ortho attending AMA

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thefleetfooted said:
Wow! That's an awesome story! So you wanted to do ortho from the beginning? What caused you to pick ortho that early?
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Sorry. I'm ******ed and misspoke. I meant Step 1, not MCAT. But yes, I wanted to do ortho pretty early because someone I knew who had a similar personality went into ortho, and I thought that if it attracted him, maybe it would attract me too. Then I did some ortho research, and the rest is history. But I didn't know with 100% certainty until I was already a resident, and went to my first OTA conference. It was then that I finally knew where I belonged.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
Absolutely. Biomechanics is fascinating and a big part of trauma. I wasn't mechanically minded at all before residency, and did well in physics (but not out of any love for it)...seeing the clinical application made it very interesting. Look up Radin's "practical biomechanics for the orthopaedic surgeon." It's out of print but I'm sure some copies are floating around somewhere. Great little book and should be required reading for anyone going into our field.
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As an engineer, I agree biomechanics is important but I think it's more fascinating in chronic or subacute ortho issues like spine, foot/ankle or sports. Trauma is always just one big force (or moment) 😉


OrthoTraumaMD said:
I decided on trauma as an intern and never wavered. That's unusual, as many ortho residents are seduced by trauma early on, but most eventually decide to switch into something else. I never did, and knew I would not, but I also have that type of personality.
As for the other Ortho subspecialties:
-peds: hate the parents
-tumor: depressing, young people dying, made me want to kill myself
-hand: too finicky; hate loupes, nerves, etc; also the "stereotypical" subspecialty female orthopods go into, and I didn't want to do that
-joints: you said it, too repetitive
-sports: "voodoo" (outcomes and indications are questionable), hate scopes
-foot and ankle: feet are gross
-spine: chronic pain patients suck

If I hadn't gone into ortho, I would perhaps have become a vascular surgeon, as I had dallied in that field for a while in med school; but honestly, I don't think I could have survived in medicine if I hadn't matched ortho. I would likely leave and go into something completely different.
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I could not agree more about sports. I've been thinking for so long that the entire ortho sports field is a bit questionable in terms of their non-evidence based procedures (or now discredited procedures), and I've started to hear more and more orthopods raise concern over this. Do you think the sports subspecialty will die off? Or change dramatically?
 
LoGo said:
As an engineer, I agree biomechanics is important but I think it's more fascinating in chronic or subacute ortho issues like spine, foot/ankle or sports. Trauma is always just one big force (or moment) 😉




I could not agree more about sports. I've been thinking for so long that the entire ortho sports field is a bit questionable in terms of their non-evidence based procedures (or now discredited procedures), and I've started to hear more and more orthopods raise concern over this. Do you think the sports subspecialty will die off? Or change dramatically?
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Haha the only forces in spine are the ones that compel you to go to the bank for the

As for sports, I think it will go steady for a while. I have no evidence to back that up, though, just what I see in my daily life and talking to my friends.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
Depends on the region and type of hospital (county trauma center or a more suburban hospital), but generally 60% of your practice are deadbeat/drunk/noncompliant/uninsured/drug addicts (after all, people who drink and drive etc tend to fall into a certain subtype). The other 40% are reasonable people (weekend warrior/geriatric/athlete/unlucky random trauma). The type of idiot changes with the environment --but whether they are a crack addict suddenly deciding to cross a busy street, or a drunk farmer playing chicken with equipment, they're still idiots. Overall, the reasonable ones are grateful, and they keep me going. The deadbeats are occasionally grateful too, but they exasperate me with smoking, noncompliance, etc. In those times, it's good to remember one of the laws of the house of God: "the patient is the one with the disease."
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Something just doesn't line up here :-/
 
walloobi said:
Anyone who can't afford insurance must be an unreasonable person obvi, what don't you get..

