2013 AAOS International Emerging Leadershio Scholarship

I have spent two weeks at the 2013 AAOS International Emerging Leadership (IEL) Scholarhip at the Mass general hospital as my base. This was an incredible experience for me that I would like to share with you.

First I would like to thank Ms Ana  Gurevich who made all the arrangements for my arrival and departure, making my trip extremely easy and confortable. This was perfectly organized, all in advance.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Ms Stefanie Madanian, assistant to Dr Rubash, who took care of my stay in Boston and helped me with the professional arrangements and life details. This made my stay stress-free and pleasant. Many thanks to Ms Madanian.

Dr Harry Rubash, the Chief or Orthopeadics at Mass General and Chair of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical, was my host during this trip. What an amassing person to work with and learn from! I expected much from my stay, but words cannot really do justice to how I felt during this experience.

The first thing that strikes me about Dr Rubash is his caring personality and kindness towards 

 

his colleagues and staff. He has an amazing organizer and educator and I admire his ability to seamlessly transfer his knowledge to his residents and fellows, showing them all tips and trick ‘of the trade’. He has incredible patience and empathy for his colleagues, and yet is tireless in guidance and moving things forward.

I am really grateful for the chance to meet and learn from Dr Rubash. It is not every day one gets an opportunity to learn from someone who’s led one of the greatest hospitals in the world for over 15 years. I was shadowing Dr Rubash during his every day routine. Except, there is nothing ‘routine’ about his day. Every day was a brand new experience. From administrative meetings with his coworkers, from which I have learned much that can be applied to my work at my Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

During my stay in Boston, in fact at the very beginning, we attended the Harvard Medical School 43^rd Annual Arthroplasty Course. This was fantastic. I cannot imagine such a course be organized any better. The focus in this course was not only on education but also on the scientific content. The sessions and presenters were very mind-stimulating. The course was attended by experts from all over the world, enabling direct contact and best practice exchange among peers.

Thank you Dr Rubash! For devoting your time and attention to me! I know how valuable your time is. I will not forget this experience.

Also, thanks to AAOS for making this possible and organizing this International Emerging Leadership (IEL) Scholarship.

To all future candidates – I highly recommend this program – it will have a profound influence on your professional and personal development.

"Teaching involves much more than just telling"

The second day of the course was quite intense.

Faculty do anything to keep things up and not letting attendees become tired or bored; and speaking about faculty: they all have great expertise! (some of them have been working with ortho residents for over 30 years!).

Interactivity is intense and it is also one of the highlights of the course.

I have met people from all over the USA and also from other countries (Uganda, Israel, South Korea).. and you know what? We all have the same doubts concerning teaching and assessing residents!

I should have taken this course years ago..

Course for Orthopaedic Educators

Hi folks!
Today is November 3rd and I'm starting the second part of the IEL Scholarship.
It is 7 pm of a freezing Sunday in Bloomingdale, Illinois (suburbs of Chicago) and we are all gathered in the main room for the course launch (I'm kind of shocked .. there are so many attendees!).
As an Ortho residency coordinator I do hope to improve my way of teaching and assessing my residents. I know I could do a lot for them, however sometimes I feel I need some advices in order to track the right path...
Let's see what happens

Is this the end? (certainly not!)

Friday has arrived way too early!
I have this feeling of unfinished things. There are so much more I would like to see, to understand, to join..
I can't put in words how much I've learned in the last two weeks. Dr. Coughlin and I were talking this morning and I told him how this experience has changed my mind in some crucial points.
I have met so many wonderful people. I'm now aware that there are peers from all over the world struggling (and sometimes literally fighting) to heal people! I have made so many friends.
It was given to me the opportunity of learning from the best! I'm now able to improve things in my institution and try to make things better for residents and patients.
And the most important.. I was taught some new strategies of spreading and multiplying knowledge (oh, I have so much to do in Brazil!)
Yes, this is the last day of my Observership, however it is also the first day of a new life of hard and improving work.
Cheers!

Jet lag..

My Thursday began (at 6:30 am) with the Trauma Conference at the OTI. The residents and fellows are supposed to attend it and I was kindly invited to gather them (the 6 hours jet lag is driving me crazy!).
The conferences sponsored by OTI are such great opportunities of learning.. Questions are welcome and Dr. Coughlin is always open to discuss different options of treatment (I'm really convinced that the best way of teaching/learning is through mentorship).
After the conference the residents and I are going to the OR for a whole day of arthroscopies (wow!!).
See ya!

UCSF Grand Rounds

This morning we were at the UCSF Parnassus Campus for the Grand Rounds (dear Lord 6:30 am!!)
Chiefs, assistants, residents, fellows, interns and under graduation students gathered to discuss the most common and interesting Orthopaedic and Trauma cases.
It was a great opportunity to learn how the Ortho residency works around here (I had so many ideas that will certainly help us in Brazil). The conference theme was "Arthroplasty and Obesity: is there a real thread?"
Now we are heading the Pediatric Trauma conference.. (kids? really?? this early in the morning??? OK.. let's go for it! ha ha..)
See ya!

Back to SanFran

The SIGN course is over and I'm back to San Francisco.
My Observership has started and I couldn't be happier. Amber Caldwell and Kush Pathel have been awesome!
I spend most of my time at the San Francisco General Hospital (just love it!) in the OR. So many interesting cases and procedures, always being mentored by Dr. Coughlin (what a privilege).
Today I'll spend my day at the UCSF Parnassus Campus with Dr. Tad Vail (arthroplasty).
I want to thank the AAOS, the true responsible for all the wonderful experiences I've been living.