Trauma SurgeonAli Smith

Trauma SurgeonTrauma surgeons treat critically ill patients

through surgery. Usually these patients come to the hospital via the ER.

Trauma surgeons consult other specialty doctors on these critically ill patients and how to best treat them in that moment.

Trauma surgeons generally work under “crisis management” situations. This means their only goal is for the patient to survive the immediate future. More delicate procedures will be done at a later date.

Trauma surgeons follow through with their patients that are admitted to the ICU. Trauma surgeons are critical care surgeons as well. Often their interaction with the patient is continued through critical care treatment.

Trauma surgeons also practice as general surgeons. They rotate through clinics and treat general surgery cases in addition to their trauma and critical care cases.

Professional SchoolThe medical school at the Medical University of

South Carolina is where I would like to get my MD degree.

Mean GPA of 3.6 Mean MCAT score of 30 Tuition for in-state is ~$40,000/year 86% admitted are from in-state

After completing my training as a general surgeon at MUSC, I would like to go to the Trauma Fellowship program at the University of Florida’s medical school. This fellowship trains surgeons in critical care as well as in trauma.

Growth I am interested more specifically in pediatric

trauma surgery. So, after becoming a trauma surgeon I have growth potential in the area of pediatric trauma.

There is room for trauma surgeons to grow as general surgeons as well as critical care surgeons.

Trauma surgeons head the surgery department of their hospital.

SalaryAverage salaries for trauma surgeons ranges

from $300,000 to $425,000 a year. The ranging hourly wages are from $100 to

$150 every hour.

Good CandidateSurgeons are mostly Investigative, Artistic, and

Realistic. Based on my O-Net profiler, I am also

Investigative, Artistic, and Realistic. I work well under pressure. Trauma surgeons

are often making critical decisions under large amounts of pressure.

I am very detail oriented, so despite having to do large, disaster controlling surgeries, I will also be able to pay attention to the details that matter.

I have been in many situations under pressure that required quick decision making. I was keeping an infant that stopped breathing. I did

not panic and I performed CPR on her until the ambulance arrived.

When I was coaching my cheerleading team, a girl was dropped from a stunt (about 13 feet in the air) and hit her head/neck. She started throwing up and losing consciousness. I handled the situation in as calmly as possible and got her the appropriate medical care.

I was working in the ER at the hospital and a patient coded. I performed CPR on the patient until they got him in the lab to place a stint.

My ideal career plan/goal:Graduate from Clemson in August 2015Begin MUSC in August 2016

Graduate from MUSC in 2020 Complete internship year and 5 years of general

surgeon training in 2026

Begin Trauma Fellowship at UF in 2026 Finish trauma fellowship in 2027

Begin practicing as a Trauma Surgeon in 2027/2028!

ResourcesSurgical Critical Care Fellowship. (n.d.).

Retrieved August 30, 2014.MUSC College of Medicine Facts and Stats.

(n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2014.