/s
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C'est la vie. I don't mince words. The uninsured in my practice mostly fall into the first category, as they do in every large city I've ever worked in. The "unlucky random trauma" is the person who gets hit by a drunk driver type, not the person who was doing the drunk driving. In my experience, the latter is less likely to have insurance.
As an aside, the uninsured are difficult in a different way--no one likes to work for free, including physicians. It doesn't matter to me because I work for a hospital, but if you're in private practice, you're not getting paid (or paid much less) if you treat them. There are entire hospital systems that used to send any uninsured patients out to us when I was a resident. For better or worse, it is a business.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
C'est la vie. I don't mince words. The uninsured in my practice mostly fall into the first category, as they do in every large city I've ever worked in. The "unlucky random trauma" is the person who gets hit by a drunk driver type, not the person who was doing the drunk driving. In my experience, the latter is less likely to have insurance.
As an aside, the uninsured are difficult in a different way--no one likes to work for free, including physicians. It doesn't matter to me because I work for a hospital, but if you're in private practice, you're not getting paid (or paid much less) if you treat them. There are entire hospital systems that used to send any uninsured patients out to us when I was a resident. For better or worse, it is a business.
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Yeah I get that, and I won't fight you on it much, but I'm sure you can see how it might not come across too well for someone who presumably makes a ton of money to complain about treating people who can't afford basic healthcare, especially when you don't even take a financial hit by doing so. Should have gone into peds if you didn't want to deal with patients who cause their own medical problems, it's definitely worth dealing with the obnoxious parents 😉
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
Nowhere did I "complain," somebody asked me a question and I answered it. To be blunt, I work 80 hours a week and have given up my entire life to my job, so I'm not about to feel guilty for making money, and I don't give a **** about how I come across to people who are not in my shoes and have no clue about how and where I grew up (poor, FYI). And just because I personally don't take a financial hit, doesn't mean my practice doesn't. In the form of copays, paying for things like splints, walker boots, etc. Somebody worked to make those, and more often than not, uninsured people get them for free. That money potentially could have been used to better patient care elsewhere. Whether that is wrong or right is up to the individual to decide. This thread is about ortho and any questions therein; I am done arguing with thought police. Leave that for SJW and political forums.
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Love it... thanks for doing this thread, by far one of the best on SDN. Time to get it back on track.

You mentioned that many ortho residents are interested in ortho trauma at the beginning but end up switching into other sub specialties... why is this?

I think you have already touched on how to seek out a mentor as a medical student (if not can you please?). How would you recommend a Med student be a good mentee to keep this relationship going and gain the most from it?
 
Frogger27 said:
Love it... thanks for doing this thread, by far one of the best on SDN. Time to get it back on track.

You mentioned that many ortho residents are interested in ortho trauma at the beginning but end up switching into other sub specialties... why is this?

I think you have already touched on how to seek out a mentor as a medical student (if not can you please?). How would you recommend a Med student be a good mentee to keep this relationship going and gain the most from it?
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Thanks. 🙂 as for your qns...

They end up switching because it's not as glamorous, you usually can't make as much money as the other subspecialties, the inability to "choose" your patients (as in, you have to deal with noncompliance, drug addiction etc), the call (usually you're on call more frequently than your partners), and that you can't always control your schedule (if a bunch of traumas come in, you operate til late)

Re: your second qn, to be a good mentee, the student should meet and touch base with their mentor and take initiative to do so. Frequently we are busy and have a lot on our mind and forget things; it's not because we aren't committed, it's just the job. If you send an email suggesting a time to meet, and have a specific topic to talk about, it is more likely to be productive.
 
As an aside, the uninsured are difficult in a different way--no one likes to work for free, including physicians. It doesn't matter to me because I work for a hospital, but if you're in private practice, you're not getting paid (or paid much less) if you treat them.

So just following up on my poorly worded question earlier about orthopaedic work outside of private practice, would your employment be considered "locums" work, or something else? how would you describe your work hours schedule? (does hopsital determines your schedule for you, number of days on call, etc.)
Probably another supid question as I am clueless, but in the subsepecialty of trauma, do you work in the ED?
 
I see patients that often come from the ED, and go down there if I need to, but I have PAs and residents to do that for me mostly. I am an employee for a large academic institution. I am fully employed and not locums (which is essentially random work on random nights at different hospitals with questionable or no support). I have a full time salaried position with benefits, clinic, staff, OR time etc. The hospital and I reached an agreement with my contract re: how much time I spend in clinic, but for ortho trauma we are typically in clinic once a week and OR the rest of the time. I am high enough in the department, so I make the call schedule for myself and my partners. I decide how much call I take, as long as my partners and I come to a mutually acceptable solution that aligns with the goals of the institution.
 
If I have experience in basic science orthopaedics (3 years) and want to move into clinical or translational research as a MS1, where would you recommend I start? Any good resources to introduce me to the field?

And what are a few reasons you would say to not go into ortho, if any?
 
thefleetfooted said:
What is your opinion on open reduction internal fixation vs total hip arthroplasty for younger (50-60 years old) patients with displaced femoral neck fractures?

It's a debate topic I got from here if anyone's interested: Haidukewych V. Su: ORIF For Displaced Femoral Neck Fx’s In The 50-60 Year Old Patient - Orthopedics This Week (podcast)
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How much time do you have? LOL. Huge topic in orthopaedic trauma. In my mind it is patient dependent. You could be 50 going on 85 when it comes to comorbidities and activity, or you could be a 60 year-old pro tennis player. You have to talk to the patient and tell them about the risks and benefits of each procedure. I would lean toward internal fixation if possible, however it does have a higher failure rate, and you need to do open reduction. Emphasis on the open. A bunch of people do a closed reduction and fixation, but the literature shows that unless you get it perfect, you might as well do the arthroplasty. Arthroplasty has its own risk of dislocation, likely need for revision given the average longevity of the person and the implant, etc. So I offer both and let the patient decide, and sometimes I decide for them depending on what I think has a much higher chance of success. The key is the reduction. If you can get it perfectly and the comminution is minimal at the calcar, you might get away with it. But you have to prepare them for some kind of second surgery at some point.
 
Shirafune said:
If I have experience in basic science orthopaedics (3 years) and want to move into clinical or translational research as a MS1, where would you recommend I start? Any good resources to introduce me to the field?

And what are a few reasons you would say to not go into ortho, if any?
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Go to your ortho department and ask if there are any clinical projects going on. Most orthopods prefer clinical research, and in an academic place you should have no shortage of them looking to take on a student. For extra points, try and search for a topic that you are already familiar with from the basic science standpoint. For suggestions, try the orthopedic research and education foundation (oref) website.

As far as your other question about reasons to not go into ortho, I honestly can't think of any. It's fun, challenging, interesting, and it is always changing. It truly is the best of the surgical fields, but of course I am biased. The one reason I can think of maybe is that it is a difficult residency that takes a big toll on your body and sanity. That, and your intelligence will always be underestimated due to the prevailing stereotypes about orthopedic surgeons. But that's OK, you're the rock star of the hospital. 😉
 
For someone considering a research year without a home program or any faculty with connections, what would you suggest they look for in an opportunity?
 
Yo yo orthobro.

You ever wish you didn't go in to trauma?
 
tymont12 said:
For someone considering a research year without a home program or any faculty with connections, what would you suggest they look for in an opportunity?
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Difficult question. I would reach out to the OREF (orthopedic research and education foundation) to see if there are any available projects people need help with. But your best bet is to contact the nearest academic center with a program, and talk to their research people. You really need connections to get meaningful research--maybe could even be somewhere you have rotated...
 
What's the culture like in ortho?

Also, why ortho trauma? why not something else --trauma.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
Nowhere did I "complain," somebody asked me a question and I answered it. To be blunt, I work 80 hours a week and have given up my entire life to my job, so I'm not about to feel guilty for making money, and I don't give a **** about how I come across to people who are not in my shoes and have no clue about how and where I grew up (poor, FYI). And just because I personally don't take a financial hit, doesn't mean my practice doesn't. In the form of copays, paying for things like splints, walker boots, etc. Somebody worked to make those, and more often than not, uninsured people get them for free. That money potentially could have been used to better patient care elsewhere. Whether that is wrong or right is up to the individual to decide. This thread is about ortho and any questions therein; I am done arguing with thought police. Leave that for SJW and political forums.
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Had an inner "f**k ya" while reading this post. +1 for ortho.
 
JB50 said:
What's the culture like in ortho?

Also, why ortho trauma? why not something else --trauma.
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If you rotate on Ortho, you'll find out. What you see is what you get. Lots of camaraderie, making fun of each other, and friendly competition. A bit of posturing and egos, but not as much as you would think. It's like one big sports team. Which I guess explains why so many athletes are interested in orthopedics, it is the same mentality; we all work together, but we are all fiercely independently competitive and strive to always better ourselves. We are also known for genuinely loving what we do. There was a study in Forbes magazine a while ago about the happiest jobs, and we made the top. You will find plenty of unhappy people in medicine, but I guarantee you will never find an orthopedic surgeon who wishes they did something else within the medical field.

