Achieving balance in a surgical life: A personal perspective on a Sisyphean task

Building your career after fellowship

Once you have completed your fellowship and have started a new job, there are many competing demands for your time and attention. This article focuses on how to try and balance your work and personal life and provides some suggestions and recommendations to help one do so. Some of these are general and applicable to most life circumstances and some are specific to a particular situation.

State of the practice for pediatric surgery--career satisfaction and concerns. A report from the American Pediatric Surgical Association Task Force on Family Issues

BACKGROUND

There has been increasing interest and concern raised in the surgical literature regarding changes in the culture of surgical training and practice, and the impact these changes may have on surgeon stress and the appeal of a career in surgery. We surveyed pediatric surgeons and their partners to collect information on career satisfaction and work-family balance.

METHODS

The American Pediatric Surgical Association Task Force on Family Issues developed separate survey instruments for both pediatric surgeons and their partners that requested demographic data and information regarding the impact of surgical training and practice on the surgeon's opportunity to be involved with his/her family.

RESULTS

We found that 96% of pediatric surgeons were satisfied with their career choice. Of concern was the lack of balance, with little time available for family, noted by both pediatric surgeons and their partners.

CONCLUSION

The issues of work-family balance and its impact on surgeon stress and burnout should be addressed in both pediatric surgery training and practice. The American Pediatric Surgical Association is positioned to play a leading role in this effort.