Some of the best advice orthopedic surgeons have received has nothing to do with the operating room. From treating time as currency to refusing to put life on hold until a career slows down, the physicians featured here share guidance that reaches well beyond the clinic.
When it does come back to the clinic, the advice tends to center on the same principle: Treat every patient like a member of your own family.
Seven orthopedic surgeons reflected on the professional advice that has stayed with them and shaped not just how they practice, but how they live.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to orthopedic surgeons and leaders around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting orthopedic care. Becker’s invites all orthopedic surgeons and specialists to respond.
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Please send responses to Cameron Cortigiano at ccortigiano@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. Central time Sept. 7.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received, and how has it shaped how you practice?
Tracey Didinger, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon of DISC Marina del Rey (Calif.): I knew early in life that I wanted to pursue medicine, and more specifically, that my goal was to become an orthopedic surgeon. One of the best pieces of professional advice I received early in my journey was that there will never be a “perfect time” for the things you want to do outside of medicine. If there is something you truly desire, make it happen — don’t wait for the perfect moment.
I have carried that advice with me throughout my training and career. After college, I completed four years of medical school, five years of orthopedic surgery residency and a one-year fellowship in sports medicine. Along the way, I also won a national championship, got married, traveled to five countries, had two children, recovered from several operations, began competing in a new sport and made time for friends and family.
Continuing my life outside of medicine has not taken away from my career — it has made me a better physician. The experiences I have had outside the hospital allow me to connect with my patients on a more personal level and better understand the challenges they face. Medicine is an incredibly rewarding part of my life, but it is only one part of it. I have learned that you cannot always wait for the “perfect time,” because that time may never come.
Kenneth Fine, MD. Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon of the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (Bethesda, Md.): The best piece of professional advice I ever received wasn’t spoken; it was demonstrated. My mentor, Joseph Torg, MD, spent the 1970s personally reviewing hundreds of hours of football game film, and he found that most cases of paralysis from neck injuries traced back to a single technique: tackling with the top of the helmet, known as spearing. His research got spearing banned, and football-related paralysis cases dropped from more than 30 a year to single digits.
The lesson I took from him: trust rigorous data enough to change practice, even when it means overturning decades of how things have been done. I reflect on Dr. Torg’s work often as AI enters medicine. AI could likely have found this pattern in a fraction of the time, but the insight still required someone to ask the right question. That’s how I see AI’s role in medicine: a powerful tool for pattern recognition and preventive research, working alongside clinical judgment, never replacing it.
Frank Liporace, MD. Senior Vice President, Musculoskeletal Service Line of RWJBarnabas Health, Northern Regions (West Orange, N.J.): I’ve had several good mentors throughout my career who have provided great advice, so it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. The first piece of advice that has shaped my approach to care is to treat every patient as though they are a member of my own family. The second one is to always listen to your inner voice, and if you have a concern, don’t ignore it. Ask more questions, evaluate the patient again or order further imaging until you have objective evidence to validate or rule out your concern to ensure that you are providing the best care to the patient. The final piece of advice that I’ve always carried with me is to be kind. I strive to be kind, not only to my patients, but to everyone who I work with as part of the care team. I know that I need to lead by example and treat everyone with kindness and respect.
Elizabeth Matzkin, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon and Chief of Women’s Sports Medicine of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston): “Be so good they cannot ignore you.” Work hard and take excellent care of your patients — everything else will fall into place.
Patrick McEneaney, DPM. Owner and CEO of Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists (Crystal Lake, Ill.): When I was a new physician, an experienced colleague told me the following: “You will never get a raise from the insurance companies. The only way to make more money is to work harder.” At the time, it seemed that it was said jokingly. As I have progressed through my career, it is probably the truest statement I have ever heard in medicine.
This statement has resonated since it was said to me more than 15 years ago. We are all seeing progressive cuts to our reimbursement annually. Knowing this, my practice has strategically worked on increasing efficiency. This includes streamlining patient experiences, standardizing workflows and decreasing unnecessary spending. As more practices close due to increasing overhead, doctors must understand that we need to fight to be part of the reimbursement narrative. In the end, the system collapses without us.
Alireza Nazemi, MD. Orthopedic surgeon of DISC Tarzana (Calif.): When it comes to your practice, time is the only currency you spend without realizing it. I received this advice early in my career, and it shaped how I approach my days. When you view your time as currency, you learn to be very organized with it. For instance, I use a shared Google Calendar with my surgical and clinic coordinators to ensure that any time outside of surgeries and clinic is allotted for patient emergencies, research or education. I also use this to ensure I have the time to do enjoyable things, such as going to the gym and spending time with friends and family. By doing this, I find that I use my time better and accomplish more each day.
Naudereh Noori, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon of UCI Health (Irvine, Calif.): The best professional advice I received was to treat the patient, not the X-ray. In an environment where there is constant pressure to see more patients and shorten each visit, taking the time to truly listen can be challenging — but I believe it remains one of the most important aspects of practicing medicine. A patient’s story often reveals what imaging and objective measurements cannot: how symptoms affect daily life, which treatments have failed, what concerns they carry and what they ultimately hope to regain.
This advice has made me more deliberate about surgical indications and more attentive to what matters most to each patient. Imaging and physical examination are essential, but they must be interpreted within the context of the patient’s experience, functional limitations, expectations and goals. Taking the time to listen and explain may seem inefficient in the moment, but it leads to better-informed decisions, realistic expectations and a treatment plan the patient understands and supports. When patients clearly understand the anticipated benefits, limitations and recovery, they are better prepared for treatment and more likely to achieve a successful outcome. Ultimately, this advice guides me to recommend surgery only when it addresses a meaningful clinical problem and to choose the least invasive option that can reliably relieve pain and restore function.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
