Michael DeFrance, DO
Director of Joint Reconstruction
Central Maine Healthcare
Lewiston, ME
Member Since: 2016
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
The AAOS has been useful to me from the very beginning of my career. During residency, the review articles were invaluable in helping me learn and truly understand orthopaedic topics in depth. I quickly saw the difference between knowing the “right answer” to fully grasping a topic. I also relied on the technique videos when preparing for cases during residency, and I still occasionally use them while on call. Today, I continue reading the Yellow Journal articles related to adult reconstruction and skimming articles from specialties outside of my own. It’s a fun and low-pressure way to revisit other areas of orthopaedics I enjoyed during training.
As a Candidate Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
What I probably use AAOS most for currently is the patient education materials. I've found that patients really appreciate leaving the office with something tangible that reinforces the conversations we've had and gives them a resource to review at home. I still regularly read the Yellow Journal as well. I was admittedly a little disappointed to see it transition to an online-only format, mostly because I enjoyed having the physical journal show up and found myself more likely to browse articles outside my usual areas of interest. I still read it regularly to stay current, both within my own subspecialty and across orthopaedics more broadly.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
My program director, Joe Daniel, would often ask rotating students or new interns, “What’s the most important step of this surgery?” Answers varied but typically were centered around implant placement. His response was always the same, “The most important step is whatever you are doing right at this moment.” The lesson was simple: give your full attention to the task in front of you. I’ve found that applies just as well outside the OR.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
I’m a huge list guy. If it needs to get done, write it down. I love the satisfaction of checking things off and I actually tape a list of all my cases each day on the OR doors and cross out each one as I leave the room.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Leaving the kitchen spotless every evening.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Fly-fishing, tennis, running, hiking, reading, Grateful Dead.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I have two cats named Tibia and Fibula.