The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to highlight alumnus and general surgeon Dr. Joseph Karam, who completed his general surgery residency in 2014.
A San Antonio native, Dr. Joseph Karam completed graduate and medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where he was awarded the Oslerian Medicine Award and accepted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Karam completed his surgical residency at UAB and then a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Dr. Karam is board certified in general surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care. His areas of interest are dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing areas of care from esophageal and colon pathology to gallbladders and ventral hernias. He is experienced in minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
How did your time at UAB prepare you for a prolific career in general surgery?
"As a surgeon in private practice, I can certainly say that UAB prepared me exceptionally well for a career in general surgery. Our schedule was very demanding, and the expectations were high. In residency, I thought that the rigor was extreme. Looking back, I now realize that the attending physicians were preparing me to be ready for any case and any situation that may come my way when they wouldn’t be available to provide in-person guidance."
How did the mentorship you received at UAB impact your career?
"Our attending physicians placed an emphasis on creating teachable moments for us outside of the normal parameters of didactic training. They went above and beyond to cultivate memorable educational experiences from the OR and beyond that will stick with me forever. Because of them, I learned the vital importance of speaking up, even when it’s not easy, to advocate for the best practices and methods possible."
You are known for your own prolific mentorship and educational outreach in the field. Tell us about your peer-to-peer YouTube channel with thousands of views and your approach to educating fellow surgeons.
"Teaching others is one of my favorite things I do as a surgeon. Hearing from someone who has had an “a-ha” moment after they’ve been struggling with something is incredible. Being able to share my experience means that fellow and future surgeons can go beyond and build on that knowledge. Through my YouTube channel, I’ve learned that sharing simple training tips and modifications can entirely transform surgery for both the surgeon and the patient to yield the best outcome possible."
What advice would you offer to current trainees?
"Put in the hours and time now. Always stay and take the case, especially the hard case. This is your chance to learn as much as possible and utilize the resources and advice from your attendings, before you enter the world of surgery on your own."
What’s your personal philosophy as a general surgeon?
"Through my time as a general surgery resident at UAB, I learned that being pushed outside of your comfort zone is a good thing. This is where you learn and grow. Embrace hard work. We, as surgeons, should dedicate every hour and minute needed in an operation to make sure that our job is done perfectly well. Forget the clock, forget the timelines. Work hard and stay resilient. Don’t let up. Do the best thing for the patient. Treat their concerns as well as their condition."