How long do you have to go college be a cardiovascular surgeon?
How long does it take to become a cardiovascular surgeon?The total amount of time it takes to become a cardiovascular surgeon is at least 13 years, including:
- 4 years of college
- 4 years of medical school
- 5-8 years of surgical training (residency and fellowship)
College:
During college, you will need to take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. You should also take courses in the humanities and social sciences to develop your critical thinking and communication skills.
Medical School
Medical school is a four-year program that provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to become physicians. During medical school, you will take courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. You will also complete clinical rotations in various specialties, including surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Residency and Fellowship:
After medical school, you will need to complete a residency in general surgery. A general surgery residency is a five-year program that provides surgeons with the skills they need to perform a variety of surgical procedures. During residency, you will rotate through different surgical specialties, including vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and pediatric surgery.
After completing a general surgery residency, you will need to complete a fellowship in cardiovascular surgery. A cardiovascular surgery fellowship is a three-year program that provides surgeons with the specialized skills they need to perform cardiac and vascular surgery. During fellowship, you will learn how to perform a variety of cardiac and vascular procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair, and aneurysm repair.
Additional training
After completing a cardiovascular surgery fellowship, you may choose to pursue additional training in a subspecialty, such as cardiac electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, or heart failure. This additional training can take one to three years.