Richard Lackman, MD, FAAOS
Co-Director
Orthopaedic Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Camden, NJ
Member Since: 1987
As an Emeritus Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
In terms of AAOS resources, I view the Academy website frequently. I peruse JAAOS and try to keep up with advances in all of the subspecialties. Although I spent much of my career caring for oncology patients, I have always considered myself an orthopaedic surgeon first and oncology subspecialist second. I also enjoy reading current topics in the AAOS Now. I am also still somewhat involved in resident teaching and have purchased RES Study for all of our orthopaedic residents at Cooper.
If you were mentoring a new member, what important advice would you give them as they progress in their career?
I think that the most valuable advice for our younger surgeons is to do your best every day while treating your patients as you would treat your own family. The next most important habit is, as much as possible, to put the needs of others above your own needs. It is also essential to be grateful for all of your blessings. This involves reminding yourself every day how fortunate you are to be living in a free society and to have the opportunity to pursue such a rewarding career. Finally, happiness is a skill you can master but not a product that you can buy. So, practice being happy.
What aspect of retirement surprised you the most?
Regarding retirement, I withdrew from my practice gradually. I am currently 75. By age 67, I was finding the big oncology cases just too taxing, and so I stopped seeing new patients and doing surgery. This gave my younger partners more opportunities to grow their practices, but I did continue to see my established patients for a few more years. I stopped seeing patients altogether about six years ago, but I have remained active academically. I chair our Appointments and Promotions Committee and participate with our weekly departmental research committee.
I also continue to attend our Sarcoma Tumor Board every week where I can still contribute to our case discussions based on my 40 years of clinical experience. Also, my partners and I are just completing a new orthopaedic oncology textbook which is part of the Orthpedia Series. I think that this gradual withdrawal has been a wonderful way to approach retirement. Now that I am 90% retired, I have no problem keeping busy and thank God every day for all that I have been given.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I do think that part of enjoying retirement is having the opportunity to pursue hobbies at a level not possible as a working physician. I very much enjoy boating and saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore. The camaraderie shared by being out on the water with a group of good friends is hard to beat. Occasionally, we even catch fish. In accordance with my love of fishing, I have also taught myself the ins and outs of fishing reel repair and this has been a lot of fun as well as an enjoyable pastime when the weather dictates that fishing is not on the day’s agenda. I have also gotten involved with competitive pistol shooting and I have found this to be a very exciting new sporting activity for me.
Also, I have always loved classical poetry and since I was a child in grade school, I would memorize poems and recite them to myself. Several years ago, I started writing my own poems, all in classical style with set rhyme and rhythm. I am now in the process of publishing my first poetry book. It is titled “The Measure of a Life” and it contains about 60 of what I consider my best poems. What is somewhat unusual about this collection is that half of the poems deal with medicine including insight into what my patients have experienced as well as the emotional impact that caring for cancer patients has had on me. The other half of the book concerns many different non-medial topics. I hope to have this text in print by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, I have previously published several of my poems in a variety of medical venues including the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. I also have several poems scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of AAOS Now. My wife and I have also taken the opportunity to winter in Florida and this will be our 6th winter renting on Marco Island which has been fantastic.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
One funny thing about me is that, perhaps due to my poetic proclivities, I know the words to virtually every 60’s pop music hit. Unfortunately, I cannot sing a single note in tune, but that does not stop from singing with the music (when I am by myself).