Surgeons
Did You Know:
- Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular hours.
- Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive.
- Formal education and training requirements – typically four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and three to eight years of internship and residency – are among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest.
- Job opportunities should be very good, particularly in rural and low-income areas.
Industry Areas
- Offices of Physicians
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Outpatient Care Centers
Day-to-Day Tasks
- Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
- Operate on patients to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patients' functions.
Overall Kind of Work
Physicians and surgeons diagnose illnesses and prescribe and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease. Physicians examine patients, obtain medical histories and order, perf...
Work Environment
Military
Physicians and surgeons work in hospitals and clinics on land and aboard ships.
Status
What is the difference between enlisted and officer?
Enlisted:Enlisted members enter the Military with a high school diploma (in some cases a GED), at a minimum. They are employed in almost every type of military career, often in hands-on roles.
Officers: Officers either enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater or served previously as enlisted members, and are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require intensive training.
Officer
Enlisted
Military Breakdown
The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.
1,288 Surgeons in the military
Service Branches
Physicians and Surgeons work in the following services:
Type of Work
The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.
Data: 
People:
Things: 
Skills at a Glance
The levels of different skills helpful in this career.
Verbal skills:
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:
Equipment Operation & Maintenance:
Math & Science Skills:
Technology Design & Control:
Leadership:
Workplace at a Glance
The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.
Responsibility:
Exposure to Job Hazards: 
Physical Activity:
Decision Making:
Repetitiveness:
Level of Competition:
Time Pressure: