Aditi M. Kapil, MD

Aditi Kapil, MD, is a surgeon who specializes in general surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care. She performs emergency surgeries for patients who have gunshot or stabbing wounds, or who have been in car crashes or violent traumas. She also cares for critically ill patients in the hospital. As a general surgeon, she performs both routine and complex appendectomies, and gall bladder and hernia surgeries.

“One of the things that inspired me to do this kind of work is that you never know what you are going to be doing when you come in to work,” Dr. Kapil says. “It’s also that I see some patients on their worst day and then get them through it.”

Teamwork is critical in both routine surgeries and complex trauma situations, says Dr. Kapil. She performs both minimally invasive and routine operations, often working with emergency room doctors, anesthesiologists, orthopaedists, and other specialists.

Another necessary skill for trauma surgeons is the ability to stay calm through complicated situations, Dr. Kapil says. “You need to be able to look at each patient one by one to see what’s going on with them and remain as calm as possible. You also have to keep the communication lines open with the patients and their families, and make sure they are realistic about what to expect.” Often there are rewards, she says. “The best part of my job is when the patient gets to go home,” she says.