For orthopedic surgeons, professional growth can happen beyond the clinical practice. Two surgeons told Becker's Spine Review how they stay involved in their professional community.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting orthopedic care. We invite all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: What are you most thankful for?
Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Note: Responses were edited for style.
Question: How do you like to stay involved in professional networks and organizations?
Ammar Saymeh, DPM. NJ Spine and Wellness (Freehold): Professional networks and organizations are key for both personal and career growth. These organizations allow an individual to remain up to date on the newest advances in their respective fields. In order to offer the best care to my patients, I think it is important to always be open to new techniques within foot and ankle surgery. These new techniques give me the ability to constantly improve my practice and improve patient outcomes.
I remain an active member in many organizations and visit conferences yearly. These conferences offer both lectures and workshops that touch on the newest technology and surgical advances within the field. From a networking perspective, these conferences also present opportunities to collaborate with other surgeons and specialists within our field. These collaborations allow constant possibility of career growth as time progresses and those relationships mature.
Howard Gelb, MD. Gelb Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center (Boca Raton, Fla.): I prefer to attend smaller meetings where I have the ability to discuss cases with other orthopedic surgeons. Since the pandemic started, online virtual meetings are the next best way to stay involved with professional organizations.