Health Talk With Dr. Pharidah

By Dr Michael Paraskevas

So I completed my General Surgery rotation some months ago, and honestly, I had been looking forward to it. Surgery has always been my first love. Thankfully, after the rotation… no love was lost.

There are a few things I really appreciated about General Surgery.

Unlike some super-specialized surgical fields, General Surgery doesn't feel too monotonous. The area of specialization for general surgeons is quite broad. One day we’d be managing endocrine cases involving the thyroid or pancreas, the next day breast surgery, hepatobiliary cases, gastric pathology, trauma, or oncology involving completely different systems. There’s always something new to think about, new anatomy to revise, and new problems to solve.

The rotation also reminded me that good surgery begins long before the incision is made. A surgeon who doesn’t understand physiology will struggle. You need a good understanding of internal medicine ; hemodynamics, fluids and electrolytes, oxygenation and ventilation, shock, sepsis, acid-base balance… all of it matters. And post-operatively, even a beautifully performed surgery can still fail because of poor patient management afterward. That really stood out to me.

I also appreciated how mentally engaging the specialty is. Surgery is not just “cutting.” A lot of decision-making happens before anyone even steps into theatre. Our team from the consultant down to the junior residents would sit down and make a theater list. Who needs surgery? Who doesn’t? When is the right time to operate? When should you hold back? I found that balance between technical skill and clinical judgment very interesting.

Another thing I’ll always appreciate was being in a department with supportive seniors. That environment makes a huge difference. I felt guided, supported, and genuinely encouraged to learn. It was a humbling experience being around people who were highly skilled but still willing to teach patiently.

And lastly… the order and organization. My goodness, I appreciated the organization. Ward rounds flowed well, theatre lists were coordinated, people communicated properly. I cannot stand disorganisation 🙏🏽. Gen surg was a solid 9/10!

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