ABSTRACT
How is it that surgeons who are frequently brilliant in one area are so lacking in another? Writing is a deliberate endeavor that requires experience and attention to technique. The best writers spent time honing their skill. This skill is still a prerequisite for academic surgeons. In fact, many times the only thing a person knows about surgeons or physicians is what they put on paper. For that reason, writing should be a priority. Writing is more skill than talent. Of course, there are those who like and those who do not like to write. Learning to write in the second case becomes a prob lem. Nonetheless, any surgeon or physician can and should learn to write effectively.
