William Taylor, MD, discusses the spine surgeons he looks up to as mentors as well as whether he would encourage his own children to enter the field.
Question: Would you recommend that your son or daughter become a spine surgeon?
William Taylor, Director, Spine Surgery, Vice Chairman, Division of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Diego: Yes, my daughter is starting medical school next year. I would not encourage or discourage her to seek any specialty but allow her to find what works best. We have no idea what reimbursement, residency hours and the employment landscape will be.
Q: Who as a spine surgeon do you look to as a mentor?
Dr. Taylor: There are many people that I consider mentors and leaders in the field however to pick two, they would be Kevin Foley, MD, and Luiz Pimenta, MD. Kevin, for his ability to change the way we think about spine surgery and his influence in developing a completely new system of surgical intervention, coupled with his support and interest in training and teaching.
Luiz, for his continued intellectual curiosity and relentless desire to find a new and better way to perform surgery. His vision of what is possible and his desire to make it happen is inspiring.
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