Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 11/18/2008

Question
Hey Dr.Levin, hope you are having a great day!
I'm a 19 year old freshman at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. For the last 7 or 8 years, I've wanted to become a surgeon. I always thought that it would be great to be able to help people and also be able to see the true beauty of the body for all that it is worth.
This being said, I also have ADD and it's been getting worse. My doctor has increased the levels of my Concerta and it has little effect. Even though I hate to think about it, I'm afraid that I will have to change my career path if I can't get my ADD under control. As you know, surgery is a very precise art and I'm worried that my hands wont be steady enough for it. I also don't want to go all the way through college and then med school only to be turned down because my hands are too shaky. What do you think I should do? Thank you for your time!
~Brandon

Answer
Firstly ADD if treatable as long as the dose of Concerta is titrated to an optimal dose using rating scales.Do not settle for less. ADD/ADHD often has a well developed right brain certainly suitable for surgery. If you  are handy with your hands then surgery is  certainly an option as long as your IQ is sufficient. Obviously shaky hands are a negative. You will also need your ADD effectively treated to cope with the academic side of things. Get career guidance from a psychologist.