Becoming Dr Brisbon

My name is Dr. Jonathan Lee Brisbon, and I am currently a Preliminary General Surgery resident at Rutgers. This year, I will be applying to categorical positions in both Urology and General Surgery as I continue my journey toward becoming a fully trained surgeon.

Unlike most professions, medicine requires us to pay thousands of dollars in application fees just to be considered for a job—without any guarantee of a position. As a resident, I work 80+ hours a week, including 24-hour (and longer) calls, which makes obtaining an outside job impossible. While I am committed to serving my patients, the financial demands of residency and the application process have become overwhelming.

After taxes, I bring home less than $2,000 every two weeks. Between rent, commuting costs, and exam fees (such as the USMLE Step 3, UWorld subscription, and General Surgery board preparation question banks), I am struggling to keep up. I’ve applied for small loans and reached out to family, but I have not been able to secure the support needed. To make ends meet, I am even going without basic furniture at home.

This is deeply personal for me. I am a stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivor who entered medical school after losing my father to a sudden heart attack. I grew up in a home marked by challenges, including a father who struggled with alcoholism and a mother who faced her own difficulties. Despite these hardships, I became the first and only physician in my family.

I am determined to push forward and achieve my dream of becoming an attending surgeon in Urology or General Surgery. But I cannot do this alone.

How You Can Help

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Residency application fees

• USMLE Step 3 exam costs

• Question banks and study resources

• Covering essential living expenses during this critical application season

Anything you are able to contribute—big or small—would be a blessing. Even if you are unable to donate, I would be grateful if you could share my story with others who may be able to help.

I am humbled to be here, still standing after everything I’ve overcome, and I am determined to continue this journey with resilience and faith.

Please donate here or Venmo: jbrisbon1181 and help me reach the next step in becoming the surgeon I am meant to be.

With gratitude,

Dr. Jonathan Lee Brisbon