Navy Officer Subspecialty · Medical
SURGERY Surgery
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Overview
General surgeons evaluate, diagnose, and treat surgical conditions throughout the body, including trauma and burns. They provide damage control surgery and more definitive care in expeditionary facilities, practice in military hospitals or military and civilian partnerships, and may pursue further subspecialty training.
Core Skills
- general surgical diagnosis
- trauma and burn management
- damage control surgery
- abdominal surgery
- perioperative patient care
- critical care coordination
- emergency surgical decision making
- operative team leadership
- surgical quality improvement
Civilian Software & Tools
- Epic Systems
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- MEDITECH software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Image-guided surgery software
Civilian Career Paths
- Physician
- Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Primary Certification in General Surgery
- Primary Certification in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Certification in Otolaryngology
Career Growth
- Primary Certification in Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Certification in Surgery: Vascular Surgery
- Certification in Surgery: Pediatric Surgery
- Certification in Surgery: Surgical Critical Care (SCC)
What the Work Involves
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
Related Occupations
- Pediatricians, General
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
- Anesthesiologists
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: graduate-level education or extensive experience.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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