Charlotte E Alexander, MD, FAAOS
Hand Surgeon
Alexander Orthopaedics, P.A.
Ketchum, Idaho
As an Emeritus Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
I still attend the Annual Meetings and read from Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research online.
If you were mentoring a new member, what important advice would you give them as they progress in their career?
Remember that your education continues throughout your career. Keep up with your ortho reading and new technology. Spending the early part of my career in an academic setting, teaching residents, I realized how much I could learn from the residents as well. I think that it is very important for new orthopaedic surgeons and residents to understand the importance of reading about the long-term results of the procedures that they are learning to do. As in most surgical residency programs, there is very little time to see the clinic and see patients after 3 months post-op.
What aspect of retirement surprised you the most?
I was surprised that after the first few weeks, I missed orthopaedics and caring for patients. Also realized how much structure still being in active practice added to my day. I still don’t think that I have learned to relax and realize that I do not have to complete 20 projects by the end of each day and not be a failure.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Nordic and alpine skiing in winter. Running, biking, hiking, climbing mountains, tennis, and gardening in summer. Sewing (not surgical) and singing (minored in Music in college, trained as a lyric soprano with a voice as my principal instrument, piano second)
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I ran my first marathon, Marine Core Marathon, and won my age group by 9 minutes qualifying for Boston and Wave 1 of the Pikes Peak Ascent (Half Marathon with 7800 feet of elevation gain). I placed fifth in the 55-60 age group in the Ascent at age 59. I did not go to Boston as I don’t really enjoy road running and it did not fit into my work schedule.