Surgeon Day Date in the current year: September 21, 2024

There are two main approaches to medical treatment: conservative and surgical. Conservative therapies are non-invasive; they include, for example, medications, radiotherapy, magnetic therapy, physiotherapy, massage, etc. Surgery is an invasive technique involving cutting of tissues or closure of a previously sustained wound. Surgery is typically used when conservative treatments are not effective.

Surgery has existed for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence indicates that people were familiar with trepanation as early as Proto-Neolithic and Neolithic times. Ancient people were also familiar with setting and splitting broken and fractured bones, as well as bloodletting. The works of ancient Greek and Roman physicians describe surgical procedures such as rib resection as a treatment for purulent pleurisy, bladder stone crushing, and limb amputation.

In the Middle Ages, physicians mastered the cauterization of gunshot wounds on the battlefield and suturing. However, the development of surgery was greatly hindered by the church ban on autopsies. Modern surgery began to develop during the Age of Enlightenment. The 19th century was the era of great discoveries in surgery (anesthesia, aseptic and antiseptic surgery, X-rays). Blood transfusion was invented in the early 20th century, followed by antibiotics. All of these inventions have significantly enhanced the chances of patient survival.

There are different fields of surgery, including general surgery, abdominal surgery, cardiac surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, eye surgery, neurosurgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, reproductive surgery, surgical oncology, transplant surgery, trauma surgery, vascular surgery, etc.

Surgery is one of the most important and challenging medical professions. It usually requires extensive training; in the United States, for example, the length of residency training to become a surgeon is three to seven years, depending on the surgical specialty. Although modern surgeons are aided by surgical robots and nanotechnology during complex surgical operations, they still shoulder the responsibility for their patients’ lives because one careless movement, delay or wrong decision can result in permanent disability or even death.

In order to thank surgeons for their hard and selfless work, Ukraine and some other former Soviet republics started to unofficially celebrate Surgeon Day on the third Saturday in September. On this day, surgeons accept congratulations from their families and friends, patients and co-workers, as well as attends seminars, lectures, symposia, conferences, and other professional events held on the occasion of the holiday.