Recently Becker’s Spine Review http://www.beckersspine.com *had “Seven spine surgeons talk about the best professional advice they have received during the course of their careers. “
• “Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, Chief, Spinal Trauma, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City: The best professional advice I ever received was to have strict indications for when to operate and when not to operate, and to make sure patients fully understand the goals of their treatment plan..”
• “Neel Anand, MD, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Director, Spine Trauma, Cedars-Sinai Spine Center, Los Angeles: Be honest with your patients, and treat them like you would treat your best friend. Listen to them and above all else, do what is right for the patient.”
• “Sanjay Khurana, MD, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.: The best advice I received was to use the best available clinical data and combine it with your personal training and judgment to make the most appropriate clinical choice for your patient.“
• “ Ali Araghi, DO, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, The CORE Institute, Phoenix: Whenever I am trying to decide whether surgery is the best option for a patient or which type of surgery would best benefit the patient, I imagine the patient is an age and gender that matches a close relative and that helps me reach the best conclusion.”
• “Michael Roh, MD, Co-Founder, Rockford (Ill.) Spine Center: A celebrated academic spine surgeon told me that in the first two years of practice, it is important make a concerted effort to perform surgeries that have at least a 90 percent chance of success and good outcomes.”
• “Ara Deukmedjian, MD, CEO, Medical Director, Deuk Spine Institute, Melbourne, Fla.: ‘Don’t try to be everything to everyone’ — one of the hardest lessons for me to learn was that doctors cannot fix everything for everyone. There will be a time in every doctor’s career when we will have that very difficult situation of not being able to save a life.”
• “Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, Neurosurgeon, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: A very good plastic surgeon once told me at a wedding, ‘Put yourself where you want to be first. The patients will come to you if you are good.’ “
* to read the full BSR article “Advice to Young Surgeons: What 7 Spine Surgeons Have Never Forgotten” by Anuja Vaida, highlight and click on open hyperlink http://www.beckersspine.com/spine/item/20501-advice-to-young-surgeons-what-7-spine-surgeons-have-never-forgotten
Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands? ™ provides information to consumers on understanding, managing and navigating health care options.
Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.
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