Editor’s Note: This account reminds us of the power of humor to reduce tension and level the playing field.
Before beginning my fellowship, I took time off to make some money and to finish my first pregnancy. I worked as locum tenens in a practice that had never had women among the ranks, no less one who was seven months pregnant! Part of the requirements of the hospital where the group did their surgery and took call was that when a trauma case came in, the surgeon of record required the assistance of another orthopedist to prevent “mishaps”. The prevailing feeling was that in an emergency, “two minds are better than one.”
One day, a well-known misogynous 6’5” surgeon called our practice for the required help on an emergency case. He asked for a senior colleague by name and he was not available. I was offered up sight unseen, and he agreed. The surgical staff knew that I was competent based on the previous cases I had done there. I walked into the OR and announced to him, “I am here to assist you with your hip case today.” His response was as expected, a stunned and “pregnant pause.” The patient had already been intubated so there was no time to waste or substitution to be made. We moved forward together with the surgery.
I had been taught to not only be a good surgeon but to also be a good assistant. I made the case easy by separating the tissue planes and retracting them effectively. He was truly “flummoxed” by how easy the case was for him to do. When it came time to use the corkscrew to remove the femoral head, for some reason the head flipped up into the air………………and landed on me and the baby. The room was dead silent. I laughed and said, “Aren’t you glad I’m pregnant?” The room exploded in laughter. From then on, he and I had a great relationship, and he became one of my best friends. He referred many patients during my eventual practice years.
Another circumstance where laughter helped break tension and build a stronger relationship occurred when I was a fellow. A new young attractive nurse offered to bring fresh dressings to our team while we were making rounds. This was an unusual occurrence. After she left on her mission, our attending said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cute girl on the service?” Another pregnant pause. My colleagues on the team all had high achieving wives with careers. Acknowledging the awkwardness, the attending looked at me and said, “That’s kind of sexist, isn’t it?” I responded with “I work hard to surround myself with handsome men. If you need a cute girl on the service, knock yourself out!” Laughter ensued and he never made a sexist statement like that in front of me again.
Other thoughts about satisfaction and meaning in professional life:
• Laughter is an effective tool to break down barriers with colleagues and patients. Use it skillfully.
• Happiness is a choice
• Gratefulness is a choice
• Deal with the hand you are dealt.
• “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankel, MD can be an inspiring read.
• Create an orthopaedic training experience for others that is better than the one you had. With this goal in mind, we have created a fellowship where the emphasis is on surgical experience rather than time spent in clinic doing the mundane work of the practice. No great operative case should be missed by the fellows. Fellowship should be a rich experience and the gateway to a fulfilling and productive career.