Pick your Speciality
Orthopedics
Q&A Professional Association
What are the key points of specialist training?
2 years common trunk and 4 years specialized training.
How expensive is this specialist training?
Inexpensive.
What further training options and specializations are there?
Diverse.
How can a stay abroad in this area be implemented or is it even necessary? (e.g. necessity of the USMLE)
On a voluntary basis.
How well can this specialty be combined with research (clinical research or basic research)?
Well.
How important is it to do research (e.g. to do an MD-PhD)?
Moderate.
How important is it for your starting job to gain an insight into this subject area during the elective year?
Irrelevant.
Q&A Physicians
Senior physician, M, 52 years old
How old are you?
52 y/o
Where did you study and when did you graduate?
Zürich, 1998.
Do you have a doctorate?
Yes
When did you become a specialist?
2007 (Orthopedics and Traumatology), 2011 (Hand surgery)
How long did your specialist training take?
9 years for orthopedics and 4 years for hand surgery.
What is your current position (and background)?
In practice.
How does your working week look like?
60 hours/week.
When and why did you choose this specialization?
After my studies.
How would you describe your time as a resident?
Exciting.
Is part-time work possible already during residency?
Maybe.
What working modalities does your specialist title offer?
Everything.
How competitive is it to complete this specialist title in Switzerland?
Moderate.
How would you rate your work-life balance on a scale of 1-10? Would your colleagues with the same specialist title confirm this?
5
How easy is it to implement family planning in this field?
Good.
What do you wish you had known before your specialist training?
Nothing.
Why should someone choose this specialty?
Varied.
What challenges await someone in this field?
Surgical training takes 7-10 years.
Is it necessary to write the master’s/doctoral thesis in this subject area?
No.
Is it possible to find an assistant doctor position in this specialty directly after the federal examination?
Yes.
What advice would you give to young medical students?
Do what you enjoy.