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Something’s Gotta Give

By Alexander Lauder, MD

Why do we go into hand surgery? What goals do we have in our career? What goals do we have in our personal life? Are these aligned?

A mentor once described work-life balance as a triangle with the apices representing professional career, personal life/family, and monetary income, noting that “You are lucky to have two of these, but you can never have all three.”

We work so hard in the formative years of medicine to be able to sculpt the ideal career practice – the field we want, one that is exciting, has the mix of cases that form a niche, the patient population we hope to serve, in the location we want to be. Early in practice we are told to say “yes.” Be available. Work hard. Do an extra case because that builds your career and reputation as a surgeon.

Despite the drive to perform early in practice, physician turnover within the first 5 years after training is quoted as high as 54%. My course was no different. After fellowship, my first practice was highly rewarding with challenging cases, excellent partners, and collegial staff. However, as many other two-physician-families have found, choosing a balance of career and personal life that works for both partners can be challenging and complementing opportunities may not be readily available.

My wife matched in her dream fellowship, a two-year trauma critical care program that was a perfect supplement to her surgical residency training…located 2,000 miles away. I had just finished board collection and the thought of starting over with application to a new practice and re-starting the two-year board certification process was daunting.

Through months of job applications, interviews, and limited opportunities, we were forced to reflect on which aspects of the triangle were most important. The clear decision was our family. About a month before the start of her fellowship an amazing opportunity opened up for me, and we have been incredibly fortunate. In the new position I am constantly in awe with how much residents and fellows teach me on a daily basis.

Today, while interviewing candidates for our hand fellowship, I was struck by a drawing from one of the applicants. The image depicted a hand with a ripped glove, representing that the lines between surgery, career, and personal life are not always clear; and that sometimes despite our best efforts, “something’s gotta give.” It is often through setbacks that we grow to realize what that is.

Comment (1)
Christopher Allan
February 12, 2021 12:38 am

Good choice. Enjoy!

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