Michael Patzakis, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Ohio State University in Columbus. He completed his internship and residency at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Dr. Patzakis completed his arthritis surgery fellowship at the University of Colorado.
Dr. Patzakis served on the faculty of the University of Southern California for 43 years and served as the chairman of orthopedics for 21 years. He is currently an emeritus professor of USC.
During his career, Dr. Patzakis has received many honors and awards; has been the principal investigator on 65 research studies; authored more than 175 papers, abstracts and book chapters; and lectured both nationally and internationally.
Here he discusses what he hopes to achieve in his new role at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, Calif., how to serve as an effective leader and his vision for the future of orthopedics.
Q: Why did you choose to specialize in orthopedics?
Dr. Michael Patzakis: I wanted to be a surgeon. I was exposed to a week of orthopedics in medical school and, after that, I knew that was what I wanted to do. Orthopedics appealed to me because it is a specialty that can treat the young and the old. You can return patients to their normal life activities quickly, which is very rewarding.
I also participated in athletics in high school. People, who are sports minded, tend to gravitate toward orthopedics. Orthopedic surgeons often played sports or experienced an athletic injury influencing their choice towards orthopedic surgery.
There are many areas within orthopedics that offer subspecialization: adult reconstruction and total joint replacement, sports medicine, trauma, pediatrics, orthopedic oncology, hand surgery, foot and ankle, spine, and orthopedic bone and joint infections. Orthopedics has a wide appeal to aspiring orthopedic surgeons.
Q: What do you hope to achieve in your new position as Medical Director of Orthopedic Education & Research at Hoag Orthopedic Institute?
MP: Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI) is a top orthopedic program. It is located in a great community and the orthopedic surgeons performed over 11,000 orthopedic cases this past year. The hospital is new and opened in 2010. It was ranked 43 out of 1,650 for best hospitals for orthopedics by US News & World Report in 2012, and Becker’s ranked Hoag Orthopedic Institute as one of the top 101 best orthopedic programs in the United States. The problem was that HOI lacked an education and research program. You can be the best in your area, but if you want to be nationally and internationally prominent, you need to have an excellent education and research program.
I emphasize to others that one scientific published paper is worth more than an individual giving thousands of presentations. People all over the world have access to read a published scientific paper. This is why publications are so important. We learn from one another. It is really important not only for education and research, but also for the advancement of excellence in patient care. In addition, we need to pass on knowledge from one generation to the next. My goal is to build a first class education and research program and make Hoag Orthopedic Institute a national and international leader in orthopedics.
Q: How has working with mentors and peers influenced your career as an orthopedic surgeon?
MP: I was the chairman of orthopedics at the University of Southern California for over 21 years. I tried to surround myself with the best people. A good leader recognizes talent. If you can't, then you're not an effective leader. Excellence produces excellence; and my advice is to always surround yourself with the best talent that you can find and never be threatened by another's success. These are all things I learned from others and through my own experience.
Q: What research developments in the field of orthopedics are you currently excited about?
MP: My specialty is orthopedic bone and joint infections. I have been involved in orthopedic infection research for years, but right now, I am involved in helping Hoag enter the world of education and research. We have hired research fellows, and are involved in getting our Hoag orthopedic physicians to publish their scientific work. A number of the HOI orthopedic surgeons have been members of academic medical schools and have been productive. HOI physicians serve as athletic team physicians for local colleges and high schools and do significant pro bono work. They are very community minded. They have done a lot of good things, and I am proud of them.
HOI needs to be a resource to educate orthopedic surgeons. At Hoag, we can review thousands of cases because of the large surgical volume performed. We can determine best practices and outcomes, and see what is advantageous and what is not. This information is important for patients everywhere. We have an obligation to educate the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. I tell surgeons if someone didn't train you, you would not be the specialist you are today. We hope to build a community of orthopedic leaders.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you foresee for the field of orthopedics?
MP: The biggest question: Are we going to have the financial support to carry out the mission of orthopedics? The mission of orthopedics is patient care, education and research. The mission is the same no matter where you practice. Are we going to be able to provide the kind of care we want to? Are we going to have the funding to train the best possible orthopedic surgeons? Will we have the funding to conduct our research? We need to work to ensure funding will always be available to meet our mission.
These aren't new challenges. For years we faced the same concerns. The future is very bright. People are innovative; they will always find a path to accomplish what needs to be done. Orthopedics will rise to the occasion.
More Articles on Orthopedics:
Orthopedics Grounded in a Military Background & Leadership in the Field: Q&A With Dr. Wilford Gibson of Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists
Orthopedics in Action & the Shift in Healthcare Delivery: Q&A With Dr. Samuel Young of Young Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Technology in the World of Orthopedics: Q&A With Dr. Paul Papierski of MidAmerica Orthopedics