Editor’s Note: The wisdom described here has led to a satisfying career.
I was invited to interview at an orthopedic residency program I was very interested in. I sat across the desk from the chairman who had recently been the president of the AAOS. He was known to be somewhat intimidating. He asked, “Why should we take you?” In that moment, I felt a mental clarity. I was at ease telling him my true thoughts. As a former competitive ski racer, I said, “Because I want to earn my gold medal here. I am seeking training under the best coaches. Now that ski racing is over, my desire is to achieve a gold medal career. Here is where I think I can start.” The faculty members in this program were outstanding and I wanted to be trained by them. I was determined to do my best work in that enriched environment. I was accepted into the program.
On my first day of residency I briefly felt a touch of “Imposter Syndrome.” As I walked into the noon conference room, I felt surrounded by the bright minds of the professors and those of the inquisitive, confident residents. As I glanced at the new residents surrounding me, my thoughts raced. Am I capable and can I measure up to the demands of my new position? As fleeting as the thought was, it was quickly erased as there was no time to feel inadequate. It soon became clear that the faculty was truly invested in my professional development. They wanted to educate me and proudly send me off into the world as a product of their program. This was truly energizing and I buckled down with an intention to do my best. The greatest part is that I remain connected to the program and my multiple mentors there. It’s an ideal situation. I think I earned that medal!
Post residency and after a satisfying fellowship, I returned to the part of the country where I had grown up. Going back to my homeland was one of the best decisions I’ve made and brought me near to my aging family. I was hired by a private practice group where my subspecialty was valued. The senior member of the practice often reminded me that “You are only as good as those around you.” He said not to be afraid of bringing new people into the practice. They will teach you more than threaten you. This resonated with me throughout my career as our group continued to grow and expand.
I appreciated the mentorship I had early in practice. One day as we were working side-by-side in the clinic, my senior partner asked if I would look at his knee? He stated he had an old knee injury which compromised his ACL. I did a careful exam inspecting, palpating & doing stability testing. I said, “it’s okay.” He said “Thanks.” My interpretation is that there was never anything wrong with his knee. While I was doing the examination, he was examining me. He was testing my skills and wanted to know if I could do a good ligamentous exam without needing an MRI scan to make a diagnosis.
My advice to those beginning their careers is to collaborate with others especially in the first 5-8 years. By this I mean, connect with younger and older practice members. Help out and ask to scrub in on their cases. You will build camaraderie as well as learn new things. Be open to mentoring both from within your specialty and outside of it. Be engaged in the community. Be affable. Listen to the patients and help your younger partners build their practices.
Career stress and burnout are prevalent in our profession. As surgeons, we aspire to perfection. At times, we must learn to accept less even as we strive to do great work. Mastery comes slowly. I was told by one surgeon that I would be surprised how well a patient can do even when you think your work was not perfect. For me, this awareness helped to prevent burnout.
A career grows over time. We age along with our patients. We hopefully have the skills to treat them over their musculoskeletal lives. Whereas you may begin with managing non-operative knee pain, you eventually may go on to do their arthroplasty. Treat appropriately and you may be rewarded with patients for your practice lifetime.
Looking back, I would not change anything about my career. I chose/was chosen by an outstanding residency program and later found the “right” practice opportunity for me. I naturally gravitated to being very present in my community aside from my work. I golfed, skied, and enjoyed winter sports. I participated in many non-medical organizations. This effort expanded my friendship base and created a very satisfying lifestyle.
Looking ahead, I expect that when I transition out of my surgical life into retirement, I will retain my mental confidence and sense of purpose. Both ski racing and orthopedic surgery have prepared me well for the next phase of life. I will again fully engage and be present in whatever I choose to do.