Latest / The Rural American Surgeon
The Reality of Practicing Alone | Dr. Scott Nelson
In rural surgery, there’s no “waiting until you feel ready.” There’s only action, because sometimes you’re the only one.
Dr. Scott Nelson, a colorectal surgeon in Grants Pass, Oregon, built a solo practice after losing his partner early in his career. What followed was years of figuring it out in real time, often without backup.
In this episode, Dr. Randy Lehman and Dr. Nelson break down what it actually looks like to grow into responsibility: managing cases outside your training, making decisions without a safety net, and learning through repetition, not confidence.
They also walk through…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.