We recently connected with Edward Chamata and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Edward, thanks for joining us today. Can you share an anecdote or story from your schooling/training that you feel illustrates what the overall experience was like?

Some tips I’ve learned after going through medical school and surgical training that I’ve found extremely helpful:

1. Don’t expect everything to go as planned. There will be multiple changes along the way to your goal- My initial goal during college was to become a cardiac surgeon in the future, however as I became exposed to the art of plastic surgery, I realized that’s where my true passion is, and it’s ok to change plans to follow what makes you happy, no matter how late it may be.
2. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Surround yourself with people that are more successful than you, that are smarter than you, that are more hard-working than you are. I quickly realized that being around those people motivates you to work harder. These are also the people you can learn from and who can help you succeed- When I started becoming active in plastic surgery societies, I was able to share ideas with my colleagues and learn from them to improve my craft. I was also able to learn from their previous mistakes so I don’t repeat them myself.
3. Ask lots of questions. The best way to become more educated is to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something- Initially as a young surgeon in training, I was always afraid to ask my senior surgeon questions for fear of seeming as though I lacked knowledge, however gathering the courage to ask those questions allowed me to understand the surgery better and helped me take my surgical skills to the next level.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will never be all-knowing, and it’s okay to ask for help if you’re struggling or if you have too much on your plate. Let go of your ego and it will make you more successful in life- In preparation for challenging surgeries, I’ve found it extremely helpful to ask advice from other surgeons with regards to how their surgical approach would be.
5. Make time for yourself and your well-being. Many of us feel guilty when our time isn’t spent doing work, however time for self-care is massively important in improving our mental state and also allowing us to perform optimally in our career- May sleepless nights were spent at the hospital during training, either taking care of patients or studying for upcoming surgeries. Many of us neglected our diet, exercise, and sleep to allow for more time for studying. You quickly learn that this process is not sustainable and will only be detrimental to your success.

Edward, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a private practice plastic surgeon specializing mainly in cosmetic surgery of the body, performing procedures such as BBLs, liposuction, tummy tucks, and mommy makeovers. I have a background in art since childhood and that’s why the field of plastic surgery was the perfect fit for me, as it is truly art of the human body! My background in art has led me to publish several medical illustrations in some of the most prominent medical journals and textbooks.

I performed my plastic surgery residency training in the world’s largest medical center located in Houston TX, at one of the top institutions in the nation, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). During my surgical training, I had the great opportunity to co-author several research publications in various plastic surgery journals and textbooks.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

100% I would choose the same profession! My surgical training was in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, including pediatric craniofacial reconstruction. This allowed me to use these learned surgical techniques and apply them on surgical mission trips abroad. The latest one was in Mexico in the spring of 2022, where we performed numerous pro bono reconstructive surgeries including cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to underserved locations in Mexico. Each year, I carve out time in my schedule for these medical trips in order to give back to those in need. Our surgical team successfully completed approximately 40 reconstructive procedures during our time there! Being a part of these cleft lip/palate surgical trips is truly one of my biggest passions and the primary reason why I chose to pursue a career in medicine.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Going through medical school and surgical training is undoubtedly the toughest thing I’ve done in life. The road is never smooth and takes many unexpected turns. It truly involves blood, sweat, and tears to make it through that medical journey. Many sleepless nights were spent in the hospital, with most weeks being ~80hour work weeks. When you’re first exposed to the world of medicine, it can be very overwhelming, and at times can make you question whether this is a task that’s even achievable, and it takes a real commitment to the field in order to make it to the finish line.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drchamata.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/drchamata
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dr.edwardchamata

Image Credits
First photo of me in surgery, credit goes to: Nathan San Miguel Photography