Beate Rau, MD, PhD, MBA, FEBS, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany, discusses her personal journey in surgical oncology, reflecting on the challenges and motivations that shaped her career. She describes pursuing surgery despite early discouragement and highlights the limited operative opportunities available to young trainees, barriers that affect both women and men. Prof Rau emphasizes the importance of skills training, fellowships, and professional societies such as ESSO in supporting early career surgeons. She also speaks about the emotional and communicative demands of caring for patients with cancer, noting the profound impact of diagnosis on patients and the need for empathy, guidance, and reassurance. Over time, through continuous learning and mentorship, she found her place within the expert community, ultimately becoming a leader in the field. This interview took place at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO 44) in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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