Date: Fri 05-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Kotch-Furey-career

Full Text:

Learning About The Life Of A Surgeon

(with cut)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Local surgeons Philip Kotch and Patricia Furey recently spoke to a group of

Newtown High School students about a career in medicine, and specifically,

surgery.

Dr Furey, a vascular surgeon, still early in her medical career, told the

students that "it's a rigorous lifestyle, but extremely fulfilling... it's a

good career choice for me."

Dr Furey said that being raised by a single parent influenced her decision to

become a doctor. Her mother worked, and she had an aunt who was a nurse so she

felt encouraged to pursue medicine. She also knew that she wanted to be

independent and to be able to provide for herself.

Dr Furey graduated from high school in 1982, then did a four-year

undergraduate degree in biochemistry, another four years in medical school, a

five-year residency and an optional one-year vascular surgery fellowship to

become a sub-specialist in surgery.

She believes that she graduated well-prepared, but she owed over $100,000 in

student loans.

With tuition costs at UConn Medical School at about $11,000 per year (for

Connecticut residents), Yale at $24,000 per year, and George Washington at

$31,000 per year, debts of over $100,000 are typical for young doctors.

Dr Furey said that there is not a big difference in the quality of education

between private and public universities, although it is easier to get into

resident programs if your medical education is from this country.

Although both Dr Kotch and Dr Furey clearly love their profession, they did

not brush off the more stressful aspects of a medical career.

Dr Kotch commented that residents typically work an 80-hour week, and are

expected to sleep in the hospital every third night.

Even now, as a surgeon for trauma patients, Dr Furey sleeps at the hospital

once or twice a week.

Dr Furey does not mind the long hours because of the rewards of "taking care

of someone with an acute problem."

She said that the work is "very compelling to us, and we enjoy the time we

spend there."

But even so, both doctors encouraged students interested in medicine to take

courses in both the arts and sciences, get work experience outside of

medicine, and to break up the long education required with life experiences.

Dr Kotch cautioned students that "you don't want to set your life in stone."

Dr Kotch and Dr Furey both addressed the difficulties of combining family

commitments with a demanding medical career.

Dr Kotch graduated from medical school in 1960, then practiced medicine in

Vietnam during the Vietnam War and has since worked in Newtown for 27 years.

His children are now grown, but he looks back and thinks that he didn't spend

enough time with them when they were young.

Dr Furey and her husband, who is also in medicine, are thinking about starting

a family, and she hopes that by using forethought, setting priorities and

being creative they will be able to set a balance between career and family.

She commented that "since half of the medical profession will be women in ten

years, these issues are going to arise."

She said that if the other doctors on your team are understanding, things can

be worked out. She said that "one doctor leaves to pick up children from

school and people accept that."

Newtown High School senior Conor Evans left the lecture theater more

interested in medicine than ever, although he was a bit taken aback by the

length of education required to become a surgeon.

Two other seniors, Eric Bezler and Lee Norton, stayed to ask the doctors if

there was any chance that they could get into an operating room to see what it

was like first-hand.

Although there are privacy issues to contend with, Dr Furey said she thought

she could make arrangements for these two aspiring surgeons.

This talk was the first of a series planned by Jane McEvoy of the Newtown High

School guidance department.

Mrs McEvoy is hoping to get a journalist from The New York Times or a child

psychologist or psychiatrist for next month.