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Do you know how rigorous the training process for a heart surgeon is?
The training process required to be a cardiac surgeon is very rigorous and requires a long period of hard work and dedication. This article will provide an in-depth look at the training path for cardiac surgeons, including the requirements and standards in different countries.
Cardiac surgery includes the surgical treatment of organs within the chest, mainly the treatment of diseases of structures such as the heart and lungs.
Training process
Training for a cardiac surgeon generally takes four to six years or even longer. This period of training can be combined with thoracic surgery and vascular surgery, called cardiovascular (CV)/cardiothoracic (CT)/cardiovascular thoracic (CVT) surgery. Cardiac surgeons may enter cardiac surgery residency directly from medical school or complete a general surgery residency before entering fellowship training in a specialty.
Cardiac surgeons can be further subdivided by various specialty fellowship specialties, including pediatric cardiac surgery, heart transplantation, and more.
Training models in various countries
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, training in cardiac surgery requires a competitive six-year Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. This program begins several years after medical school and goes through multiple examinations, culminating in a final specialist examination in the final year of training.
On completion of training, surgeons gain fellowship status from the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (FRACS).
Canada
In the history of cardiac surgery in Canada, most doctors were required to complete general surgery before undertaking specialist training in cardiac surgery. However, since the 1990s, Canada's cardiac surgery training program has become a "direct entry" program from medical school to six years. Such training allows residents to gain additional experience in cardiac surgery. Most will continue their cardiac surgery training in the United States.
United States
Cardiac surgical training in the United States includes general thoracic surgery, which usually requires five to seven years of general surgery residency training, plus two to three years of cardiac surgery specialty training. Moving to residencies directly out of medical school further streamlines the training path to improve the quality of training physicians receive.
According to the requirements of the American Board of Cardiac Surgery, cardiac surgeons are admitted and certified based on the number of procedures performed.
Evolution of cardiac surgery
The history of cardiac surgery can be traced back to the 19th century. Early operations were mainly performed to repair the pericardium. Actual heart surgery was first performed by a Norwegian surgeon in 1895.
With the advancement of medicine, the skills and techniques of heart surgery have been continuously improved, until modern open heart surgery and organ transplantation.
Current challenges and future of cardiac surgery
Although the technology of modern cardiac surgery has become increasingly mature, surgeons still face severe pressures and challenges, including postoperative complications, medical disputes, and ongoing professional development needs. The education and training of cardiac surgeons is not only about technical improvement, but also includes how to deal with various clinical challenges.
Have you gained a deeper understanding of the difficult training of a cardiac surgeon?
