Career Development Blog

At the time of this post, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted 188 countries, with 4.5 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 300,000 deaths. Families are mourning, businesses are filing for bankruptcy, and those who have not yet suffered tangible loss are overwhelmed with fear and unanswered questions.

You’ve been waiting for this moment. After more than 12 years of medical school and training, the operating room is yours for the first time as an attending surgeon. You walk into the OR, expecting the same setup and routine that you used all through fellowship. But wait a second… you see a beanbag and wonder if people even still use those.

The new decade is off to a dramatic start. Across the globe, Australia was devastated by wildfires, and hitting us much closer to home, Nashville was simultaneously struck by four tornadoes, and Utah was shaken by earthquakes.

Congratulations on becoming a credentialed cardiothoracic surgeon. I hope that you continue to find meaning in your work. You have and will continue to serve not only as an inspiration, but also as a bridge for trainees (like me) to the world of cardiothoracic surgery.