Stoicism has long guided those who seek greatness, from generals to athletes and even general surgeons. Surgeons face long shifts, frequent on-call duties, and the pressure to make quick, accurate decisions while performing complex procedures. These factors contribute to high stress, anxiety, and altered empathy levels.

Is there a way to transform these challenges into opportunities for personal growth for young surgeons? Long hours, high patient volumes, and diverse surgical procedures are inherent to many surgical specialties. Research shows that 40% of surgeons have witnessed an intraoperative complication linked to stress.

Training programs that focus on cultivating empathy and personal resilience, similar to Stoic philosophy, can be powerful tools in combating burnout and depression in surgical environments. Stoic training offers a different approach compared to traditional psychological training and could provide valuable benefits to surgical trainees.

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Dr. Juan Andres Ricciardi MD, Active Member of the SERMO Team Chain; Consultant General Surgeon and Active Member of the Venezuelan Surgery Society General Surgery

AIS Ambassador