“There is nothing new in orthopedics.”
Dr. Kelikian was one of the most prolific early academic American orthopedic surgeons, serving as one of the founding fathers of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.
Early in my residency, he turned to me one day and said, “There is nothing new in orthopedics. A smart man synthesizes other peoples’ ideas.” This concept of using sound principles to build the foundation for the development of medical advances has allowed me to venture into uncharted waters with very few major mistakes.
Build upon a good foundation and strive for efficiency
[Regarding Dr. Kelikian’s advice], the newest and best innovations in the practice of medicine are generally not entirely new; they are built on a foundation that others have provided. If you take sound principles from others, you will be more capable of developing “new” ideas.
Secondly, we should not “read our press clippings.” Most of what we do is not terribly sophisticated and can be done by anyone. Very few medical conditions require very sophisticated skills. In relating to patients, we should remember that there are many people who can do what we do. We should strive to do it efficiently and with humility. Many years ago, a sage older woman taught me that “God heals, and we just send the bills.”
Do not compete for patients; focus on overlooked specialties
Paul Meyer, Jr., was the director of the Acute Spinal Cord Injury Center at Northwestern [University in Chicago] and one of the earliest American physicians to develop an interest in spinal cord injury. I served as both a student and an orthopedic resident on the Northwestern Spinal Cord Injury Service.
Dr. Meyer built a career on caring for patients or clinical problems that no one else was interested in providing that service. At a young age, he built up a large referral base and received the gratitude of his referral sources. Rather than competing for patients, he taught me that, by finding a marketing niche that did not compete for patients, one could quickly build a strong and interesting practice.
Learn more about Dr. Pinzur at www.stritch.luc.edu/depts/ortho/faculty_and_staff/Michael_Pinzur_MD.htm.
