At Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, our DO program is designed to prepare students for professional clinical practice in various specialties, including surgery.

BY KANSAS HEALTH SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

Pursuing a career as a surgeon is a common career path for those studying osteopathic medicine, with 7% of active residents in this specialty. The path to becoming a surgeon is largely the same whether you pursue a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, which both require rigorous medical education, residency training, and licensure.

At Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, our DO program is designed to prepare students for professional clinical practice in various specialties, including surgery. Through a humanistic lens on medical curriculum, the DO program teaches students the tenets of osteopathic medicine with unique placements in an underserved medical community. Students gain practical and essential experience in years three and four of the DO program, with a clinical clerkship preceptor program. This provides students with a wide range of experience in clinical settings that reinforces the course curriculum and clinical skills and prepares students for residency post-graduation.

Steps To Become a General Surgeon

To become a surgeon, one must obtain the proper education and training.

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field. The medical school admissions requirements for a bachelor’s degree differ from school to school, but typically, the required fields are biology, physical science, or health care. At KansasCOM, we don’t have a required bachelor’s degree, but coursework in biological sciences, chemistry, behavioral sciences, physics, and more is required.
  2. Gain health care experience. While this may not be required for every medical school admission, it does help applicants stand out.
  3. Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a requirement for all medical school admissions, i.e., traditional medical schools and osteopathic medicine schools. KansasCOM requires an MCAT score of at least 500 for admission.
  4. Earn a medical degree. Surgeons can gain either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree to pursue a career as a surgeon.
    1. Clinical training. Students must complete advanced clinical training shadowing and gaining experience with practicing physicians. At KansasCOM, this training is completed in the third and fourth years with a focus on primary care and a variety of different specialties to enhance learning opportunities.
  1. Complete a residency. Post-graduation, one must complete years of a residency program within the state in which they are seeking licensure. The residency program requirements differ from specialty to specialty and by state.
  2. Earn licensure. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgeons must be licensed in order to practice in the U.S., but requirements vary by state. MDs are required to take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and DOs are required to take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). With experienced faculty informing curriculum, students are provided with multiple methods of study to best prepare for the COMLEX-USA.
  1. Optional: Earn board certification. While not required to become a surgeon, earning a board certification from a medical certifying board such as the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Osteopathic Association, or the American Board of Physician Specialties can improve employment prospects. For board certification in osteopathic surgery, the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) requires a written and oral exam to be taken within 90 days of completing residency training.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Surgeon?

Becoming a surgeon takes about 13 to 15 years to complete from the start of college to the completion of residency training.

Bachelor’s Degree 4 years
Medical School 4 years
Surgery Residency 5-7 years
Total 13-15 years

How Much Does a Surgeon Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, general surgeons make an average annual salary of  $343,990. Out of the different specialties within surgery, pediatric surgeons make the most money, with an average salary of $449,320 a year. This data was collected in May 2023.

Start Your Journey To Becoming a Surgeon

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job growth for surgeons in the U.S. to be about 4% from 2023 to 2033, which is an average job outlook. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a surgeon, the first step is to apply to medical school. For a humanistic approach to medicine and specialized training on the musculoskeletal system set within a brand-new facility in the heart of Wichita, Kansas’ largest city, pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at KansasCOM. Apply today.