The Mid-Career Crisis: Moving on to Your Next Job or Staying Comfortable

The mid-career in a surgeon's life is not well defined in the literature. I define the mid-career as having two phases: the early phase, which is approximately 10 to 15 years in practice, and the later phase, which is at 15 to 25 years. However, these ranges are not the same for all; what matters is experience, exposure, repetition, and judgment, which come with time and commitment. During the mid-career, a surgeon becomes more confident in mastering techniques and teaching the next generation. If one's next job is a leadership position, one must realize that leadership is not about oneself but about elevating others.