Ashley, a student at Clarence Middle School, hopes to someday pursue a career in medical oncology. She wrote to Yroswell with hopes that one of RPCI's oncologists would answer some of her questions pertaining to her future career. Dr. Shicha Kumar, an oncologic surgeon dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, took some time to answer Ashley's questions. Read below and watch the video recap of Dr. Kumar's interview.

Ashley: Why did you choose this career?

Dr. Kumar: This is an easy question! I love being a doctor. It is exciting, challenging, satisfying and rewarding. I love using knowledge about the body and about medicine and diseases to make help make people’s lives better. I love getting to use my head, my hands and my heart to help people. I especially like fixing things, which as a surgeon I get to do all the time! As an oncologic surgeon, I get to use my skills and my knowledge to remove cancers from people. I cannot imagine a more satisfying career than this! 

Ashley: What natural skills helped you get this job?

Dr. Kumar: As a surgeon, performing fine movements with my hands is an important part of my job. Being able to multitask is also important, as most of us are taking care of quite a few things at any given time. It is also important to have team-working abilities as a doctor, since we are often working with other doctors, nurses, techs, therapists and many others. Leadership skills and professionalism are also important.  You should know, though, that although natural talent is important, many of these skills can be developed over time and with training. The most important thing is to have the drive, determination and desire to do the best you can for your patients.  

Ashley: How many hours do you work in a typical week?

Dr. Kumar: This is a difficult one to answer! The short answer is 8-12 hour days, 5 days per week, which is 40-60 hours a week. The reality is that most doctors do work outside of seeing patients. This may involve reading, to keep up to date with current literature; this may involve writing and doing research, to help contribute to what we know about medicine; this may involve staying at a family’s bedside through the weekend because your patient is very sick. And unfortunately, sometimes it involves staying late to do paperwork! So, the amount of time I spend at work can vary week to week. 

One thing about being a surgeon is that even though I am not at work 24-7, I am willing to take care of my patients if they need at any hour. Most doctors have that sense of dedication to their patients. Now that may seem like I have no life, but in reality, my work week is what I make of it. I can increase or decrease my hours by asking colleagues to cover my practice, which is what I would do if I wanted to take a vacation. That is very common in medicine. Some doctors work reduced hours in order to spend more time with their families, and some doctors work double the hours in order to accomplish goals they may have set for themselves. 

The amount of time a doctor spends at work can also vary based on their level of training as well.  Becoming a doctor in the US generally involves 4 years of undergraduate education (college), followed by 4 years of medical school, followed by a variable amount of time spent in residency and other specialty training, which then leads up to a job like I have now. The training is rigorous, but it is important to remember that you ultimately will have more control over your hours as you gain more experience.    

Ashley: How do you handle deaths in this profession and what advice can you give me about how to handle these situations?

Dr. Kumar: These situations can be emotionally difficult. However, as a cancer surgeon, this is part of the reality of my job. One of the most important things you can do as a doctor is to be open and honest with your patient about their prognosis. Patients and families deal with death and illness better the more prepared they are. From a provider point of view, it helps to be comfortable with the decisions that were made, knowing that you did everything you can do to help your patient. Providing compassion and support for the families is important too. There’s no advice I could give you that will make these situations any easier or better. Be honest, open, caring, professional and do your job to the best of your ability. And always know that there are colleagues you can talk to if you feel like you are having trouble handling these situations.

Ashley: Is there a future in this career and would you recommend it to the next generation?

Dr. Kumar: Absolutely! There will always be a need for doctors. However, becoming a surgeon takes time, energy and desire. It is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly, but there is definitely a future in this career with job security and satisfaction. You are certainly asking the right questions! Get some experience, talk to mentors and advisors, and discuss this with parents and friends. You can never be completely sure before you do something, but if medicine excites you and interests you, go for it! 

Learn more about what it takes to be a medical oncologist by visiting the physician page in our Career Pathways Guide. (Stay tuned for an in-depth video interview with Dr. Kumar - coming soon!)