One of the key lessons I learned in my career is the importance of respecting time. Not only my own, but also that of my patients and co-workers. This means making realistic time estimates for operative cases as well as scheduling more time with each patient in clinic. I initially was under the impression that faster operating estimates and seeing more patients in a clinic day would translate into greater productivity. However, over time I learned that constantly running on time or ahead of schedule in the operating theater meant hospital staff could trust my estimates more. This translated into greater ease of adding on cases or gaining a second room. Similarly, devoting more time to each patient in clinic led to much higher patient satisfaction scores and over time, substantially greater referrals from both patients and other providers.

I initially joined NASS in order to have a forum to discuss and advocate for spine care with my colleagues across multiple disciplines. While other societies can provide an opportunity to engage with my fellow surgeons, NASS’s strength is its multidisciplinary approach. This allows me to gain perspective from my pain management, industry, and allied health colleagues.

NASS’s broader scope allows it to be well positioned to tackle some challenges facing spine care, such as payer policy and performance measurement. I’m proud to be part of NASS committees advocating for both providers and patients.

Advocate for yourself and establish strict boundaries between work and personal time. It is all too easy to get lost in the never-ending flow of patient care. Having dedicated time off allows for a chance to re-center and recover. Healthcare is a marathon and it is important to pace yourself well.