By Micah K. Sinclair, MD

As I contemplated this question, I was reminded that everything really does happen for a reason. This question is often asked in interviews or at cocktail parties and I answer quickly, without taking the opportunity to truly reflect on the question. Having done so now, I have been reminded of how fortunate I am to have taken the “next best step” and become a hand surgeon.  As we face the potential for burnout in medicine and seek ways to avoid it, I would suggest that you take the time to do the same. You may find, that, like me, you are grateful for the opportunity to be a hand surgeon. What follows are two conclusions from my experience of this contemplation.

1. Our job is so much fun! At times our work wears us down (particularly on Monday morning after being on call all weekend when the weather is warm). We can all tell the story of how our “cards never get updated” and the “circulator is never in the room” when we need suture and on and on. But when we are operating, in our “zone”, we are able to make a connection with other people in the room. I asked this same question about career choice to everyone in my OR last week, in an attempt to answer it for myself, and had the opportunity to better get to know the people I work with on a routine basis. They responded that they would be: a sea lion trainer, an aerospace engineer (the orthopaedics resident!), a play-write and a fireman. The question that followed soon after was, “If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower?” Another hard one to answer, but as it turns out, one that was easier for me to answer in the moment than the hand surgeon question. I would choose — laughter. It can be used for good, diffusing a situation and creating positive feelings. It can also be used as a weapon to disarm negativity. When we laugh hard enough, we lose control of our muscle tone. So perfect, on so many levels! My conclusion from this day in the OR: As a hand surgeon, I have the opportunity to work with many different, wonderful people, from patients to hospital staff and everything in between. This interaction nourishes and helps me to grow and be my best self.

2. Surgery is a gift we give to others. In answering “Would it be medicine at all?”, I considered my hobbies. Unfortunately, I realized a few years ago that these have fallen away in my training and early career. In trying to reclaim them, I decided to make a baby quilt for the daughter of a friend, also a hand surgeon. I considered the process of constructing the quilt to be like a multi-digit replant and it turned out to be the best one I have made yet! The process showed me that I have become more efficient and precise in my craft over the past 10 years. Yet, in its completion, I understood that as a profession, I prefer to be a surgeon rather than a quilter. Surgery is a long-standing gift we give others. It provides the continued function of their hands and they will use the finished product to its fullest (rather than folding it up and putting it away in a cabinet).

When talking with residents and fellows as they are looking for their first job out of training, I encourage them to take the “best next step”. I emphasize to them that as we progress through our careers, many changes occur.  Our perspective changes, our location changes and we should choose what seems best at the time. Having done this along the way, I know that I am in the best job for myself, at this time. (Now I just have to remind myself of this on Monday mornings…) I would encourage you to consider this question for yourself and see what turns up…then take the best next step!