From First Cuts to Tough Calls: Supporting Young Surgeons
The Challenge
Becoming a surgeon is a journey of intense training and long hours, but no amount of schooling fully prepares someone for everything. After years of following someone else’s lead, young surgeons suddenly find themselves holding the scalpel—and the responsibility. Our client, a leader in the pharmaceutical and medical device space, wanted to understand what young surgeons face early in their careers. How can they better support them? What are these surgeons ready for—and what still keeps them up at night?
Our Approach
We didn’t just ask questions; we created a space where surgeons felt comfortable sharing their fears, triumphs, and everything in between.
We spoke one-on-one with young surgeons, digging into:
What they felt confident about
Mastering techniques, working under pressure, and thinking on their feet.
What left them uncertain
Delivering hard news, managing patient relationships, and navigating life outside the OR.
What they needed
Better tools, clearer guidance, and support in their evolving roles as physicians and business leaders.
The Outcome
We turned raw insights into actionable strategies that our client used to support young surgeons:
Targeted Education Programs
We identified key areas—like negotiation, leadership, and patient communication—where surgeons needed more guidance. These insights inspired programs that balanced clinical training with business and interpersonal skills.
Tools for Real-Life Scenarios
From simplifying complex procedures to offering frameworks for difficult conversations, we helped our client design resources that matched the realities of a surgeon’s day-to-day life.
Empathy-Driven Messaging
Our findings helped craft messages that connected with young surgeons’ aspirations and addressed their challenges—making them feel seen, heard, and supported.
The first years in a surgeon’s career are full of firsts—first contracts, first surgeries, first heartbreaks. By supporting them early, we help them grow into the leaders their patients and colleagues need.
