The average surgeon in today’s healthcare industry faces a demanding work schedule with long hours punctuated by high-stress moments that naturally arise during taxing surgical procedures.

With so much focus on achieving positive results in the lives of their patients, are there surgeons with best worklife balance? And, specifically, what surgeons have the best worklife balance? 

These questions, along with many others, are ones that are often pondered by medical students and residents as they are narrowing down their specialty options and deciding if they want to spend the next several decades of their life as a practicing surgeon.

Do surgeons have worklife balance?

Do surgeons have worklife balance? The answer is, yes, of course they do. But that doesn’t mean finding a balance comes as naturally as it may for other professions, even other professions within the healthcare industry itself. There are several factors that come into play when a surgeon attempts to maintain a balanced lifestyle, such as their specialty, their practice setting and the geographic location. 

In terms of specialty selection, there is a major difference between choosing either an elective-focused specialty or choosing to focus on an emergency-driven specialty. Surgeons in elective specialties such as ophthalmology, dermatology and plastic surgery (all elective because the patient usually elects to have the procedures completed) tend to have more predictable schedules and fewer emergencies. On the other hand, emergency-driven specialties, such as trauma surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons and general surgeons – who are more likely to respond to emergency situations and are expected to provide immediate care – tend to have more unpredictable hours and on-call responsibilities, which can certainly disrupt worklife balance.

Regarding the setting of one’s practice, whether it’s a private practice or in a teaching hospital, such a major decision will certainly have an overall effect on a surgeon’s worklife balance. While surgeons in private practice may have more control over their schedule, they also face daily pressures that come along with running their own standalone business, such as administrative and staff concerns. For academic/teaching hospitals, surgeons may have stricter schedules and will naturally have teaching and research responsibilities in addition to their clinical duties, which can often extend work hours or lead to unforeseen complications.

Worklife balance can also be determined greatly by geographic location. There are a myriad of differences between the daily lives and worklife balance of rural and metropolitan surgeons, and two starkly different locations such as these will have different hospital policies to follow and dissimilar patient volume – all of which can affect one’s access to personal time. 

In a rural area, there may only be one surgeon available for a specific surgical service, which could lead to unplanned disturbances in that surgeon’s personal life. In a more metropolitan area, there are usually more options available in terms of local surgeons which opens the potential for a healthy worklife balance for those practicing in more populated areas.

What surgeons have the best worklife balance?

Once it’s realized that surgeons in general are able to adequately achieve worklife balance, a natural next question would be what are the surgeons with best worklife balance? 

While it’s hard to generalize surgical specialties in terms of best worklife balance (since every situation is different and comes with its own nuances) there are still some specialties that are known to have surgeons with the best worklife balance. 

For example, ophthalmologists often keep regular working hours, usually only see patients Monday through Friday and generally face fewer emergencies, contributing to a more predictable schedule. Dermatologists are also a notable specialty; even though dermatologists are not typically classified as surgeons, they do perform a variety of surgical procedures as part of their daily or weekly tasks. This specialty usually offers excellent worklife balance with minimal on-call duties. Plastic surgeons can certainly have a favorable worklife balance as well, especially those surgeons who focus on elective cosmetic procedures rather than areas such as reconstructive or trauma surgery. Finally, urologists are known for having one of the better worklife balances, as they often possess standard working hours and have little exposure to sudden surgical emergences.

Which surgical specialty has the most worklife balance?

Since there are so many unknown and unpredictable factors (location, hospital versus private practice, etc.), it may be impossible to determine which area is the best surgical specialty for worklife balance, but using the above list of specialties and deciphering the ins and outs of each option would certainly help give a prospective surgeon more insight into which selection might be the best fit for their future.

Between ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic surgery and urology, the one unifying factor is a reasonable work schedule and fewer emergency surgeries. This often comes with the added benefit of not necessarily needing to be on call at any or all times, since being on call is a noted complaint that affects surgeons worklife balance as it makes it sometimes near impossible to make future plans or experience extended vacation periods. Studying each of these specialties – and other ones not listed as well – will help narrow down the choices for the prospective surgeon.

Is it possible to have a life as a surgeon?

Is it possible to have a life as a surgeon?  Do surgeons have a life? Will I have a life if I become a surgeon? As these questions seem to frequently appear in many corners of the online sphere, it is clear that worklife balance is a major concern for those who are taking their early steps into the surgical arena. 

Of course, it is possible to have a life outside of work as a surgeon, although it can definitely be challenging due to the demanding nature of the profession. 

Many surgeons successfully balance their professional and personal lives by employing various strategies, such as time management, setting boundaries within their professional life, relying on coworkers and delegating tasks or flexible work arrangements such as telemedicine.

