Why I Became General Surgeon 

Your story is very similar to where I am right now. Went to college for a major I didn't even want because my advisor basically said throw a dart on a metaphorical map and see where it lands, so I landed on journalism. I lasted two semesters. And that's when I met my fiance, she was going through nursing school while I was working to keep a roof over our head and all the while I was picking up on all of these medical terms due to her studying 24/7. Now that she is graduated and in the hospital as an RN she wants to support me as I did for her while she was in school. But my previous stint in college proved fruitless and at the age of 23 I felt like I missed my cue. So I kicked some rocks for awhile, twiddled my thumbs and casually looked up some medical careers I might be interested in. And then I read the description for CST. "WOW!" How cool I thought. "Ya know the only thing that would be cooler is doing the actual surgeries." But as that thought left my brain and bounced around my skull the realization came that it would be over a decade to actually become one while accumulating a massive amount of debt. The thought deflated and became useless until I gave up on it. Until one night while I was having trouble sleeping, I came to the realization that all great people never let anything like time or money stop them. They became what they are because they wanted it bad enough. So I started watching your videos. And I can honestly say you have inspired me to reach for my goal of become a surgeon. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much money it costs, because I want it. And it's never too late and never to early to start. So thank you. Respectfully, some young and dumb kid.

I will be a doctor one day. One day.

I don't feel alone!! I used my first round of college as a social event and received 7 F's... went back to school for round two, graduated with a 3.9, and now I'm currently a 1st year med student at a DO school 🙂.

It's really refreshing to hear that, the same struggles/insecurities you went through, are what a lot of us go through. I'm currently striving to become a PA, and I constantly doubt my capabilities of being smart enough. Your video is extremely inspiring. I swear, as I was watching, some of the things you said I was saying "It's me!" out loud. Thank you for this video.

Thank you for your inspiring videos Dr. Parker.

Thank you, you inspired me so much today. I have always wanted to go into General surgery😍😍😍

I just found your channel, im so much glued.. I’m now so much inspired and now considering gen surg now

Love this video! Thanks for sharing your story!!!

A real honest person. Great story !

Binge watching all your videos on my what I thought would be unproductive Sunday morning...seriously best thing that has happened to me! You are such an inspiration and you deserve all your success. Thank you for these videos.

Hi Dr. Buck u r so awesome I love just watching your video. Keep them up. U crack me up on here.

THIS IS SO HELPFUL AND RELATABLE! I love science and mathematics but I’m not very gifted and they’re so challenging for me. I want to go into medicine or science but I’m afraid that I can’t do it.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Wow Thank you. I’m on a similar path and this really help me.

Im 13 and hope to become a cardio thoracics surgeon and so far ive learnt all the organs and two different sutures. Wish me luck.

I can't believe Buck is 43. Shows how one can deal with stress and still look young. :p

Amazing thank you for your service! I want to be a doctor too

You are a very cool down to earth dude.

This is so relatable hahah I also "self sabotaged" during my first year in college (nursing) because I felt overwhelmed with the study load and clinicals so I sort of avoided the work and it slowly piled up in the end. As a result, I failed 1 of my 1st yr A&P classes. I had to re-do that. I knew it was all because I didn't have enough self discipline and time management. In my 2nd year 1st sem, I studied like craaazyyy since I didn't want to be kicked out of the program. It is quite intense and we can only use 1 supplementary exam for each semester so failure meant waiting for a course retake or getting kicked out of the program if the grade is a super low fail. After all the hours I put in studying almost everyday, my results ranged about 87-90%. I'm going to be in my final year of nursing next year. Sometimes I feel like I should've went straight into biomed instead of nursing school... I'm contemplating about going into med school after some preparation to maybe pursue a specialty in that field. Thanks for sharing med/college-related videos and knowledge to everyone in the RU-vid community!

Nice vid man! Starting as a scribe for a general surgery team.

You a e the man brother!.. I ma 3rd year med student who is an img (although I am at a good European school), but your right as far as getting into surgery if you really want it. This Us school didn't know what European school I was from and I still got invited to do a pre clinical rotation for trauma and general surgery at this large medical university in the US. I can't list it yet but....once I get permission, I will update because I think people should see whats possible. Basically after doing well here and helping out through volunteering, they introduce and move you to doing a "pathway" program, which means you return in your last year to do the surgery as an elective. If you do well there, that's when they decide to let you know they are having spots for those who come into their pathway program. There are a lot of schools in the US doing that, as well as residency programs in rural areas like the one you mentioned that was gonna pick you as #1 since they liked you. I am finding out it is alot about how the staff likes you. I was helpful to all the staff and even the contract workers at this school in my first summer off from med school over seas. However, I really like this school as it would have been my first choice due to its location. This is in the present, so it may help a lot of your followers, because this is 2018! Keep up the videos man, you have inspired me and another img friend of mine and were both getting invited into this pathway program.

Love watching your videos, my dream is to become a general surgeon, currently studying pre-med in biomedical science and laboratory medicine :)

Excellent video, thanks for posting, much appreciated. New sub : )

This is so inspiring and my story. I’m 24 and just now 2 years away from completing any undergraduate. I gave up on wanting to pursue medicine bc i did so poorly I wasn’t confident enough but after years in college trying other careers I just can’t seem to let this go so I just said screw it. I’m gonna work for this it’s never too late

the best feeling for me is when you get the best mark in an exam.

