Comments on the three R’s — retirement, relationships, responsiveness
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After more than 25 years covering the specialty of orthopedic surgery for Orthopedics Today, Healio, Orthopaedics Today Europe and Spine Surgery Today, I am finally moving on to a different specialty – retirement.
My goal for this new gig is to build deeper relationships and respond quickly, effectively and compassionately to needs I identify all around me.
Strong relationships last
That relationships are important is not a new concept to me during my now-ending career and it should not be to orthopedic surgeons today. The patient-physician relationship, the very core of our health care system, is more important than ever. I believe it is the key to what will get the specialty through the big issues to come, like mergers and acquisitions, surprise billing, work-hour reductions and disastrous situations — or at least unexpected ones on a par with the Sulzer hip recall, metal-on-metal hip resurfacing issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The importance of the physician-to-physician relationship is well known, how friendships and bonds with orthopedists who walk the same walk of life can sustain one through the hard professional and personal times, and bring a bonus of joy and satisfaction during the good times and the successes.
Relationships have been a key part of my job. Some people I met when I started this job are still a part of my life or have come back into it, through LinkedIn, for example. And yet, I have forged new professional relationships — even while working from home for 3 years since the start of the pandemic — with people at the companies I deal with, as well as colleagues throughout The Wyanoke Group. These connections will be cherished and valued in my new role.
In addition, I built relationships with orthopedic surgeons in the last 25 years that were a surprise benefit of my career. Earlier in my career in editing and writing positions in fields like aerospace or engineering, the focus seemed to be on the systems and technology. However, during this last part of my career, I worked with surgeons who went out of their way to do an interview or review an article, not because it made them look good, but because they wanted to help me meet a deadline. Other surgeons and people in industry befriended me and, in doing so, found a way to touch my heart.
Chance encounters and more
Someone asked me at this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting what my favorite memory was from the 23 AAOS Annual Meetings I have covered. Because of what has transpired since that memory was made, this is my answer:
When waiting for a table at a restaurant one evening during the 2008 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, I spotted Werner Müeller, MD, of Basel, Switzerland, and his wife Ursula, who were also waiting for a table. I decided to introduce myself because I knew of Müeller’s landmark work in knee biomechanics and surgery. The next thing I knew, I was having dinner with the Müellers. Since that chance encounter, the Müellers and I have been long-distance friends. This relationship spawned outside of a paper session or encounter in the exhibit hall. I know our 15-year friendship will continue beyond the time I sit at this desk and wear the hat of executive editor.
If a relationship has made a difference, foster that connection. It will make you a more caring physician and a better person.
The third R to comment on is responsiveness or responsibility, giving beyond what you are asked to give in ways that positively impact others, the environment and our world. I encourage orthopedic surgeons to keep the principles of sustainability in the OR and office in mind and urge industry to start or continue manufacturing devices using sustainable technology or producing products that create less medical waste.
Furthermore, consider ways to heal others besides the patients who see you for treatment. Whether it is volunteering with an organization, like Health Volunteers Overseas, or within your community, be responsive by using your gifts of caring and compassion to help others. Rest assured, I will be doing the same in retirement wherever my skills and gifts are needed.
- For more information:
- Susan M. Rapp, Executive Editor Healio | Orthopedics Today, can be reached at srapp@healio.com.
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