Surgery has always been a field of interest to me, and my surgery rotation confirmed this. The rotation consisted of both a clinic experience and time in the operating room, allowing me to appreciate the full continuum of surgical care. During my clinic experience, whether in surgical oncology, general surgery, vascular, breast, or colorectal surgery, I encountered a wide variety of pathology and learned how surgical decision-making begins long before a patient enters the OR. I gained experience obtaining focused histories, performing physical exams, developing differential diagnoses, reviewing imaging, and discussing treatment options with patients. On the other hand, the operating room can be a very intimidating place for a student, but everyone was very friendly and willing to help and teach. While the fast pace of the OR, strict emphasis on maintaining sterility, and the need to anticipate each step of the procedure was challenging at first, I progressively became more comfortable with sterile technique, instrumentation, and basic surgical skills such as retracting, suctioning, and suturing. Watching anatomy come to life and seeing how clinical findings correlated with operative findings reinforced concepts I had learned in the classroom. One of the most memorable experiences in the OR was being scrubbed in on a Hartmann procedure for a patient with perforated diverticulitis. Along with participating in a wide range of other procedures, this case gave me a greater appreciation for the complexity of general surgery and the teamwork required to care for critically ill patients.

Another aspect of the rotation that I especially enjoyed was following patients throughout their hospital course. Unlikely some other rotations, I was able to build rapport with patients over several days as they recovered after surgery. Each morning, we rounded on them, assessed their progress, and performed dressing changes. Watching the patients improve day by day and participating in both their operative and postoperative care gave me a greater appreciation for the continuity of surgical care. It was rewarding to see patients progress from the immediate post-op period to discharge and to know that I played a role in their recovery.

During my on-call shifts, I also had the opportunity to evaluate numerous ED consults, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the rotation. Many of these consults involved patients with suspected acute appendicitis or acute cholecystitis, allowing me to apply the physical exam findings I had learned in the classroom, such as Murphy’s sign and Rovsing’s sign. I was also able to assist with multiple incision and drainages for soft tissue abscesses. One particularly memorable night involved evaluating two separate patients with necrotizing fasciitis. Witnessing the urgency with which these patients were identified and managed highlighted the importance of early recognition and prompt intervention in surgical emergencies. Overall, my on-call experiences strengthened my confidence in evaluating acute surgical patients and further fueled my interest in general surgery.

Going into my surgery rotation, I was honestly intimidated by the long hours and demanding schedule that surgery is known for. However, as the rotation progressed, I found that the time passed quickly because I genuinely enjoyed the work and the variety of experiences each day brought. The combination of clinic, the OR, and 24-hour shifts kept every day engaging and gave me the opportunity to continuously learn. Rather than feeling discouraged by the long days, I found myself looking forward to the next case or consult. By the end of the rotation, I realized that the aspects of surgery I had been most nervous about were outweighed by how much I enjoyed the fast-paced environment, teamwork, and hands-on patient care. I recognize that I still have room to grow, and would like to continue improving my knowledge of surgical anatomy and procedural indications. I also hope to continue practicing my suturing and knot-tying skills, as increased repetition and experience will help me become more efficient in the OR. Overall, this experience not only strengthened my clinical skills but also confirmed my interest in pursuing a career with a strong surgical component.