How do I become a Cardiac surgeon?

Question

I'm a 2nd year Medical student, I want to become a cardiac surgeon, a really good one that is....

Answer 1

Training
In the United States and Canada, a cardiac surgery residency typically comprises anywhere from six to nine years (or longer) of training to become a fully qualified surgeon. Cardiac surgery training may be combined with thoracic surgery and / or vascular surgery and called cardiovascular (CV) / cardiothoracic (CT) / cardiovascularthoracic (CVT) surgery. Cardiac surgeons may enter a cardiac surgery residency directly from medical school, or first complete a general surgery residency followed by a fellowship. Cardiac surgeons may further sub-specialise cardiac surgery by doing a fellowship in a variety of topics including: pediatric cardiac surgery, cardiac transplantation, adult aqcuired heart disease, etc...


Canada
Historically, cardiac surgeons in Canada completed general surgery followed by a fellowship in CV / CT / CVT. During the 1990's, the Canadian cardiac surgery training programs changed to six-year "direct-entry" programs following medical school. The direct-entry format provides residents with experience related to cardiac surgery they would not receive in a general surgery program (e.g. echocardiography, coronary care unit, cardiac pathology, etc).

Contemporary Canadian candidates completing general surgery and wishing to pursue cardiac surgery often complete a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship in the United States. However, the University of Toronto offers a three-year cardiac surgery fellowship for qualified general surgeons.


United States
Cardiac surgery training in the United States is combined with thoracic surgery and called cardiothoracic surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeons in the U.S. first complete a general surgery residency (typically five or six years), followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. The Cardiothoracic fellowship typically spans two or three years, but certification is based on the number of surgeries performed as the operating surgeon, not the time spent in the program. Recently, however, options for a six-year cardiothoracic residency (in place of the GS Residency plus fellowship) have been established at a few select institutions. In addition, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery offers a special pathway certificate in congenital heart surgery which typically equals an additional year of fellowship.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Go to school and study hard.Hook up with a good Cariac surgeon currently in practice and train with him/her.

Answer 4

yo follow Dr. Burke on Greys's.... lol find a mentor and make it known what you want to do. You are already in med school all the resources are there.

Answer 5

a second year Med school will not ask this question to Yaan easily Yahoo Answer. He/she will know the answer or can ask anybody in university

Answer 6

Once you start your rotations eventually i believe you are given choices of what speciality you want to get into.

Answer 7

Then do it. You're the only one who can qualify.