Will Kang, MD – From Concert Halls to Operating Rooms: Orthopedics, Identity, and Life Beyond the Scalpel

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon, social media personality, and former professional violinist Dr. Will Kang joins Dr. Michael Jerkins for an engaging conversation on unconventional career paths, surgical culture, and building a life in medicine that extends beyond the operating room. Dr. Kang reflects on his early years as a classically trained musician, the role of parental influence in high-level performance, and how a career-altering shoulder injury ultimately redirected him from the concert stage to medicine. 

He shares how the COVID-19 pandemic reignited a long-standing interest in media, leading him to create educational and humorous content on social media. The discussion weaves through the realities of surgical training, the stereotypes surrounding different specialties, and why surgeons often develop thick skin, big egos, and an efficiency-first communication style just to survive the field. 

Dr. Kang also offers a candid look at balancing a demanding surgical career with family life, emphasizing why he’s chosen to prioritize being present at home, even when it comes at a professional cost. Looking ahead, he weighs in on the future of orthopedic surgery, including the growing role of robotics, AI, and real-time imaging. 

What does it take to pivot when your original dream no longer fits? And how can surgeons build resilience, maintain perspective, and define success on their own terms? 

Dr. Kang closes with advice for aspiring surgeons, reflections on criticism and self-healing, and why—despite the challenges—he still believes medicine is a career worth choosing.