Surgeons are Performers!

Busy week it has been so far ! What better way to relax with family than to take the kids to a good old fashioned French circus complete with a big top! Cant beat that !!

While I was watching and thoroughly enjoying the breath taking performances, I could not help by observing the similarities between what we do.

Both are high stakes industries, there is little margin for error. An seemingly inconsequential mistake can prove fatal. Both involve long and ardous training, dedication to achieving excellence. Both rely heavily on team work.

Ultimate end point of both is to achieve client satisfaction….you may argue that surgeons job is to “cure diseases”, but i would argue along the lines of the old quote “Relieve pain, Allay anxiety and Cure if possible”!

Ever wondered why operating rooms are called ” theatres” ? In the operating room Surgeons ” perform” operations. A well performed surgery is a smooth well planned just like a well choriographed act on a stage performance….Every step falls beautifully and effotlessly into its place to create a ” surgical masterpiece!”

Now is a good time to reflect on a certain trait I often see in trainees… I often come across the notion that ” theatre” is the place to ” learn”. I am opposed to this……theatre is the place to “perform”. Learning has to take place before coming to theatre! One should know exactly ” what to do” and “how to do” before coming to theatre …..Theatre is the place to “do” under supervision, not to ” learn what to do”

For example “juggler” does not come on stage to practice…..” sword swallower” knows exactly what to do BEFORE coming on stage. Similarly “Tight rope walking performer” is not learning how to do it on stage…..they ” Perform” on demand!!

Ofcourse , you can ” just appear on stage” with the intention of ” learning on the job” …..but you will end up making a ” clown” of yourself:) On a serious note – even ” clowns” practice before hand and ” perform” on stage:)

Same goes on for ” Surgery”

For all trainees, Remember , next time you walk into that ” theatre” , You are a “Performer” and you are there to “Perform” !!

Have a great weekend and safe surgery for week ahead!! Tc

LBS