How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
AAOS is the place where we connect to stay up to date and synchronize. My favorite part is attending the meetings. Isn't it great that we can participate in the sessions of our most interest and communicate directly with the experts in the field? Or that we can meet with each other and industry representatives all in one place to discuss important issues. Just imagine what it would be if we did not have that platform. Having this opportunity is especially important now that AI has displaced direct communication.
As an Affiliate Orthopaedic Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
The AAOS resources I use are: meetings, Journal of the AAOS, free access to orthopaedic journals, and AAOS Headline News Now.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
“Use the force,” by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now, when we are surrounded by an enormous amount of information and readily available guidance technology, it is important not to lose the ability to hear our own intuition or “inner navigation.” In reality, we usually underestimate our own powers and silence the “inner voice.” This ability to “hear and see it” is naturally present among musicians and artists.
One day during the rounds, Chairman of USC General Surgery department asked a famous composer patient, “How do you create all this music?”
That musician said, “I do not create. I just need to write what I hear.”
I would also say “the Force” has something to do with common sense which also needs to be heard nowadays.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
I try to understand things and to find the main idea behind it and the connections. To analyze, you need to un-zoom from the details and zoom again. Once you see the whole picture and the reasonings, you can understand the issue and manage it more effectively and productively.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
To be honest, none. I do not think helpful actions should be placed in the habits category. Habits done automatically and sense of the purpose eventually fades. I think it is better to always act consciously.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Probably too many. Starting from most recent: remodeling design and construction (lately masonry), repairing and refurbishing different stuff, designing visual art, writing stories on my website which I designed and maintain, playing drums and keyboard, photography, video editing, and learning something new completely unrelated to my profession.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I admire Sulley from Monsters Inc. I have his action figure on my home computer desk.