Jesse Clanton, M.D.
Board Certification: General Surgery
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Residency: Summa Health System, Akron, OH
Fellowship: Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery. Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor
Special Clinical/Research Interests: Surgical Education, Outcomes research, Clinical research in General Surgery and Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery
What does a typical day in the life of a surgeon include?
As a surgeon you still have to do everything that other physicians do (round, clinic, see consults, discharges, etc.), but the majority of your time during the day is often spent focusing on the patient in the operating room. This means that you have to be very efficient with your time, and be adaptable to the sometimes unpredictable nature of the job.
What is the biggest challenge of being a surgeon?
Certainly the training required to become a surgeon, and especially a subspecialty surgeon is a significant commitment. Surgical treatment by its very nature has a higher risk associated with it than most others, and therefore surgeons often have to balance that risk against the benefits to the patient. Half of surgery is learning how to operate, but the other half is learning when and if to operate at all.
How do you foresee surgery changing over the next 20 years?
The training and education of surgeons continues to evolve, and this has many implications for the future of the career. I expect the oversight for training and practicing surgery to continue to increase and become more transparent to the public. Simulation training will continue to improve and become more predominant. Despite any advances in medical treatment, I expect that surgery still will remain an important part of treating many patients.
What advice would you give a student who is considering a surgery residency?
Surgery is a challenging but incredibly rewarding field. Make sure that you understand the required commitment necessary, but once you make the decision put your all into your training and become the best surgeon possible!