The only other real available trauma path is via general surgery. They work like dogs, do not get paid much, and have to take in-house call. No way. I also really love the biomechanics of ortho, and the myriad ways that you can fix the same fracture. It keeps things interesting. Plus, you have to actually go through general surgery residency to do general surgery trauma, and I have no interest in viscera.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
If you rotate on Ortho, you'll find out. What you see is what you get. Lots of camaraderie, making fun of each other, and friendly competition. A bit of posturing and egos, but not as much as you would think. It's like one big sports team. Which I guess explains why so many athletes are interested in orthopedics, it is the same mentality; we all work together, but we are all fiercely independently competitive and strive to always better ourselves. We are also known for genuinely loving what we do. There was a study in Forbes magazine a while ago about the happiest jobs, and we made the top. You will find plenty of unhappy people in medicine, but I guarantee you will never find an orthopedic surgeon who wishes they did something else within the medical field.

The only other real available trauma path is via general surgery. They work like dogs, do not get paid much, and have to take in-house call. No way. I also really love the biomechanics of ortho, and the myriad ways that you can fix the same fracture. It keeps things interesting. Plus, you have to actually go through general surgery residency to do general surgery trauma, and I have no interest in viscera.
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35% of orthopedic surgeons say they'd choose a different specialty if they could go back. Way better than most other specialties, but certainly not 100% are completely satisfied with their specialty choice.

Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2016
 
walloobi said:
35% of orthopedic surgeons say they'd choose a different specialty if they could go back. Way better than most other specialties, but certainly not 100% are completely satisfied with their specialty choice.

Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2016
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Always the downer.


Thanks for the AMA! I've been recommended at least exploring ortho for different reasons and you've definitely bumped it in that direction 🙂
 
walloobi said:
35% of orthopedic surgeons say they'd choose a different specialty if they could go back. Way better than most other specialties, but certainly not 100% are completely satisfied with their specialty choice.

Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2016
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News to me. Have you ever met one that said that directly? I am curious because I certainly haven't, and I've met hundreds of them who clearly love it. Sure some said they would choose to leave medicine, but I've never met anyone who wanted to switch to IM etc...

I just looked at it and it says "In second place, about two thirds (65%) of orthopedists would choose their own specialty, although only about half of them would want to be physicians again." So I take that to mean 100-65=35 would want to do something else, and half of those (18%) would leave medicine altogether, leaving 18% to switch specialties. Maybe I am misreading. Still a low number.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
News to me. Have you ever met one that said that directly? I am curious because I certainly haven't, and I've met hundreds of them who clearly love it. Sure some said they would choose to leave medicine, but I've never met anyone who wanted to switch to IM etc...

I just looked at it and it says "In second place, about two thirds (65%) of orthopedists would choose their own specialty, although only about half of them would want to be physicians again." So I take that to mean 100-65=35 would want to do something else, and half of those (18%) would leave medicine altogether, leaving 18% to switch specialties. Maybe I am misreading. Still a low number.
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Yeah it's definitely a low number either way, and I only know one orthopod who says he wishes he had gone into a different specialty (EM), but even he seems to absolutely love what he does
 
walloobi said:
Yeah it's definitely a low number either way, and I only know one orthopod who says he wishes he had gone into a different specialty (EM), but even he seems to absolutely love what he does
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I can see the EM part. Lots of similar work but the advantage of shift work and sleeve tattoos 😉
 
Winged Scapula said:
Huh...

I thought you were quitting SDN over the Jalby thread.

Shocking.
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Pawned!

That's why I love my WS - bringing that southwest heat to the forums.

Seriously though, psai could never leave us.

Wait a sec, did you just account hold him for that ONE comment that was 90 percent funny and 10 percent deserved???
 
JB50 said:
Finally a Psai post comes through just at the right time lol
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This is precisely what makes Psai who he is.

Perfectly timed sharp sarcasm that stings the nostrils yet also somehow manages to be educational.

We will miss you for the next 1-2 months of being muted.
 
tymont12 said:
For someone considering a research year without a home program or any faculty with connections, what would you suggest they look for in an opportunity?
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I had the same situation. I found my research fellowship on orthogate. That's where they are typically posted but it's fairly late in the game if you wanted to start this summer. Still worth reaching out to any program you feel you might want to get involved with.

