Firas Ibrahim Kawtharani, MD
Orthopedic Sports, Trauma and Joints Surgeon
Orthpedic & Sports Medicine Care Center
Southwest Medical Center
Liberal, Kansas
Member Since: 2018
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
I am Excited to share my journey as an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care Center in Liberal, KS. Being a part of AAOS has been instrumental in shaping my character. From being an International resident member to an affiliate physician, AAOS has provided me with invaluable academic resources, enriching yearly meetings, and a network of physicians who made my profesional journey much easier to navigate. I am indeed grateful for an academy that fosters continuous growth both on the professional and the personal level.
As an Affiliate Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
Staying updated with the latest orthopedic literature is crucial. The AAOS renders that service via the yellow journal providing current standard of care updates in addition to the video theater which offers innovative techniques through visual learning. Lastly, the yearly meeting is a great forum that brings orthopedic surgeons together for a week of education, networking and new industry revelations.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
The best advice I've received from mentors along the way is to stay humble and listen to patients who often guide the way to accurate diagnosis and treatment. We are all fallable and nobody is perfect. Humility towards patients, colleagues and the profession is key in handling missteps with grace and honesty. These principles will shape one both as a clinician and a person as well.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Stepping out of the comfort zone is my productivity mantra. As a physician, you are equipped enough to know what you can treat and what is out of your league. If you think you can offer the appropriate treatment for your patient, then “go for it”. The AAOS and other well-known educational organizations are great resources for you. Embracing change, learning new techniques, and being open to evolution in orthopedic surgery is essential for efficiency and growth.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit? Balancing work and personal life is a priority for me. Engaging in extracurricular activities like spending time with family, reading, traveling, and enaging in sports enhances my professional performance and mental well-being.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Outside work, I find joy in watching my kids play sports, having conversations with my wife, cycling, and indulging in quality podcasts and audiobooks. Engaging in practice-related discussions on social media platforms like LinkedIn keeps me connected and intrigued
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I am a coffee enthusiast and coffee mug collector. Every time I visit a different location; I purchase a coffee mug from there as a sign of gratitude. My wife suggests I get rid of old coffee mugs but I’m still resisting.