Dr. Patrick Rhoten on Neurosurgery

Regardless of effort and dedication, there are some jobs in the world that are simply not for everyone. People decide what career to pursue based on their personal agendas and distinctive sets of skills. Hence, not everyone can become a Navy S.E.A.L. operative or neurosurgeon. The small groups of people who do overcome the adversity of entering such competitive and difficult industries, however, will be able to enjoy a high-responsibility job like no other. Consider, for example, the daily duties of a trained doctor who operates on people suffering from terrible conditions. Without underplaying the importance of some low-level jobs that ensure the development of society as a whole, such comparisons certainly showcase a discrepancy.

In case of the latter scenario, which is the one that pertains to somebody deciding to go into the field of neurosurgery, there is an extensive list of requirements that must be satisfied prior to obtaining that certification. It begins with more than a decade spent in school and tiresome academic endeavors. This is where one will have to complete thousands of hours of in-class studies intertwined with frequent hands-on experiences. With low retention rates in these degree plans, however, it seems that a very small number of people can come out victorious after such a brutal period of their life. Thus, the only person who can actually become a neurosurgeon is the one that is willing to completely dedicate their lives to helping others. And still, having such a mindset will only permit individuals to enter the training stages. Being smart beyond belief and dedicated to extent of one's ability will be the other two mandatory factors that play a huge role.

Although the phrase "making a difference" has become common enough to think of it as a slogan for dozens of companies, there is hardly a better field than one like neurosurgery to support this idea. As a certified professional who has obtained the credentials to provide patient treatment and surgeries, one must be able to hold strangers' lives in their hands. This is when the room for stress gets reduced and one must retain their mental fortitude. Failing to do so could mean that they succumb to the pressure and cost an innocent party their life. To that end, it is almost impossible to think of another career where a bad day at work can involve death at the hands of the party that was supposed to help.

Although the previous example does showcase this concept, great power indeed carries added responsibilities. For instance, consider the career of a prominent neurosurgeon from California, Dr. Patrick Rhoten. Having completed his training over 20 years ago, he has made the diagnoses in thousands of patients and done several hundred more in surgeries. If one was to look at some of his common duties, however, they will see a lot more than 15-hour long days. On the contrary, there is a vast area that covers administrative duties that even neurosurgeons have to upkeep. That implies how they have the responsibility to share knowledge with others through industry-led conferences, mentor younger professionals coming into the field, and, most importantly, do their best to keep up with every single person who ever came to them seeking aid. So, it is fair to say that Dr. Patrick Rhoten and those similar to him are some of the most important pieces of society.

Unlike jobs in the sectors of finance, real estate, academia, politics, or even sports, the high-level jobs discussed here will be applicable almost everywhere in the world. To better clarify that, consider the following example. A doctor like Patrick Rhoten who has the necessary skills to do neurosurgery will be able to do so whether he is in a small town in California or anywhere else on the planet. Someone who trains athletes on how to play football, however, will not have many job opportunities outside of the United States. Thus, choosing to do something so difficult, will be rewarding in a sense that one will have the skills to help people that go beyond the barrier of locations, traditions, or languages.