Orthogate Forums: Topics in Orthopedic Surgery Residency Forum (1/159) | Orthogate
 
Light at end of tunnel said:
Wait a sec, did you just account hold him for that ONE comment that was 90 percent funny and 10 percent deserved???
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since we've had this conversation before, multiple times, I assume you know that people aren't put on post hold for a single offense.
 
Thanks for this thread @OrthoTraumaMD !

Not sure whether this was asked before so apologies for the redundancies. What are your thoughts on orthopedic oncology? I read somewhere here that it can be a pretty depressing field to work/train in but I'm unsure whether it is advisable to pursue clinical/translational research in this area during med school for someone interested in cancer research but thinking about ortho.
 
Winged Scapula said:
since we've had this conversation before, multiple times, I assume you know that people aren't put on post hold for a single offense.
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I'm not a moderator, so I can't speak to what you all discussed here, but looking through psai's recent posts its mostly sarcastic/fun posts that are typical of psai.

If there is more to it than that, then I respectfully defer to you all. But, if it is these comments alone, then for what it is worth, the action seems harsh.

I dunno man, I just dont think psai deserves all of this. It is just what makes psai, psai. We should learn to appreciate him as we do TG's adorable/incessant meme posting/spamming, bannie's out of the left field comments, domperidone's rambling/incoherent posts that often create more confusion than they clear up (and may therefore actually prove harmful to junior members), my anti establishmentesque posts, etc.
 
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Have you worked with many/any Canadian orthopods who did their training in Canada and went to the States after to work? Job market in ortho is absolutely horrible here, like 3 fellowships and a master's degree before getting a rural community job terrible.

Is there a good view on canadian ortho training in the US?
 
Lawper said:
Thanks for this thread @OrthoTraumaMD !

Not sure whether this was asked before so apologies for the redundancies. What are your thoughts on orthopedic oncology? I read somewhere here that it can be a pretty depressing field to work/train in but I'm unsure whether it is advisable to pursue clinical/translational research in this area during med school for someone interested in cancer research but thinking about ortho.
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I think doing research in that field is a great idea if you are interested. Generally doing research in anything you're interested in is wonderful. It is an amazing and challenging field, those guys are badasses and do the craziest operations. Once you see a hemipelvectomy, everything else just seems kind of bland. However, I could not do it because it requires a certain sense of detachment. Many patients who have orthopedic tumors are very young, and many of these tumors have a very high mortality rate. I was so depressed during that rotation, it was horrible. But I would not discourage anyone else from doing it if they can handle the emotional aspect of it. Most ortho tumor surgeons I have met come in one of two forms: really funny "class clown" type, and incredibly Aspbergers-y and aloof type. I think those personalities are able to tolerate the reality of their job better. Interestingly, I have no issues with people dying in the trauma setting, and can handle it just fine… There's just something about cancer that tears me up emotionally.
 
ConfusedChemist said:
Have you worked with many/any Canadian orthopods who did their training in Canada and went to the States after to work? Job market in ortho is absolutely horrible here, like 3 fellowships and a master's degree before getting a rural community job terrible.

Is there a good view on canadian ortho training in the US?
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I wish I knew more about this, but no. I know several Canadian trauma surgeons who went back to Canada to work, and had to do multiple fellowships in order to be able to find a job. Everyone I have spoken with says that it is a struggle. I haven't seen any that managed to stay here, but then again maybe that's just a matter of where I work.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
FWIW, I think people are too sensitive these days. Especially if you're in the medical field, you need to have a bit of a thick skin...sarcasm does not equal verbal abuse.
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The user you are referencing as "sarcastic" has had years of warnings; he is well aware of this. That fact alone should silence those who believe that we ban or PH users for a single transgression. Users are also expected to contribute positively to the community; being sarcastic does not meet those expectations if they are not sprinkled with copious amounts of good advice and contributions.

As you know, I'm a surgeon too so I agree with you that you have to have a thick skin to function in medicine.

However, SDN is not the hospital and these users are not our students and residents. We have a responsibility to make this place comfortable for the most people. Some may be more sensitive than we would think they should be, however, it would behoove us to be more sensitive rather than ask them to be change.

Moderation on our site must protect some of the users who are more sensitive and when we receive multiple complaints, from multiple different users time and time again about another user, instead of thinking *they* are the problem, perhaps it would be wise to adjust our viewpoint and respect their sensitivities and not that a user is simply being sarcastic.
 
Winged Scapula said:
You might call them sarcastic and "fun"; others have said mean.
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Psai is so much more than just sarcasm though. He brings a ton to forums that simply would not be the same without him.

IMO, small price to pay. But, I guess we gotta protect against microagressions everywhere these days. Sad.

Users like wallobi won't have your security blanket to protect their feelings in the real world - it may serve them well at this point to be rid of the false sense of security SDN provides them.
 
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Light at end of tunnel said:
Psai is so much more than just sarcasm though. He brings a ton to forums that simply would not be the same without him.

IMO, small price to pay. But, I guess we gotta protect against microagressions everywhere these days. Sad.
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The way I see it there are two sides of the spectrum and Psai is on the side that is least defendable. It's sad and in actuality is more reflective of the real world but hey, this isn't my site and I'm not moderating it so we have to respect those that are.

Also let's get back to orthotraumaMD. What do you enjoy outside of work? Are you happy with your financial situation vs lifestyle?
 
Winged Scapula said:
The user you are referencing as "sarcastic" has had years of warnings; he is well aware of this.

As you know, I'm a surgeon too so I agree with you that you have to have a thick skin to function in medicine.

However, SDN is not the hospital and these users are not our students and residents. We have a responsibility to make this place comfortable for the most people. Some may be more sensitive than we would think they should be, however, it would behoove us to be more sensitive rather than ask them to be change.

Moderation on our site must protect some of the users who are more sensitive and when we receive multiple complaints, from multiple different users time and time again about another user, instead of thinking *they* are the problem, perhaps it would be wise to adjust our viewpoint and respect their sensitivities and not that a user is simply being sarcastic.
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I understand where you're coming from. But disagree that we need to be more sensitive instead of telling them to stop whining. If they can't handle things on the Internet, I worry about their ability to handle the real world. But I'm not a site moderator so it is what it is; I don't make the rules here so I just have an opinion 🙂
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
I understand where you're coming from. But disagree that we need to be more sensitive instead of telling them to stop whining. If they can't handle things on the Internet, I worry about their ability to handle the real world. But I'm not a site moderator so it is what it is; I don't make the rules here so I just have an opinion 🙂
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Agree on this. I love my WS, I really do.

But people need to learn to deal with issues and not simply cry for help at each opportunity.

One would think that making SDN more reflective of medical reality would be a benefit, not a detriment to our collective goals.

I certainly do not mean to derail your thread, orthodoc, but Psai should be considered a huge asset.
 
JB50 said:
The way I see it there are two sides of the spectrum and Psai is on the side that is least defendable. It's sad and in actuality is more reflective of the real world but hey, this isn't my site and I'm not moderating it so we have to respect those that are.

Also let's get back to orthotraumaMD. What do you enjoy outside of work? Are you happy with your financial situation vs lifestyle?
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Netflix and chill, mostly without the chill because I'm tired. 🙂 I'm kind of a homebody and not really the stereotypical sports loving orthopod. I read journals for work because I find it fascinating, am online a lot, play videogames, and hang out with friends and family. I love going out to eat too, especially to somewhere I have never been before. I recently moved to a new city so I am always exploring it.

I am very happy with my financial situation. I am salaried instead of RVU based. So the downside of that is I will be unlikely to get a salary increase because my productivity doesn't matter, and I will never make as much as someone in private practice. But the upside is that I still get paid the same while focusing on other things I like (research, teaching) without worrying that my pay will be docked, and I don't have to stretch my surgical indications or operate on unnecessary things to be "more productive." Plus I am known as a leader in my hospital due to those things (teaching etc), and the administrators are happy with the academic value I bring, even if I don't operate as much as my partners. That fits me just fine; and I get paid a lot anyway. A lot. Lol. For someone who grew up trying to stretch 50 bucks to buy Christmas presents for 10 people, the amount I make is almost unfathomable to me. I am still shocked when I go to the ATM, I remember getting my first check and going to HR to make sure it was right because I have worked so hard for so long and finally the payoff has come. But the feeling of not being able to have things has protected me from going crazy buying stuff like many surgeons I know. I am careful with my money; the only thing I splurged on is my sweet car. Otherwise I live thrifty and am saving for a future family. Anyway, if I become unhappy with my salary, I'll do something to change it; but for now, it is perfectly commensurate with my lifestyle. Ortho trauma lifestyle is not what it used to be. We take more call, but rarely come in at night. Next day trauma rooms are a godsend. And everyone loves us because we take all the traumas off their hands while they focus on elective stuff.
 
Frogger27 said:
What are some of the biggest mistakes/regrets that you see orthopods make in one's career/training?
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Probably the most important question on the thread so far. Thanks for asking.

This applies to all surgeons, not just orthopods, but:

1. Ignoring family and losing relationships because you put them last on your to-do list during residency. You think your problems are worse than theirs, and you think that just because you work 80h weeks it gives you the right to be nasty or unloving to them. Put it this way: whatever your worst quality is, it will multiply tenfold during residency. And your best one will decrease tenfold. I was guilty of same. How my SO didn't leave me I have no earthly idea, and it was entirely his success instead of mine, because I was miserable to be around, I was very unfair and even more harsh than I normally am. He did leave a few times (for like an hour, lol) but somehow it was never permanent. This applies to blood familial and friendships as well as relationships.

2. Thinking you're a big shot and better than other physicians. I mean, you are...lol...but you don't need to go showing that and be an entitled d-bag to nurses or internal medicine residents or other staff. Being a bully is not attractive, even if you've earned the right to think of yourself as hot stuff.

3. Neglecting your hobbies. You don't want to become a tunnel vision person and have no idea what's going on in the world because you're 100% medicine 100% of the time. You don't want to be the boring party guest. I kept only one hobby during residency but I doggedly stuck with it because it kept me connected to the outside world.

4. Getting fat/unhealthy. There are ways to get in a workout or eat a salad even during residency. It's difficult but important. There were times in residency when I was so stressed and was essentially starving. I felt better when I ate better and it gave me more ability to cope.

5. Not getting help if things are rough. Surgical residency is brutal and demoralizing; it is meant to forge you into someone unfazed by anything, but to make it, sometimes you need a pick me up. I had a course of therapy as a senior resident and it helped a lot just to talk to someone who was not a family member (and honestly, my family was sick of my complaining and got a break). You're already a surgeon; it is not weak to take care of yourself emotionally.
 
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OrthoTraumaMD said:
Netflix and chill, mostly without the chill because I'm tired. 🙂 I'm kind of a homebody and not really the stereotypical sports loving orthopod. I read journals for work because I find it fascinating, am online a lot, play videogames, and hang out with friends and family. I love going out to eat too, especially to somewhere I have never been before. I recently moved to a new city so I am always exploring it.

I am very happy with my financial situation. I am salaried instead of RVU based. So the downside of that is I will be unlikely to get a salary increase because my productivity doesn't matter, and I will never make as much as someone in private practice. But the upside is that I still get paid the same while focusing on other things I like (research, teaching) without worrying that my pay will be docked, and I don't have to stretch my surgical indications or operate on unnecessary things to be "more productive." Plus I am known as a leader in my hospital due to those things (teaching etc), and the administrators are happy with the academic value I bring, even if I don't operate as much as my partners. That fits me just fine; and I get paid a lot anyway. A lot. Lol. For someone who grew up trying to stretch 50 bucks to buy Christmas presents for 10 people, the amount I make is almost unfathomable to me. I am still shocked when I go to the ATM, I remember getting my first check and going to HR to make sure it was right because I have worked so hard for so long and finally the payoff has come. But the feeling of not being able to have things has protected me from going crazy buying stuff like many surgeons I know. I am careful with my money; the only thing I splurged on is my sweet car. Otherwise I live thrifty and am saving for a future family. Anyway, if I become unhappy with my salary, I'll do something to change it; but for now, it is perfectly commensurate with my lifestyle. Ortho trauma lifestyle is not what it used to be. We take more call, but rarely come in at night. Next day trauma rooms are a godsend. And everyone loves us because we take all the traumas off their hands while they focus on elective stuff.
Click to expand...

Sounds awesome, but more awesome because it sounds like it fits you so well. Congrats!
 
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