To my tribe, my fraternity, my brothers and sisters of the scalpel.
Surgery is more than a profession. It’s a calling.
a discipline of precision, presence, and purpose. The world sees us as skilled hands, those who cut to heal. But we, who live the life beneath the mask and the gown, know that being a surgeon is a complete package of qualities—a blend of mind, heart, hands, and something more... the attitude.
Here’s what truly defines us, beyond the operating table:
Communication: The Hidden Scalpel
Before the first incision, a thousand conversations must happen with patients, families, juniors, seniors, and our own inner selves. Great surgeons don’t just communicate—they connect. We translate complex anatomy into comforting language, fear into trust, and chaos into calm. A surgeon’s silence can reassure, and a few words can save not just lives, but hope.
Decision-Making: Seconds That Shape Lifetimes
In the OR, time can contract into a heartbeat. Every move we make matters. We deal in decisive seconds. Should we explore more? Close early? Convert open? The decisions we make are guided by experience, instinct, evidence, and the courage to act. It's a high-stakes game, and the best surgeons are those who decide—not with arrogance, but with alert awareness.
Team Player and Leader: The Dual Role
A surgeon alone is a technician. A surgeon with a team becomes a healer. Leadership in the OR is not about commanding—it’s about synchronizing. From scrub nurse to anesthetist, from intern to assistant, the OR is a symphony, and the surgeon is both conductor and contributor. Great surgeons lift the team, give credit, and absorb pressure without passing it down.
Innovator and Jugadu: The Art of Making It Work
Indian surgeons, especially, are born innovators. Resources may be scarce, and time may be short, but our jugaad spirit ensures that no patient goes untreated. Whether it's reusing instruments wisely, creating workarounds in emergencies, or inventing new techniques, we are artists in resourcefulness. This is not just improvisation—it’s intelligent innovation driven by necessity and compassion.
Adaptability: The Evolution of Excellence
Medicine evolves. Techniques change. New tools, robots, and AI, the world is shifting rapidly. A surgeon cannot be stuck in yesterday’s knowledge. We must keep learning, unlearning, and relearning. The OR tests our agility—not just in our fingers, but in our mindset. Adaptability is not a choice anymore; it’s survival. It is what makes a good surgeon great.
The X-Factor: Attitude and Action
Finally, what truly separates a surgeon is attitude. The humility to learn, the grace to accept failures, the courage to take responsibility, and the quiet commitment to excellence even when no one is watching. Every stitch, every incision, and every interaction must be an expression of our values in action.
Because while skills can be taught, attitude is chosen—every day, every moment.
So today, on National Surgeon’s Day, I salute each one of you.
To the sleepless warriors,
To the calm minds in chaos,
To the hands that heal and to the hearts that bear the weight of it all
You are more than surgeons. You are sculptors of life.
Let us not forget what we are made of and what we’re made for.
From one surgeon to another,
Keep the blade sharp, but the soul sharper.
Happy National Surgeons’ Day
Dr Biswajit Mohapatra,
Senior consultant and OT Superintendent
J. P. Hospital, Rourkela