available, meaning that fewer than 50\% of applicants successfully matched. For this reason, most aspiring CT surgeons choose a general surgery residency, which is a less competitive path. Don’t think it’ll be easy however, as it’s still very challenging to match at a top-tier, big-name program.

Are cardiothoracic surgeons spending too much time on trainees’ welfare?

Cardiothoracic program directors and other attending surgeons have been criticized for devoting too little time to the welfare of their trainees. Some are considered disinterested or abusive.