The Growing Years Promoting Yourself in the First 5 Years

When you walk into your first day as a newly minted surgeon, understanding the transitions you will go through can help alleviate some of the stress. Day by day, obstacle by obstacle, you will grow into your role. Your support network of mentors and other new surgeons will help you achieve clinical success and fight imposter syndrome. Clinically, professionally, and personally you will grow more in the first years after training than many other years in your life.Promoting yourself clinically revolves around being a competent surgeon. Specifically, knowing when to call for help is of utmost importance early in your career. Familiarizing yourself with and getting to know your referral base is essential to building a practice, and completing your board certification fulfills a clinical obligation. Professionally, you will need to work with your partners, mentors, and colleagues to realize your goals in leadership, research, and education. Additionally, share your successes, not only to promote yourself but also to contribute to the overall success of your group, division, department, and university. Finally, networking early in your career provides an avenue for future collaboration, and attendance at conferences, membership in professional societies, and usage of social media can contribute to successfully navigating meeting new colleagues. The first 5 years are a daunting transition but with assistance from your support network, you can thrive.

Automated summary

As a new surgeon, understanding the transitions and challenges ahead, building a support network, and focusing on clinical competence are key to thriving in the first years of your career.