Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 12/16/2007

Question
I'm 16 and in 10th grade and I am looking into becoming an anesthesiologist. During residency what excactly do you do? My mom was telling me that I'll be seeing ppl naked, is this true? I'm very sensitive with seeing ppl naked or being naked (escpecially in front of ppl) myself and I'm really not interested in having to look at someones privates for any reason. Also, do I have to watch dead ppl getting cut up, like when their organs are taken out for examination?

Answer
If seeing naked people and dead people affects you so much you may have trouble in any area of medicine and even in medical school because you will be doing anatomy and dissecting dead people who have donated their bodies to science. As anesthesiologists we may be exposed to naked people as they are being prepared for surgery. You certainly don't have to watch. Right now you are only 16 and your views about nakedness may change by the time you get to medical school but if this is still an issue for you, you might consider another line of work.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston