Are pediatric surgeons rare?

Yes, pediatric surgeons are considered rare due to a lengthy, highly competitive training path (requiring ~13 years post-high school) and a limited number of available training spots, resulting in a smaller workforce compared to other surgical fields, though demand often exceeds supply, particularly in underserved areas. The field is small but growing, requiring significant expertise in child development and specialized conditions.

Why are pediatric surgeons rare?

There is a lack of pediatric surgeons because you need an incredibly large catchment area/patient base of which to train on and practice clinically. I lived in a million+ city that had a pediatric hospital and one group of 10 peds surgeons... and i think most of what they ended up dealing with was trauma.

How hard is it to be a pediatric surgeon?

Becoming a pediatric surgeon requires completing of one of the longest training pathways in the U.S. medical system. Physicians train for nine years after medical school, which includes a residency program in general surgery followed by a pediatric surgery fellowship. Certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery.

Are pediatric surgeons in demand?

What is the job outlook for new Pediatric Surgeons? There are 1,638 jobs in this career today. It is projected to have 1,726 jobs in 5 years for a growth rate of +5.37%. The growth rate is a national projection of how many job openings will exist in this career in the future as compared to today.

How many pediatric surgeons are there?

Being a pediatric surgeon is the 10th least common job in the U.S., with only 1,180 in the entire country according to BLS.

How I Find Meaning and Purpose in Being a Pediatric Surgeon | Tamir Keshen | TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool

Who is the youngest surgeon ever?

The title of "youngest surgeon" often refers to Akrit Pran Jaswal, an Indian child prodigy who performed his first surgery at age 7 in 2000, separating the fingers of a burn victim, though he wasn't a formally licensed doctor but a gifted youth recognized for his potential and ability. For formally licensed surgeons, records vary, but individuals like Dr. Alexander Khalessi, who became a neurosurgeon and department chair in the US in his late 20s, or Akshita Sharma, who set a robotic surgery record in India at 29, also hold records for being remarkably young in specialized fields.
 

Do surgeons make 1 million a year?

Yes, many surgeons, especially in high-demand specialties like neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and cardiovascular surgery, can earn over $1 million annually, though this often requires long hours, high efficiency, and sometimes owning part of a practice or generating extra income from consulting or business ventures, with averages in these fields often exceeding $600,000-$800,000. While the average surgeon earns significantly less, top performers in lucrative fields or those who run their own successful private practices can reach seven figures. 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

Which surgeon had a 300% mortality rate?

A surgeon with a "300% mortality rate" refers to a famous, likely exaggerated, story about Scottish surgeon Robert Liston in the 1800s, where an amputation supposedly killed the patient, his assistant (whose fingers he accidentally cut off), and a spectator who died of shock, making it the only surgery with more deaths than people involved, though primary sources are lacking, notes www.fibonaccimd.com. 

How old are most pediatric surgeons?

Results: The results showed 2.6 pediatric surgeons per one million population under 14 years. More than half (69%) were male and the median age was 46.8 years.

What is the hardest surgery to study?

The hardest surgeries include heart and aorta operations, like open aortic surgery and heart transplants. Neurosurgery, such as clipping aneurysms and awake craniotomies, is also very challenging. Abdominal surgeries, like the Whipple procedure and liver transplants, are also among the most difficult.

What are the cons of being a pediatric surgeon?

Exposure to Rare and Complex Cases. While much of pediatric surgery involves the treatment of relatively simple but common surgical conditions, such as hernia and undescended testes, the most challenging conditions tend to be rare and are often quite complex, e.g., esophageal atresia or bladder exstrophy.

What is the hardest part of pediatric surgery?

Pediatric surgery is a tough field, especially in emergencies. The biggest challenge is responding quickly to emergencies. This can mean the difference between life and death. Hardest Part Pediatric Surgery surgeons must be ready to handle these urgent cases, which make up a big part of their work.

How hard is it to match into pediatric surgery?

Background. Pediatric surgery remains one of the most competitive surgical subspecialties. General surgery residents applying for pediatric fellowship encounter the lowest odds of matching when compared with other fields; the average match rate was 51.5% over the last 5 years, with surgical oncology second at 64.8% [1] ...

How rare is it to be a surgeon?

While the number of surgical residents grew by approximately 37% (from about 21,000 in 2007–2008 to 29,000 in 2022–2023),5 the population of practicing surgeons rose by less than 10%, from approximately 142,000 to 155,000 surgeons.

Do pediatric surgeons make less money?

Eleven of the 20 lowest-paid specialties are in pediatrics. Pediatric surgery, with average annual compensation of $647,721, is the only pediatric specialty among the 20 highest-paid specialties.

What is the riskiest surgery ever?

There's no single "most dangerous" surgery, as risk depends on patient health, but procedures like Craniectomy, Coronary Revascularization (Bypass), and the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) are notoriously risky, with the BBL often cited as the deadliest cosmetic surgery due to fat embolism risks, while historical procedures like Robert Liston's amputations had famously high mortality. Modern surgeries carry risks like bleeding, infection, stroke, and organ damage, but advancements have made many once-deadly procedures safer. 

What is the #1 cause of death right now?

The leading cause of death globally and in the United States is Heart Disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), responsible for millions of deaths annually, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries. While medical advances have improved outcomes, risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and poor diet continue to drive these numbers, with stroke and chronic respiratory diseases also among the top killers. 

What is the lowest paid Dr.?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are concentrated in medicine, finance, law, and high-level tech/executive roles, including specialist doctors (surgeons, anesthesiologists), C-suite executives, investment bankers, partners in big law firms, senior tech leaders (VPs/Directors of Engineering), management consultants (Partners), private equity executives, and top-tier sales directors, often involving significant bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing. Some roles, like senior airline pilots or successful entrepreneurs/tradespeople, can also reach this level without traditional degrees. 

Is the average doctor a millionaire?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

Do doctors work 7 days on 7 days off?

Yes, many hospital-based doctors, especially hospitalists, work a common "7 days on, 7 days off" schedule, working long shifts (often 12 hours) for a week, including weekends, then having a full week off, which allows for long periods of rest but can lead to burnout during work weeks. This schedule ensures continuity of care for patients but is just one model, with other specialties like emergency medicine or surgery having different patterns, and some doctors even prefer more frequent, shorter shifts.
 

How wealthy are surgeons?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 839,000 people worked as physicians or surgeons in 2024, earning a median annual wage of at least $239,200.

What is the easiest surgery to perform?

Orthopedic surgery and certain areas of plastic surgery are frequently cited as relatively easier due to their straightforward nature, compared to more intricate specialties like neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery or trauma surgery.