We have had ten groups of visiting surgeons come to Valley Medical Center to observe hip and knee replacement surgery. We have welcomed several local Seattle orthopedic surgeons, others from around the greater Washington area, two groups from Italy, one from New Zealand, and two from China. These surgeons come to learn a variety of different techniques, particularly anterior-approach hip replacement and surgical techniques for primary and revision total knee replacements. It is always fun and interesting to get exposure to different surgeons and cultures, as well as their respective approach to working with patients and addressing various orthopedic conditions.
What becomes apparent, though we live in different parts of the world, is that we all do things in a very similar fashion. This exchange of ideas between local, as well as far-reaching centers, allows the exchange of ideas about orthopedics and joint replacement and cultural attitudes towards medicine and patient care. It is something that I enjoy and feel honored to be able to both give and receive new knowledge from these interactions. We will continue to have this program moving forward, bringing in surgeons from various countries to foster a shared dialogue about orthopedics and patient care.
Visiting surgeons enjoy learning new techniques but also value visiting the joint center to see how patients are doing the day after surgery when mainly our knee patients, and many of our hip patients, go home.