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Shadowing a Physician Assistant or a surgeon?

I would get to see more surgeries from different disciplines if I shadow the surgical PA, but a surgeon is a surgeon...

So who is the one to shadow for at least a week (probably two weeks) ?

Reply 1

Democracy

The surgeon - s/he is actually a qualified doctor so their work is more relevant to you as a prospective medic. The point of work experience isn't to observe operations, you can watch videos on YouTube if that's what you're curious about - it's to gain an appreciation of the work that doctors do. You can't really do that as effectively if you're shadowing a PA.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2

AtomicMan

Surgeon. I enjoyed watching surgery, got to get really close since the consultant was cool.

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Reply 3

Helenia

The surgeon. But absolutely do not spend all your time in theatre.

And just as a pedantic point, in the UK they're called operations, not surgeries.

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Reply 4

ParticlePhysics

Thank you guys for great responses, surgeon, it is.

Original post by Helenia

And just as a pedantic point, in the UK they're called operations, not surgeries.

Posted from TSR Mobile

thanks for correcting me!

Reply 5

Lizzie232

I spent a week with a surgeon, was the most fun I've had on work experience :smile:

(Also my friend passed out watching surgery so that was hilarious)

Reply 6

modini

Surgeon. They do ward rounds and clinics too so you won't just be in theater the whole time. Overall I think shadowing a surgeon is a great insight into the medical profession.