Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, MD, FAAOS
Consultant and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Chairman of the Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
AAOS has provided great learning, teaching, and networking opportunities. The Annual Meeting and other courses by AAOS have allowed me to learn from field experts and share my knowledge with others. Additionally, the Annual Meeting and the organization provide a great framework for professional networking.
As an Active Fellow Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
Attendance at the Annual Meeting, participation in other AAOS courses, and review of material displayed on the AAOS website for multiple purposes (networking, patient education, access to online professional educational resources.)
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
From a professional perspective, one of my mentors Dr. Bernard Morrey, once told me "work hard while being respectful and humble." From a personal perspective, my mom always reminded me "Family should be first, work second."
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
I love the ideas summarized in two books: “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, and “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. I dedicate a couple of hours of my day to distraction-free high-quality creative work, and at the same time as I go through my tasks, I get them done if they will take less than 2 minutes otherwise I file them in a very logical way so that I can get to them strategically.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Better balance my day.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Cooking, reading non-ortho books, traveling, and dancing.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I love to play the piano at home, and I do reasonably well despite the fact that I cannot read music!