Surgeons

If you are interested in becoming a surgeon, pay special attention to the work involved in your science laboratory courses. Obviously, working on a living human being is a much weightier prospect than dissecting a pig or a frog, but what you learn about basic handling and cleaning of tools, making incisions, and identifying and properly referring to the body's structures will prove invaluable in your future career. Also ask your science teacher or career counselor to get a surgeon to speak to your biology class, so that they can help you understand more of what the job involves.

Other ways to learn more about this career include participating in information interviews with surgeons and getting involved in medical-related summer exploration programs that are offered by colleges and universities. One program to check out is the Health Careers Institute at Dartmouth (Dartmouth University), a week-long, residential summer program for students entering grades 11 and 12. Visit https://healthsciences.dartmouth.edu/health-careers-institute for more information.