Ms Kassandra Gressmann, ST2 Trainee at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Can you tell us a little about yourself and why did you choose surgery as a career?

I’m a Canadian who moved to Ireland to attend medical school in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and stayed in Ireland for my surgical training. I was always interested in the surgical field and participated in shadowing days and research in different surgical specialties. The more I learnt about the surgical field, the more I was certain it was the career path for me.

Training & Experience

What has been the most challenging aspect or your surgical training?

The most challenging aspect of surgical training is the vast amount of knowledge you have and want to continuously learn. This takes a lot of time outside of work hours when you’re already very busy!

Can you describe a typical day as an ST2 trainee?

A typical day as an ST2 trainee starts with the daily ward round of all inpatients with the team and establishing what needs to be done for their care. If the day involves a surgical list, the SHO then will then admit and ensure all elective patients are prepped for surgery. If the day involves clinic, the SHO will review patients and discuss with the senior team for their future care.

What has been the most rewarding time over the past 2 years?

The most rewarding times over my surgical training are times when I have performed a surgical procedure independently. No matter how small the procedure, it takes several times watching, assisting, and performing under supervision before you feel confident enough to perform it on your own. It’s always a massive achievement for surgical trainees.

Skills & Growth

What are the key skills that you think every surgical trainee needs to develop?

Every surgical trainee needs to continue to develop and practice their surgical skills. You can always improve no matter at what level of experience, and it’s important to always aim to improve your skills.

How has your confidence as a surgeon evolved since you started training?

When I started surgical training, the expanse of knowledge to learn felt very intimidating. I found my confidence continues to evolve when I see how my knowledge improves with every new patient that I review.

Can you share a case or experience that had a significant impact on you?

My experiences shadowing in surgery as a medical student had a significant positive impact on me. When surgical mentors would teach me practical and knowledge skills, it further encouraged me to aim for a career in surgery. They helped me to gain confidence that I could follow this career path.

Mentorship & Support

What advice would you give to medical students considering surgical training?

Medical students interested in surgical training should aim to expose themselves to surgery by shadowing surgical trainees as much as possible. This is the best way to understand what being a surgeon will entail.

How do you support your fellow trainees in difficult times?

All surgical trainees are very supportive of one another. We understand that things can feel overwhelming, but we have all been in that position previously. We help each other with small jobs and cover each other wherever possible, because we always want each other to succeed.

Work-Life Balance & Well-being

What strategies do you use to maintain your well-being and mental health?

I try to maintain my well-being by doing fun activities outside of work. It can be hard to feel separated from work even when I’m not working. I find that creating small plans allows me to keep many interests outside of surgery, and allows me to focus on surgical training better when I’m in work.

Final Thoughts

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received before starting training?

The advice I wish I had received before starting training would be to talk with handover surgical teams before switching jobs to better understand a new hospital’s administrative system. Learning a new hospital can feel overwhelming, so if someone can briefly explain it further in advance, you feel more prepared to enter a new hospital.

If you could give one message to first year trainees, what would it be?

I would encourage first year trainees to be as open-minded as possible to all surgical specialties. Most trainees have a good idea of what surgical subspecialty they want to pursue, but I’ve known several trainees who have changed their minds. If you remain open-minded, you may find a subspecialty you prefer! It will also help you to learn more about all specialties, and make you a more well-rounded surgeon.

What’s next for you?

As an ST2 trainee, I will be applying for the HST scheme this year. The application and preparation is my biggest focus for this year!