Likewise, the benefit of having a strong support system of friends and family who help the surgeon prioritize self-care and remember the importance of experiencing life outside of work is invaluable.

Which surgical subspecialty has the best lifestyle?

While ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic surgery and urology have already been previously mentioned, what subspecialities are slowly becoming more known for being the new best surgical specialties for lifestyle? 

Since the COVID pandemic, more and more surgeons are realizing the importance of worklife balance and implementing strategies to have a fulfilling life outside their professional realm. 

Orthopedic surgeons in specific subfields are slowly becoming an option for physicians searching for a stronger than average worklife balance. Whether it’s elective joint replacement surgeons, or even certain types of spinal surgery, these types of surgical areas often have more predictable hours and fewer emergency surgeries. ENT (otolaryngology) surgeons and general surgeons who focus on non-emergency, non-trauma cases are also able to maintain a strong lifestyle outside of the office. 

How much time do surgeons get off?

While most surgeons typically have demanding schedules which often include long hours, and their time off can vary based on their specialty, work environment and personal circumstances, surgeons still receive adequate time off just like any other profession. 

Regarding using free time to enhance general surgeon work life balance, the average surgeon might receive four to six weeks of vacation time per year, though obviously this can vary and can be altered depending on contract negotiations. 

Depending on the agreed-upon schedule, surgeons will usually reserve weekends strictly for personal time. 

For weekly working hours, depending on the nature of the surgery, time off between shifts can be irregular, especially in busy hospitals or during residency. Overall, the exact amount of time off can vary widely depending on the facility’s requirements, the amount of vacation or personal days agreed upon during the hiring process and whether there are staffing shortages. 

By learning from past personal experiences and experiences from other surgeons in the same field, prioritizing and planning ways to maximize personal time is one’s best bet to achieve a strong worklife balance.

What is the happiest surgical specialty?

While choosing one specialty over the other does not necessarily guarantee happiness, there are several factors that influence if one will end up in one of the easiest or the happiest medical specialties. Those factors often include the timelines of patient outcomes, the variety of work, autonomy and professional relationships within the workplace. 

Specialties where surgeons can see immediate and positive patient outcomes can lead to higher job satisfaction, which often includes the fields related to plastic and elective surgery. 

Likewise, a mix of surgical and clinical work can provide variety and prevent burnout, leading to greater job satisfaction. Planning a healthy mix of both surgical and clinical work – and knowing when to delegate clinical work as necessary – can lead to a strengthened worklife balance. 

As far as autonomy, surgeons who have more control over their schedules and the types of procedures they perform often report higher levels of job satisfaction. In terms of professional relationships in the workplace, positive relationships with colleagues, staff, the local community and patients can greatly enhance job satisfaction. 

Which surgery is most in demand?

While the demand for certain surgeons can sometimes fluctuate (which can often make it difficult to choose the best physician worklife balance by specialty) based on various factors such as demographic trends, advances in medical technology and changes in healthcare policies, there are usually some specific surgical specialties that are consistently in high demand due to widespread and ongoing healthcare needs. These include neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons and plastic/reconstructive surgeons.

Neurosurgeons, who typically deal with complex conditions of the brain and the spine, have a high demand because of the complexity of their work and the rising prevalence of neurological disorders in modern society. 

Cardiothoracic surgeons (usually dealing with medical issues revolving around the heart, lungs, esophagus and more) are also always in demand due to the high incidence of heart disease and lung conditions. With increasing rates of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the population, vascular surgeons, whose work focuses on blood vessel issues, are highly sought after and will most likely remain in demand in the near and far future. 

Beyond standard cosmetic procedures, plastic surgeons also perform reconstructive surgeries that can be essential for trauma victims, cancer patients and all others who are in need of restorative procedures, and therefore will always be in demand.

Finding the ideal worklife balance as a surgeon often hinges on several key factors: the type of surgery practiced, the geographical location and the individual’s personal priorities. Certain medical specialties with best worklife balance are often in fields that mostly include elective or outpatient procedures and where schedules tend to be more predictable and easier to manage.

With predictability in one’s professional life, it opens the door to plan for vacations, time for hobbies and just overall control of how to spend one’s personal time outside the office, which will of course help one reach a successful worklife balance.

When searching for your first or next practice on PracticeLink’s website, which is home to the most widely used physician job board, being aware of the job description details (such as a flexible schedule or a certain level of autonomy in the workplace) should be in the forefront of a budding surgeon’s mind if they wish to prioritize worklife balance. 

While no surgical specialty is entirely free from the pressures of long hours and high-stakes responsibilities, choosing a surgical subfield that aligns with one’s lifestyle preferences and likewise finding an organization that values well-being can significantly enhance worklife balance.

Find other articles and learn more about physician quality of life on PracticeLink.com/magazine.