Here five spine surgeons discuss the things they wish they had known when they had just entered the spine field.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: What will change and what will remain the same in the spine industry in the next five to 10 years?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: What do you wish you had known before deciding to specialize in spine?
Kern Singh, MD, Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, Chicago: Honestly, I just knew I was going to be a spine surgeon from the day I entered medical school. I spent a lot of time with Dr. Jerry Cotler and Jefferson in Philadelphia. I just loved the clinical interaction with patients, the complex surgery and decision making and the wide open area for research.
Bruce V. Darden II, MD, OrthoCarolina, Charlotte, N.C.: I wish I would have known the physical and mental stress involved in decision making and in carrying out the subsequent surgery on spine patients. I do not think it would have dissuaded me from going in to the profession, but I do think I would have prepared myself differently both physically and mentally.
Kenneth Pettine, MD, Founder, The Spine Institute, Johnstown, Colo.: I wish I had known how great spine surgery actually is or, to put it another way, being a spine surgeon is not nearly as horrible as everyone thinks and the vast majority of our patients are statistically improved in terms of pain and function.
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: How little insurance companies and Medicare value what we do, and the amount of training it demands to carry it through successfully.
Richard Kube, MD, Founder, CEO, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, Peoria, Ill.: I would have liked a better understanding of the apparent disconnect between spine and the rest of orthopedic surgery. It would have led to some different choices for me coming out of fellowship and entering private practice. In the end it provided me the opportunity to shift gears and start a solo practice, so the final result was favorable. Young grads coming out though have no idea what they are facing when they join a general orthopedic group.