So, they say a surgeon should have the eyes of an eagle, the hands of a lady, and the heart of a lion. Sounds poetic, right? But hang on a sec – are sharp eyes, dainty hands, and a fearless heart the only things that make a good surgeon? Or are we missing something here? As I dug into this, I stumbled upon the skills and smarts needed to be a surgeon, aka Surgical Intelligence (SI).

The Royal College of Surgeons elaborates on this a bit more. We are talking specialist knowledge, killer communication, manual dexterity, adaptability, leadership, and emotional resilience. Plus, they throw in a bright mind, experience in pre and post-op care, and a knack for inspiring confidence. They can be grouped into the following categories. Surgical intelligence is a mixture of critical thinking, technical skills, decision-making, grit, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Let's break it down:

Technical Skills:

Sure, we've got fancy tech like robotic surgery, but good old' hands-on skills are irreplaceable. Suturing and handling tissue – no simulation can beat the real deal.

Decision-Making Skills:

Textbooks are cool, but sometimes, you must trust your gut. Situations In the deep of night, in emergencies, sometimes you have to deviate from the norm and make decisions then and there. We train to decisions not just to cut, but also when not to cut.

Critical Thinking:

Critical thinking is paramount for navigating the twists and turns of procedures and patient care. It is also important to examine the evidence out there, so you can provide the best care for your patients.

Grit:

Standing for hours, working under bright lights, wearing heavy gear – it's not a walk in the park. Surgeons need grit to power through the daily grind. It is a marathon, not a sprint. You must have resilience to go through surgical training.

Adaptability:

New operations, new procedures – surgeons need to roll with the punches and keep up with the ever-changing world of surgery.  A practicing surgeon can never be too old to learn new tricks.

Emotional Intelligence:

Dealing with patients, families, and the surgical squad requires more than just know-how. It's about connecting, communicating, and managing emotions.

Becoming a surgeon is a hard and long road. Over the journey, we try to acquire  a mix of technical chops, adaptability, emotional smarts, grit, and critical thinking. It's this blend that crafts a surgeon who can navigate the complex surgical world with ease and skill.