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PERSPECTIVES

COMMENTARIES FROM ASSH MEMBERS
Life rarely goes according to plan. For February, we asked our members to tell us about the "fork in the road" moment that brought them to where they currently are in their career. For many contributors, it wasn't just one "fork", but several.
To start off the new year, we asked our members how they emotionally handle bad outcomes and how those outcomes shape them as surgeons. Contributors agree that such experiences, although difficult, are opportunities for positive growth and self-reflection.
To wrap up the year, we asked our members what tips they had for good patient communication. From drawing pictures to maintaining eye contact, our members agree that making your patient feel heard and understood is the most important goal.
For November, the Diversity Committee of the ASSH has asked our members what diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of hand surgery means to them. Our members' personal narratives and desire to help patients in an ever-changing, diverse world are both moving and inspirational.
We challenged our contributors to present ways for improving hand surgery. From utilizing EMRs to contacting surgeons of other subspecialties, our members proposed some very insightful ideas.
The value of formidable leadership cannot be overstated. For this month, we asked members to tell us how they lead. Regardless of where one is at in their career, the opportunities to demonstrate leadership are everywhere.
We asked our members to give us advice on raising a family amidst a hand surgery career. Contributors highlight the importance of prioritizing, focusing, and the willingness to adapt. On top of that, one needs to have a strong support system, both inside and outside the home.
For this month, we asked our members about any quotes or mantras that inspire them. Our contributors tell us about the sayings and phrases that keep them going during tough times.
To start the summer off, our members covered a variety of important topics. We've looked back on the trajectory of our career, we discuss the importance of making preliminary sketches in the treatment of hand fractures, and we even describe a few things some of us know that we do differently than others.
We asked members to share a lesson they’ve learned from a patient. Whether it was a book recommendation that influenced our lives or a child exhibiting profound strength, it is clear that hand surgery patients can be quite the educators as well.
For March and April, we asked our members what they are capable of today that they were not capable of 5 years ago. While the pandemic certainly governs recent memory, our contributors speak about improvements in their work-life balance, technical aptitude, patient education, and more.
For February, we asked about setbacks that ultimately led to opportunity for success, or from which members learned advantageous lessons. Hand surgeons do an excellent job of putting a positive spin on unfavorable circumstances, and these contributions showcase that.
To kick off the new year, we asked our members what it means to be a “great” hand surgeon. From connecting well to patients to showcasing compassion and humility, members describe admirable traits and how they work to achieve them.
We wanted to wrap up the year with a topic that was on the lighter side: what's on your "bucket list" outside of work? Our members detail some personal dreams and tell us about the ones they've already achieved.
We are all trying to get used to the “new normal” as things continue to change all around us. For this month’s issue, we asked our members what the biggest changes to their practices were in the era of COVID-19 aside from increased telemedicine appointments.
For October, we asked members how and when they decide to employ a new technique or procedure. What's the last new procedure you tried, why did you change from your conventional route, and how did it go?
For this month’s issue, we asked our members if there was anything that they haven’t yet accomplished in their surgical careers but would still like to. From perfecting techniques to engaging in outreach initiatives, our members detail their (very attainable!) goals.
We asked members to tell us about their greatest strength as a hand surgeon. Technical aptitude was addressed, but our surgeons also spoke about perseverance, striving for more knowledge, and thanking their mentors. I think we can agree those attributes are just some of the qualities that make hand surgeons so special.
For this month's edition of Perspectives, we decided to step away from circumstances impacting the globe and ask members what they felt was the biggest surprise of their career. A common and most reassuring trend was that members are "surprised" to find themselves still loving their profession as much as they do.
The medical field has been subjected to countless changes and protocol adaptations in light of the pandemic. For those continuing to practice during this time, we asked our members if there were any telemedicine exam maneuver tips they felt were particularly helpful or noteworthy. We have shared their answers in this month’s issue.
It goes without saying that the pandemic has impacted all of us, placing some of us on the front lines, halting our practices, adjusting our home lives, and more. For this month’s edition, we asked our contributors to write about how they were coping with the current crisis, both professionally and personally.
Change may be necessary sometimes, but it's not always welcome. For April, we asked if there were there any recent changes to the field that they found to be unfavorable, whether it was related to technology, changes in techniques, or anything else. Despite potential gripes, our members continue to find ways to be positive.
March is National Women’s History Month. We asked our members to share stories about women in hand surgery, how they have advanced the field at large, and how they have navigated their careers amid a changing landscape. Members highlight some of the field’s trailblazers and touch upon the trails that still need blazed.
For February, we asked members to share a story with us about building trust. Whether it was a memory about successfully fostering trust between colleagues or a tale about securing trust with a patient, our members agree that being honest and genuine to the best of your ability is a crucial component.
