Being a Surgeon

'Being a Surgeon' is a heartfelt exploration of surgical discipline. It is intended to help surgeons and other stakeholders around the world make a difference in the care of surgical patients. It would serve trainees and training programs, and help improve the culture and practices of surgery.

The book invites surgical trainees and preceptors to fight the onslaught of institutionalized dehumanization in medicine. It calls to delve into the full, holistic complexity of the surgical discipline by exploring and cultivating every facet of the surgeon's role. It centers around the author's experiences as a surgeon battling to salvage patient life, dignity, and wellbeing in difficult and challenging environments. These experiences are held up as examples for surgeons young and old to learn from, providing key principles.

The Ten Commandments are based on cardinal, ethical and surgical maxims that invite surgeons to discuss triangle of medical professionalism, primacy of patient welfare, the duty of care, reflective practice, value judgments, conflict of interest, patient advocacy, justice, and much more. This book will guide new surgeons and practitioners as they develop and refine their sense of professionalism and ethics. It will be invaluable to preceptors as they create methods of mentorship that nurture and support young practitioners by teaching them to cultivate their moral sense.

Surgery is a union of science and compassion. The book will inspire anyone dreaming of becoming a surgeon and providing compassionate, quality surgical care. Being a Surgeon will help you gain valuable insights to the true holistic approach to patient care.

I am a general surgeon practicing for thirty-seven years. I graduated from Dow Medical College at the University of Karachi, Pakistan. I lived and worked for 8 years in the United Kingdom (UK). I completed my surgical training from UK and I am a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I developed special interest in bioethics due to many challenges, moral conflicts, disillusionments, and even despair I faced during my training and early surgical practice. This made me pursue a Master’s degree in Bioethics from the University of Toronto.

I have subsequently lived and practiced surgery as an academic faculty in developing countries. The challenges of working in resource constraint environments, struggles against institutionalized indifference, conflicts of interest, defensive medical practices and lack of professionalism have all led me to write on this subject. I am uniquely qualified and experienced to take on this task. I have emerged from the crucible of surgery with insights that will be of value to practitioners at all levels and across all specialties.

This book will guide new surgeons and practitioners of all levels as they develop and refine their sense of professionalism and ethics. It will be invaluable to preceptors and trainers as they create methods of mentorship that nurture and support young practitioners by teaching them to cultivate their moral sense instead of numbing it.

I am currently the Quaid-e-Azam Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Previously I served as the Quaid-e-Azam Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. My special clinical interests are hepatobiliary, gastrointestinaI surgical oncology, and trauma. I am very passionate about postgraduate surgical training, surgical skills development, and bioethics education.

I am married with two children. I am an outdoor person and like camping, hiking and reflecting and unwinding in the wilderness.