Scalpel & Strategy
Beyond the OR: Powerful insights for ambitious surgeons to master career growth, practice excellence, and leadership skills medical school never taught you.

Latest

31
Jan
Captivating aerial view of Shibuya City, Tokyo at night showcasing the bustling urban landscape and vibrant skyline.

The 'downgrade' that gave me my life back

It was 4 AM. I was still in my car. Not returning from emergency surgery. I was stuck in a Chennai traffic gridlock, trying to pick up my wife and son. Nothing was moving. That night I started questioning everything I'd been taught about building a surgical career...
10 min read
23
Jan
A surgeon in green scrubs appears stressed, holding their head with gloved hands indoors.

The accusation got 8.2 million views. The explanation got 3,400.

You've felt it. That cold drop in your stomach when a patient pulls out their phone mid-consultation. The split-second calculation: Are they texting? Or recording? We are all one patient away from destruction.
7 min read
19
Jan
Chalk text spelling 'Leadership' on a blackboard, symbolizing guidance and authority.

The Mentor Search Trap

Nobody's coming to save your career. That's the good news. The search for 'the mentor' keeps you waiting for permission from someone who benefits from your waiting.
7 min read
16
Jan
Nurse in scrubs takes a break, resting on a comfy hospital couch after a long shift.

When hospitals promise everything, YOU become the sacrifice

The department head flipped through my logbook. Two years of cases. Then he asked: 'What supports your call for higher cases?' I wasn't being evaluated on potential. I was being asked to prove I'd been exploited enough to deserve better...
9 min read
13
Jan
A doctor in a lab coat examines documents near the emergency room sign.

The 8 Roles Every Surgeon Must Master (Or Die Broke)

Brilliant surgeon. 62 years old. Borrowing ₹3 lakhs from his junior. His batch mate just bought his third hospital. Same training. Same city. The difference has nothing to do with skill.
10 min read
09
Jan
Close-up of a handshake between two professionals in a modern office setting, emphasizing partnership and agreement.

I was the better surgeon. He got all the patients.

He wasn't better than my mentor — not even close. But in Chennai, this orthopaedic surgeon charged five times what I charged. He did so well that eventually he started calling me to do his surgeries. The guy charging premium fees was hiring the guy charging discount fees to operate...
8 min read
27
Dec
The Invisible Hours

The Invisible Hours

Nobody claps for the surgeon who shows up at 3 AM. Nobody cheers when you operate through exhaustion. But every invisible hour compounds into something undeniable. This is a manifesto for surgeons who keep showing up when recognition is absent and motivation is dead.
13 min read
19
Dec
Why Your Patients Aren't Fighting Your Expertise

Why Your Patients Aren't Fighting Your Expertise

He spent ₹2 lakhs on "alternative treatments." Six months later, he was back — asking for the exact surgery I'd recommended on Day 1. 300+ consultations taught me: stubborn patients don't resist surgery. They resist being wrong. Here's what no textbook ever mentioned about patient psychology.
7 min read
14
Dec
The Midnight Surgeon Trap

The Midnight Surgeon Trap

I was the surgeon everyone called at midnight. Not because I was the best — because I never said no. Then I watched a colleague collapse in a swimming pool at 43. The system mourned him for a week. Then found his replacement. That's when I understood what "dedication" actually costs.
7 min read
03
Dec
The Invisible Surgeon: Why Your Skills Mean Nothing

The Invisible Surgeon: Why Your Skills Mean Nothing

He's the only hand surgeon in his region. Trained at Ganga Hospital. Excellent outcomes. Now he's desperately looking for work in Muscat. Not because he's not good enough. Because nobody knows he exists. Your invisibility is destroying your career—and you don't even see it.
8 min read