It is hard to believe that it is already 2020! For this edition, we asked our members what they would like to see the hand surgery community accomplish in the new year. Improved decision-making, data sharing, and conversation efforts are among the thoughtful answers presented in this month’s issue.
The healthcare landscape can certainly feel tumultuous at times, creating rifts among the medical community. For December, we wanted to focus on unity. What is something that all hand surgeons have in common? Our members tell us what brings us together in divisive times and how it shapes the field.
For this issue of Perspectives, we asked members to tell us about the most unusual or serendipitous moments they have experienced so far in their medical careers. From famous cases to famous events to meeting their significant others, our members have found that life works in the most mysterious ways.
Communicating effectively with patients is key to a successful practice. For October, we asked our members to detail a tough conversation they’ve had with a patient. We asked them how they have navigated the discussion and they’ve shared with us what those difficult discussions gained them.
Hand surgeons do a wonderful job of recognizing those that trained them and helped them become the physicians they are today. For September, we asked our members to tell us about their biggest role models. Members describe their influences in the OR, at home, and elsewhere.
This month, we asked members to tell us what keeps them up at night. Do fears of failure and cases gone wrong drive worry deep into the night? Although the prompt itself inevitably spurs negative thoughts, our members were able to put positive spins on their anxieties and concerns.
We asked our members whether or not there was a place for conservation in healthcare. Owing to efforts around the world to reduce waste–from local initiatives to eliminate plastic straws and bags to much larger undertakings in planet restoration–we wanted to know how hand surgeons took the environment into account in their practice.
For June, we asked our members if there was a book they felt every hand surgeon should read. The suggestions that came in were chosen because of how the books helped readers navigate everything from tough financial situations to patient relationships. We hope these can be added to your summer reading list!
May is National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM). We reached out to several ASSH members who have served or who are currently serving in the armed forces and asked, “How has being a member of the military shaped your perspective as a hand surgeon?”
When we look back on the roads we took to get where we are now, it is clear that some paths were more winding than others. For April, we asked members to think about an alternate universe in which they aren’t a hand surgeon: would you still have pursued medicine?
For this edition of Perspectives, we asked members to tell us how (and where) they feel the field of hand and upper extremity excels where other fields may fall short. Our members agree that hand surgeons are willing to go the extra mile (literally).
New York University’s School of Medicine is now offering free tuition for medical school students. We asked our members how they felt about this and whether or not other institutions should follow suit. Will it make the field even more competitive than it already is? Will it increase diversity in admissions? Our members weigh in on the pros and cons.
Physician burnout doesn’t just impact the physician — their patients, family, and careers are all at risk as well. To kick off the new year, we asked our members what they have done personally to protect themselves from physician burnout, as well as what their colleagues have done to help the team and themselves.
The overdose crisis has found its way into our operating rooms and our homes alike. Hand surgeons recognize the dire need for action. For December, we asked our members how they have personally modified their pain management protocols to address this devastating issue.
We asked members to give us their best clinical pearl this month. From innovative replacements of occlusive dressing sheets to advice on doctor-patient interactions in today’s world, our members provide us with some novel advice for improved clinical practice.
For October, we asked members if there was anything they wish they could have changed about/during their training experience. Instead of changing anything, a common thread among the responses was that it simply went too fast and we wish we had taken some time to stop and appreciate the small things.
We asked members to tell us how they dealt with modernity in their practice. Is technology a blessing or a curse? It's clear that members have found the balance between evolving technology and their tried and true approaches.
This issue, we asked members if there was anything special about their OR. While we found that unique preparation and music styles were definitely key in making operating rooms special, one resounding notion rang true: it's the people in the OR that truly make it what it is.
For July, members sent us “thank you” letters to those that have helped them along the way, expressing gratitude for the guidance and support they have received throughout their careers.
Summertime is upon us! Even though “relaxation” may be a rare occasion for most, we asked our members how they choose to unwind whenever they get the chance.
For this month’s edition, we asked our contributors to write about how they tackle controversial treatments. This month’s issue illuminates an array of mindsets behind different solutions.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, members tell us how they do things differently from where they’re from, whether it’s procedural or a fun way to raise money for charity.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, members discuss personal and professional challenges in light of ethical dilemmas or near mistakes.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, we asked you to tell us about your most difficult or surprising patient. Members detail everything from rare cases to scathing Yelp reviews.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, we asked you to write about your practice environment, such as the pros and cons of being solo, group, academic, private.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, we asked you to write about your favorite “tool of the trade.” Our contributors have illuminated an array of tools.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, we asked you to write about the advice that you would give your younger self. The responses we received were clear.
For this edition of the ASSH Perspectives newsletter, we asked you to write about your life outside of hand surgery practice. Who are you when you aren’t a hand surgeon?
For this month’s edition, we asked our contributors to write about a moment that shaped them as a hand surgeon. This month’s edition captures the voices of hand surgeons and therapists alike.