Editor’s Note: This account reflects the value of positivity applied to life and career.
If you dream it, it will come true. I am a “sunny glass half full” sort of person. I spin the negatives into positives.
I first dreamt about becoming an orthopedic surgeon at age 12 after undergoing a surgery to manage my symptomatic tarsal coalition. My orthopedic surgeon not only returned me to competitive sport, for which I earned a college scholarship, but also became my mentor.
My path led to an enhanced residency program as well as a fellowship. I now work in private practice and enjoy doing my own surgery and caring for the patients myself. I have a husband and 2 children.
I have applied lessons learned while participating in high level sport to my professional career. In both, I have persistently set goals to keep challenging myself. I have learned, however, that there needs to be a balance in life. I can’t be perfect in each of my “buckets” all the time.
Sports taught me how to lose with dignity. Having a failure of treatment or surgery has been harder to accept. As is appropriate, I feel personally responsible for each patient I treat. If a patient suffers, so do I emotionally. My valued mentors are available to discuss complications with me since I am not in academic practice. I do turn to them for opinions and guidance. Not much is taught in residency about accepting failure. Despite having occasional less than ideal outcomes, I strive to keep my positivity. I challenge myself always to be better. Each new goal keeps me moving forward.