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How Should I Choose a Surgical School?

Carol Francois
Carol Francois

There are five items to consider when choosing the best surgical school: education level, hands-on training, equipment, admissions requirements, and faculty. A surgical school can be part of a larger university or college, or a separate school. The best surgical schools are affiliated with the local hospitals, providing opportunities for guest lecturers and inter-discipline courses.

There are two types of programs in surgical school: professional surgeon and surgical assistant. The professional surgeon is the fully licensed medical doctor responsible for completing the actual surgery. The surgical assistant helps to prepare the patient, provides the surgeon with the latest information, and works with the surgical nurse to follow up with the patient and ensure that the surgery was successful.

A surgical assistant is responsible for prepping a patient and the operating room before a procedure.
A surgical assistant is responsible for prepping a patient and the operating room before a procedure.

Selecting the best school should be based on your own goals, achievements, and skill levels. An honest review of your high school marks, level of effort, and dedication is a strong indicator to help you decide which school is best for you. Select a school where you will be both challenged and successful.

The best surgical school should have a wide range of equipment available for student use. This includes full and half size mannequins, as well as computer simulation models to assist in responsiveness training. Check the average class size to ensure you will have ample opportunity to use this equipment.

In order to qualify for admission to surgical school, you must have high school courses in biology, chemistry, English, and at least one other science course. The best schools are usually located near a hospital or medical treatment facility. Select the items that are important to you, and make sure that you find the best school for your needs and goals.

If you are looking at the best surgical school in the country or state, take note that the admissions standard is higher to reflect the increased demand. These schools often require students to have a combination of high marks and letters of recommendation from former instructors. Doctors typically apply to surgical school to complete their surgical rotation, as part of a residency program.

Most surgical schools provide the biographies of their faculty or instructors on their websites. The information listed typically includes the academic credentials, work experience, special training, and any awards they have received. Review the information with care and learn more about the types of programs that the surgical school offers. Talk to the admissions counselor about the options available to you.

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    • A surgical assistant is responsible for prepping a patient and the operating room before a procedure.
      By: Andrey Kiselev
      A surgical assistant is responsible for prepping a patient and the operating room before a procedure.