Hi Sophie: Surgeons usually start their residency at a hospital and as part of a team. They will shadow older, more experienced doctors for some period of time. They will usually start on the less complicated surgeries and work up to ones that are more complicated after time. Once they have completed their residency and have passed their state boards, they are qualified to work independently as a doctor. Many will stay associated with their orginal hospital and/or will expand to be 'part of the team' of other hospitals. Surgeons may join a medical group and be part of the staff. Most surgeons these days specialize and if they have their own individual practice it will be in something specific like: hips and knees, or shoulders and hands, or backs for example. Some surgeons become plastic surgeons and do repair and reconstruction to faces, necks and ears. Or, they may pick hands, feet or breast reconstruction. There are many different fields a good doctor can pick from and it mostly comes down to personal preference. CW
