Neurosurgery as a specialty has grown by leaps and bounds to a point where we can
proudly gauge on its multiple subspecialties. There are times in a young neurosurgeon's
life when he had just completed his training in the specialty thinking it would be
the best thing to have happened to him. But as soon as he steps his foot out in the
bitter world, he is face to face with the unexpected reality. The young guy who was
earlier believed to have conquered the world is somewhat dazzled to the harsh reality
waiting outside.
On the other extreme, we have the most senior neurosurgeon sitting in his plush room
with a long queue outside his chamber for his consultation. He sees impassionately
on his wall clock thinking about his only son leaving for the states. He could hardly
remember a time when he was able to play with him till now, and now the only child
is leaving him for good.
Neurosurgery has yet only been defined in terms of the ultimate work, whether it be
in terms of quality or quantity. Often for a fresh surgeon, it is really tough to
strike the right cord and balance the work in terms of free hand, mentorship, and
finances. At times, he is awestruck by easy money reaching his way, while on the other
side, some of his other colleagues are just following the orders of the seniors. So
who is right among them? At times, there is no right or wrong for a situation, but
the time which makes it all happen.
It is such a misconception when people attribute personal happiness to wealth. Actually,
your work, your creativity, your commercial output, whatever, are separate from what
you go through within. Success has many friends. Failure has distances. People who
want you to fail when you are successful are not your friends, they are your competitors.
But then, there are those friends who do not want to see you rise to that extent that
you slip out of their hands. Those you have to eliminate.
A very senior Japanese Neurosurgeon, Guinness record holder in cerebral aneurysm surgery
once told me, “Neurosurgery is about seeing through your imaginative eyes.” I believe
it to be really true. You have to have absolutely discerning eyes and must have the
humbleness to inculcate the finest of the best things from different surgeons. Often,
knowing the tying of end point ligature in bypass from someone is worth the time and
money to visit him. The knowledge of using sharp dissection in places with the confidence
it requires only comes when you have seen the best guys using their scissors and performed
a good number of cases. So indulge in traveling and visiting different places to observe
what makes these guys the legends they are today. Do not always expect to get surgeries
from them, however, train your eyes to see how they use their hands, where exactly
is the suction, how much is the retraction, and more importantly at times, when to
back out and not be a hero. It all develops by experience, they say. But what is experience
if it is just counted by the number of years you have lived your years. I believe
it is more in the quality of yours to learn and be able to preform with fineness the
ado things. Life in the end is more often gauged by the change one is able to bring,
rather than being confined to the small arena created around himself.
