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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.