FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW YOU, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH?

I’m a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, so my job is to operate and fix diseases of both the heart and the lungs usually identified by your cardiologist or your pulmonologist as something that is sort of amendable to surgery. I guide the patients through the preoperative phase, the operative phase, and the care post-op to get them home safely.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED ON THE ROAD TO YOUR PRESENT CAREER?

There are challenges through all aspects of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.  It starts with medical school, with the long hours of studying, and it goes into your general surgical residency which is up to five to seven years at most places, with long nights caring for patients and away from your family. Then there’s fellowship training as a cardio thoracic surgeon which are even longer hours, but it all culminates with attaining the title of a cardiothoracic surgeon which brought me more joy than anything. I really enjoy my job. I enjoy working with patients and getting to guide them through these processes every day.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT OR YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Work hard. You can do anything you put your mind to. It seems like a long time to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, but it’s attainable. Many people do it in the United States every year. It’s a very rewarding experience, I would not change my decision to go into medicine. I still enjoy it every day.

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PERSPECTIVES: MARK MOSELEY, MD, MHA

Chief Clinical Officer, USF Health Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Morsani College of Medicine

 

Being a doctor or being in health care is wonderful. It's a great privilege, but it requires a lot of responsibility. There's a lot of delayed gratification and a lot of sacrifices, but they're for a really beneficial goal. "

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