Orthopedic surgeon Michael Redler, MD, highlights the factors driving change in the orthopedic field and his passion for giving back.
Question: What spurred you to pursue a career in medicine & what continues to excite you?
Dr. Michael Redler: When I was young, I was fascinated by the ability to help people and see how the body works. I was on a local TV show when I was four years old, and I said I wanted to be a doctor. That passion stayed with me very early on and never changed.
Something that I am very passionate about is that I just got back from my second mission trip to Honduras. These brigades are supported by Surgical Care Affiliates Medical Missions. The need in Honduras is unbelievably great, and during our trip, we were able to provide help at the surgery center and interact with children at the orphanage. I had the opportunity to operate with my daughter, an orthopedic surgeon at Columbia-Presbyterian in New York. It was the greatest experience being able to give back.
Q: What trends are taking hold in the sports medicine field?
MR: I am the head team physician for Scared Heart University, a division-one school, and am seeing a handful of changes in the industry.
We take a team approach for providing comprehensive care to the athlete. This not only involves the orthopedic surgeon but physical medicine and rehab primary care nutritionists psychologist and other subspecialties.
We are also seeing diagnostic advancements and advancements in minimally invasive techniques that have allowed us to return more athletes to the playing field in a quicker fashion. It gets to the point where athletes will look for physicians able to do more advanced techniques.
Modern sports medicine care involves a team approach with greater communication between coaches, certified athletic trainers and physicians. With better communication so that everyone is on the same page the care of the athlete is optimized.
Q: What will orthopedic surgery look like in the next few years? What are the opportunities for orthopedic surgeons?
MR: We are doing more and more with MIS and more cases with a regional anesthetic. More complex cases can be done as outpatient procedures, such as total joints and spine.
The ability to have outstanding care in ambulatory surgery centers, advances in MIS and anesthesia techniques have changed the whole thinking on where cases can be done and what can be done in an ASC. That has helped push that envelope of orthopedics.
Dr. Michael Redler and Lauren H. Redler, MD, operating together at the Holy Family Surgical Center in Honduras.
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