Why Be an Academic Surgeon? Impetus and Options for the Emerging Surgeon-Scientist

Abstract

I cannot imagine a career more rewarding than that of an academic surgeon. This is the simple message I attempt to impart when mentoring students and trainees considering a career as a surgical scientist. The conversations that ensue in response to this proclamation invariably delve into the overarching questions of “What?”, “Why?”, and “How?” Although most of this book will guide you in the “How”, in this brief introduction I will focus on the “What” and the “Why” by defining the academic surgeon, describing the enormous impact academic surgeons have on the world, and providing examples of the various types of surgical research that can lead to fulfilling academic careers.