Surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in evaluating people with potential surgical problems and performing surgical operations and techniques.

Common surgeries include hernia repairs, gallbladder removal, and removal of the appendix. There are many subspecialties in surgery, including chest (thoracic) surgery, blood vessel (vascular) surgery, colon and rectal surgery, and plastic surgery. Surgeons may further specialize by limiting their practice to specific age groups, such as pediatric surgeons, who only treat children.

Surgeons can be board-certified through the Board of Surgery, which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.