Chicks-with-Knives: A Surgeon's Memoir
“The last place I want to be is in the middle of a bunch of chicks with knives. Thank you, but I will pass.”
This was my new colleague’s response to my invitation to join us for dinner and drinks. He was right, we were chicks with knives, or more accurately, women with scalpels. He was a new general surgeon recently assigned to Navy Hospital Bremerton, where I was stationed as a general surgeon. I was meeting up with the other general surgeon, a urologist, an ENT surgeon, and an orthopedic surgeon. We regularly met to eat, drink, and discuss all the usual things – like our most annoying patient, or the best case we did that week, or other doctors who were irritating us with dumb consults in the middle of the night. This was all fairly standard surgeon downtime, with one blatantly obvious anomaly – we were all women. Female surgeons in the Navy were not that common, and to have five of us stationed together was very unusual. We became known around the hospital as the Chicks with Knives.
Welcome to Chicks-with-Knives, a personal and honest exploration of life as a surgeon through the lens of Dr. Carol Sawmiller. We will delve into the demanding realities of training as a surgical intern and resident, followed by military service as Ship’s Surgeon onboard an Aircraft Carrier, then deployment to set up and staff a Fleet Hospital in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This blog offers an insider’s perspective on the intense, often overlooked experiences that shape a surgeon’s career. Look for a new posting every week or two to follow the story – beginning with Above the Knife, the story of one surgery intern’s year of training.
About Dr. Carol Sawmiller
I am a general surgeon with extensive experience both in hospital settings and military contexts, serving aboard the USS Carl Vinson US Navy Aircraft Carrier, and deploying with Fleet Hospital 8 during the Gulf War. My journey has been rigorous, enlightening, and always extraordinary. Chicks-with-Knives is my narrative of overcoming challenges in a high-stakes profession, finding support along the way, and always striving to do the right thing for the people who entrust their lives to my care.
In all, I think I have three stories to tell:
“Above the Knife” tells of my transition from medical student to doctor. Over the last twenty years, there have been profound changes to the way surgeons are trained. It is unclear if these changes will produce better, more well-rounded physicians, or will create more of a shift work mentality, with surgeons not as invested in patient well-being. I am the last generation of surgeons trained before the work hour limitations and restrictions, which is why I felt it was important to chronicle my transformative year as a General Surgery intern in Waterbury Connecticut in 1994. Early on, my residency program director told us, “Almost everyone goes under the knife, but very few will ever stand above the knife. You are about to become one of the elite few who stand above the knife, hold the knife, wield its power. Don’t ever forget the power of what you are about to spend the next six years learning to do. Don’t ever take for granted that another person is allowing you to cut them open, trusting that you will fix whatever is wrong, close them up, and they will survive. Not only survive, but be better off than they were before they went under your knife. You have the capacity to cause death or injury with every cut of your scalpel. But you also have the capacity to heal and cure, and fortunately, you will do this much more often.”
“Without a Knife” will detail my experience as a surgeon on board a US Navy Aircraft Carrier. Hippocrates stated “He who wishes to be a surgeon should go to war.” I took this quite literally, and joined the United Stated Navy during my third year of residency. After completing residency, I was deployed on the USS Carl Vinson as the Ship’s Surgeon in 2001. I was one of few women in that role at the time. Coming out of residency, I was accustomed to constant action, juggling emergencies in the ER, with life threatening traumas rushing to the operating room at all hours. On the ship, I struggled to find my value and purpose. There was not a lot of surgery that needed done on the aircraft carrier. I felt lost, like a surgeon without a knife.
“Chicks with Knives” will share my experience during my assignment at Navy Hospital Bremerton. We had the very unusual circumstance of having two female general surgeons, a female urologist, a female orthopedic surgeon, and a female ENT surgeon. We would periodically meet up in the hospital or go out, and our colleagues dubbed us the “Chicks with Knives” club. I ended up being deployed in 2003 to set up and staff an evacuation hospital in support of the second Gulf War. I had to leave two small children at home with my husband, and adjust to living in a tent with twenty other women while building a Fleet Hospital and providing surgical care to support the troops deployed to Iraq.
I hope you will join me as I share the journey that created the surgeon I have become.
Journey of a Surgeon
Training and Early Career
Every post within “Above the Knife” paints a vivid picture of my formative years in surgical training—a time characterized by intense learning and significant sacrifices. This story was written on napkins, on the back of lab result sheets, on random pieces of paper as things happened through that year, filed away and eventually organized into this story. Understand what it means to stand “above the knife”, learning to master the delicate balance between delivering efficient, high quality treatment while maintaining empathy for the people in your care.
US Aircraft Carrier Military Service
Dive into my unique stories from the decks of an aircraft carrier. My primary role as Ship’s Surgeon was to be available in the event there was a major accident that would require life-saving surgical intervention. The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is an exceedingly dangerous place, managed by very young men and women. But there was not much for a surgeon to actually do. I went from working 80-100 hours a week as a chief resident, operating every day, to nearly no surgeries at all. I felt lost, without purpose, like a surgeon without a knife. The experiences shared in “Without a Knife” will reveal the heightened pressures and extraordinary circumstances under which military surgeons function.
Fleet Hospital Deployment
Beyond the operating room, among the tents of a Fleet Hospital, “Chicks with Knives” explores the personal battles and victories that come with being deployed for war to serve in the field of surgery. I ended up deployed with several of my female surgical colleagues to set up and staff Fleet Hospital 8, tending to those injured in Operation Iraqui Freedom, or the second Gulf War. My narrative addresses the struggles and successes, providing a holistic view of my life as a surgeon.
The Essence of Chicks-with-Knives
Chicks-with-Knives goes beyond typical surgical discourse, offering insights into the dedication it takes to navigate this demanding career path. Each entry is a testament to the perseverance, dedication, and resilience required to provide care under pressure.
Why Follow
Chicks-with-Knives?
This blog is crafted for those intrigued by the untold aspects of medical practice and the perseverance of surgeons in the face of adversity. Chicks-with-Knives isn’t just about surgeries; it’s about the human experiences that inspire and challenge physicians daily. Look for a new post every week or two, starting with “Above the Knife”. Once we have completed that story, “Without a Knife” and “Chicks with Knives” will follow. Check out the preview chapters now for these stories!
Follow Chicks-with-Knives to witness the art and heart of surgery, discover stories that showcase the resilience of the human spirit, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of medical practice. Dr. Carol Sawmiller invites you to explore Chicks-with-Knives, where each story adds a layer of understanding and respect for the surgeons who bear the responsibility of life and death every day. Join in this journey, discovering through each post the essence and challenges of life as a surgeon.
Learn more about our memoir blog.