SIXTEEN
Specialization in Surgery
“As I see it, the outlook in the United States has never been so
hopeful ... The surgeons have had their day—and they know it!
The American St. Cosmas and St. Damien—The Mayo Brothers
—have their clinic today as important in medicine as it ever was
in surgery. Wise men! They saw the pendulum was swinging.”
—William Osler, 1919^1As a fourth-year medical student I am aware that I am of almost no
practical use to the orthopedic service here at Denver General Hospital.
What I can offer is enthusiasm, but more important, I must demonstrate my
willingness to do almost anything to become an orthopedic surgeon. This
is my “externship,” a one-month rotation at another medical school that
serves as a prolonged tryout. Because Denver is such a desirable location,
the rotation at the University of Colorado and its sister hospital, Denver
General, is chock-full of gung-ho medical students—gunners—who must
pretend to be stellar team players while simultaneously outperforming the
competition.
My first couple weeks here in Denver were at University Hospital,
requiring daily diligence but no overnight fortitude. Now that I am at
Denver General, known simply as DG, my grit will be tested, and I am
eager to show that I am willing to work harder than anyone in my
prospective class. I know my odds are long—there are hundreds of medical
students in the class of 1995 across the country who want to be orthopedic
surgery residents, and the vast majority of them will be crushingly
disappointed. As my first night of call approaches, I am filled with a