5 Spine Surgeons on Finding Fulfillment in Their Practice

Christopher Kauffman, MD, Spine Surgeon, Premier Orthopaedics, Nashville, Tenn.: The most fulfilling part of being a spine surgeon is helping patients relieve their pain and suffering and returning them to activities that they enjoy. Just recently I participated in the care of a patient who had become paralyzed secondary to an epidural abscess. I was able to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize the spine. This patient had near complete restoration of function. It is being able to help patients in these situations that I find most rewarding and fulfilling.

William Watters III, MD, Spine Surgeon, The Baylor College of Medicine, Houston: The diagnostic and treatment problems in spinal care are interesting and can be challenging and certainly, as a spinal surgeon, I find the surgical interventions I do to still be exciting and very gratifying. But as a spinal surgeon well into my career, the most gratifying aspect of doing what I do is the gratitude that the majority of my patients have expressed to me over the years.

At my current age, it is not unusual for a patient to present with a new problem from that which I operated upon them for 10 or 15 years ago. It is not infrequent for these patients to apologize for not calling earlier to tell me how much I had helped them at that time and what a difference their surgery made in their life. This type of long-term feedback is most fulfilling indeed. 

Daniel Resnick, MD, Neurosurgeon, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison: We can make a real and important difference in people's lives. Alleviating pain and restoring function never, ever gets old!

Eeric Truumees, MD, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Seton Spine and Scoliosis Center, Austin, Texas: I have a great job that's different every day. I can contribute in a host of ways from the office to the OR to the lab. I work with outstanding, motivated and intelligent people. But, the best part of the job comes when a patient and their family put their trust in me to take them to the operating room, address their pathology and guide their road to recovery. Pinched nerves are miserable. "Fixing" the patient's problem and alleviating the pain is an incredible rush. In the future, I hope we can ask our patients to help preserve access and improve care for those coming after them. This request could come in the form of donations for research or a letter to their legislator. I think we need a mechanism to make this easy for all parties involved.

My work with NASS and other groups is also fulfilling. In particular, I am co-chairman of the program committee for the 2013 NASS Annual Meeting in New Orleans. I am very proud of the outstanding program NASS President Charles Mick, MD, my committee, my co-chairs and I have put together. Any reader of Becker’s Spine Review will find a wealth of interesting material including the always popular and up-to-the-minute "hot topics" sessions. I'd like to invite you to attend what promises to be a great meeting.

Jeffrey Wang, MD, Spine Surgeon, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine: Treating my patients and teaching our young surgeons is enormously fulfilling and a huge part of why I remain in full-time academic practice. Another area of huge satisfaction is the professional medical societies that I work with. I am a member of many international spine societies. One of the most fulfilling positions is my work with the North American Spine Society. I am currently the Educational Council Director, and oversee the educational efforts for the NASS organization. Helping to organize and create these educational programs has enabled me to work with other surgeons, physicians in other specialties, and make an impact on the spine world.

Another organization is a Swiss-based foundation called AOSpine. As Chairman of AOSpine International, I have the ability to lead an organization that is dedicated to the spine education and research on a world-wide basis. We plan educational courses, educational events and have leading research programs on a global basis. These are just some of the activities that I find very fulfilling and help me feel that in some way we are trying to help the entire field of spine surgery.
5 Spine Surgeons on Finding Fulfillment in Their Practice