Role models and leaders have had a strong influence on orthopedic surgeons practicing today.
Four physicians told Becker's about the leaders who have influenced them.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting orthopedic care. We invite all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses.
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Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Which orthopedic leader do you look up to the most and why?
Scott Sigman, MD. OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers (Rochester, N.Y.): I look up to William Levine, MD, professor and chair at New York City-based Columbia Orthopedics.
Ever since our days as co-chief residents together in 1995 at the Tufts Orthopedic program in Boston, we all knew Dr. Levine was destined for orthopedic greatness.
Bill’s passion for orthopedic education is unparalleled. He is arguably the greatest orthopedic mentor of his generation. Diversity has always been a priority for Dr. Levine in the choice of his fellows and residents. Dr. Levine’s lineage of Columbia Orthopedic fellows and residents is spread across all the top orthopedic programs in our country and around the world.
He is one of the most influential orthopedic educators of our time. I am privileged to call him my friend and colleague.
Bruce Gomberg, MD. Northern Light Health (Falmouth, Maine): I look up to Ira Kirchenbaum, MD, because he always asks the questions nobody else thinks to ask.
Gregory Graziano, MD. Henry Ford Health (Detroit): I look up to Edward Simmons, MD, my mentor and role model. He was a creative thinker, brilliant in his thought process.
Morgan Lorio, MD. Advanced Orthopedics (Altamonte Springs, Fla.): I frankly look up to Hansen Yuan, MD, the most as an orthopedic leader. Although now retired from clinical practice, Dr. Yuan remains very active within the spine orthopedic space while humbly remaining in the background. One must remember that when pedicle screws were under attack, no one stood up for the technology and the surgeon's and patient's needs except for Dr. Yuan. Dr. Yuan had the vision to help found the Spine Arthroplasty Society, now the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and its journal, the International Journal of Spine Surgery as the initial editor-in-chief.