My friend Im a general surgery resident and realy disappointed of this branch but ur videos give me hope

Hey man. Just bumped into your videos and it's lovely to see an easy going, funny surgeons like you ! It's truely inspiring. I would like to ask your opinion about surgeons with tattoos. Surgery is my dream i would say, but i have a fear my half sleeve tattoo will make it difficult for me to get a residency, or is that not entirely true ? Do you think it's unproffessional for surgeons to have tattoos on their hand ? Thank you, and keep up with good videos :)

That's so cool! I have found that recently I'm really interested in becoming a surgeon, I just don't know what area or if I'd be cut out for it. I feel like I could get the grades but that I'd choke when it comes to surgery! I would love to be able to make a difference in peoples lives and to be able to save lives. I don't mind blood or really any body fluids being as I have a 2 year old and there is really no end to the body fluids, haha! That's another thing though, I don't know how being a surgeon will effect my life with my son... Any advice?

you're my insperation not to underestimate mself!👏

Hi Dr.Buck. I'm a third-year med student doing surgical rotation right now and I really enjoy watching your videos. I love everything about OR want to do general surgery. I'm not afraid of working hard, but I'm worried that I may not be able to enjoy the fun side of life that much. Should I keep pursuing surgery if I have this mentality? Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you so much!

Thanks

Nice video doc! You deserve a cigar :D

I'm here to reassure myself that my surgeon won't half ass my knee surgery. I'm terrified! Sometimes I have off days at my job. What if my surgeon has an off day?

Hi Dr. Buck, I had a full lateral thoracotomy done by a general surgeon and am wondering if that is a common surgery procedure you may have encountered.

How are the working hours? Like are working hours very unpredictable? Do you have lots of time for breaks, vacations, personal time, etc.?

Hi Buck! I’ve been watching your videos but my whole life I’ve always wanted to go into the medical field mostly as a general Surgeon like yourself, but I find myself getting stressed out and aggravated over the cost, time, and amount of levels to complete to get to that stage. I’m currently 21 and I would love nothing more in my life then to be able to peruse a career in the medical field. Do you have any opinions or options that are out there that won’t take a decade before I can start doing something I would love?

Dr.Buck , I am currently in the same shoes as you were you freshman year. Did absolute garbage my freshman year ended with a 2.3 my freshman year and my parents like your said the same thing to me . Went a little like " umm yeah sweety let's get your head out of your ass and start applying your self other wise you and your favorite mother and father are going to be your roommates and my foot up your ass". Let me tell you I took the same classes as your self and learned how to study effectively and be timely oriented with my assignments. I couldn't agree more Dr. My question to you is would you recommend taking the classes I did poorly in over my last year as an undergrad or just apply to carrbiean or D.O programs. Also you said you went to general surgery residency, what if I wanted to do Ped's cardio, or would that be like a shot in the dark? Your video's are on point, I learn a lot and thank you for them.

I'm interested in surgery but highly leaning towards holistic medicine... What do you recommend for a field of practice?

hi doc. what is your premed course before you become a doctor?

What's the name of the documentary?!

Dr. Buck I am in need of some guidance!. I am in undergrad but it's beginning to get harder to do well in school part time while working full-time. I also have about a year and a half left to pay off my car.. I was thinking of stop paying my car and returning it and just use my parents car so I can complete school sooner. I figure it won't really matter to screw up my credit right now since im going to be in alot more debt after medical school. What do you think? Should I postpone my school for another year and payoff my debt or just take the hit! Idk

So here is the thing I graduated this year. during my internship year i just knew that surgery is my thing you know anyy wayys , the thing is those surgeons keep making fun of me because I'm petite and my hands are really small , they even mention THAT during my interview. now i did not match and i really just keep thinking that they like male doctors in surgery. any tips :\

And would you recommend becoming a surgeon to someone who is considering?

What was the surgery documentary called?

Can you do a video on St Mathews?

Our stories are quite similar. I’m a med student now outside the US, but the trend of residencies for IMGs has now shifted to family medicine where as I’m shooting for the surgery route. Where did you go to school if I may ask?

how to get residency fpr fmg s

Can someone send me a link leading to some 100 questions test please for this topic. I'm just a kid and I want to know what type of stuff these guys do..

hi dr. buck your a general surgeon and where did you study, cause i study in harvard university for about 12 years and i just graduated in 2014. and my question is how many years did you study to become a general surgeon.

Thanks for this video :) from Israel :)

Who just saw him on The Proposal 7/16/18?

Why did you become a surgeon in the first place?

Why did you quit being a general surgeon?

What’s the name of documentary you watched about surgeons?

Hey , i am 16 and im in my junior year of highschool in about 7 months i will be a certified nursing assistant my dream job has always been in medicine ive always wanted to be a surgeon! what would be my steps to take after highschool and could i go straight into med school

u can do a fellowship and specialize in something right? after 5 yrs residency

Can I marry you? Lol just kidding. Thank you for doing what you do everyday! 😊

such a handsome man

What hospital in Detroit? I live in southeast MI!!

where did you go to undergrad and what was your major? also, where did you go to med school?

Doctor how many years to become a general surgeon?...

Your catch phrase should be " I just don't give a Buck"

I am hearing impaired and really want to be a surgeon. Whenever people talk I can mostly understand it all, but I also have to read lips a lot. During a surgery, all the surgeons wear masks that cover the mouths and their voices are muffled, which would make it difficult for me to comprehend. Should I still become a surgeon, or find somethings else?

Young George Clooney (Dr.Ross from er)

2024???😂

We're closer in age, I was 47 in 2017, ya that means I'm 50 now.....still single?