Quite often physicians feel overworked and underappreciated, but it's nice to step back once in a while and think about the things that make it all worth it. , pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the , explains that every young physician should always remember what they find most rewarding about the work they do.
Following is a transcript of his remarks:
I’m Dr. Keith Bachmann, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the University of Virginia Health System, and I’m here to talk about the most rewarding aspect of my job. As a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, I interface with children as well as with parents. Some of those children simply have a fracture or something very bump in the road. Some of those children have lifelong medical problems. However, the joy of interfacing with the patient as well as their family stays the same. So the most joyful part for me is when I see my work that I have done, the advice that I've provided, the things that I have cautioned or helped those families and that patient to guide them through the process of either healing for their injury, from their injury, or certainly trying to make some changes to improve their life if they do have a chronic medical condition. And seeing those things come to fruition and getting to experience the child's joy and the family's joy and relief for those things is fantastic.
Fractures, certainly the family often can't possibly see how the child will be the same again, but if we can bring them through to the other side, that's fantastic and then sometimes being able to provide changes after scoliosis surgery for a patient with cerebral palsy, the improved seating balanced, the improved ability to interface. One of my favorite things is hearing about the activities that they're able to do afterwards that they haven't been able to do for awhile, such as horseback therapy or other things, and I really enjoy sharing in that moment with the patient and with the family. That's the most joyful thing for me.
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