Jose J. Monsivais, MD
Professor, Hand Surgery
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Las Cruces, NM
Director & Owner
Hand and Microsurgery Center of El Paso
El Paso, Texas
Member Since: 2024
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
The AAOS provided an excellent forum that allowed me to mentor medical students, residents, and fellows in presenting research.
As an Allied member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
I found the journal articles and podcasts helpful in supporting my teaching efforts.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
In two cases, it was advice and encouragement that I was a good match for reconstructive microsurgery. One of my mentors, Leonard J. Goldner from Duke University, encouraged me to pursue my goal to become a reconstructive microsurgeon. This was reinforced by another mentor, Dr. James Urbaniak, also at Duke, who told me I was the only trainee who was able to remain calm and kept my sense of humor after a long night of multiple digit replants.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
My productivity trick has always been to maintain a high level of fitness. In microsurgery, there is a high burnout rate and many surgeons abandon microsurgery.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Learning that there is more to life than just work and enjoying family life that I wasn’t able to enjoy because of the demands of my career. I am grateful to God that I have the opportunity to do so at this point in my life.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy working out at the gym and biking. While my children were growing up, we all participated in running marathons and in endurance riding on horses.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I’m learning how to cook now that I have the time, and my wife is very happy about that.