Ask a young orthopedic surgeon what they want to do, and you'll often get a very specific answer. Sports medicine. Spine. Hand. Arthroplasty. Hip preservation. Most have a clear vision of the career they want to build.
The reality, however, is that very few practices look exactly the way they imagined on day one.
In a recent episode of Healthcare Unscripted, Dr. Dustin Richter and Dr. Hunter Greene discussed the path from residency to practice and one message came through repeatedly: building a successful career takes time.
For many surgeons, the first few years in practice are about saying yes. Yes to the hip fracture that comes through the ER. Yes to the general orthopedic cases that fill the schedule. Yes to opportunities that may not perfectly align with a long-term subspecialty focus.
That's not a detour from the plan. It's part of the process.
The conversation also touched on another important point for early-career surgeons: choosing a specialty based on the work itself, not simply the people around you. Great mentors can inspire a career path, but the day-to-day reality comes down to the patients you treat and the problems you want to solve.
Dr. Richter also emphasized something that every surgeon eventually learns: you don't have to navigate practice alone.
Whether it's discussing a difficult case, managing a complication, or asking for a second opinion, leaning on colleagues and mentors isn't a sign of weakness. It's part of becoming a better physician. Orthopedic surgery has always been a profession built on shared experience, and some of the best lessons come from the surgeons willing to talk openly about both their successes and their challenges.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the episode is that medicine never stands still. Techniques evolve. Technology advances. New procedures become standard of care. The surgeons who continue to learn, adapt, and stay curious are the ones who build long, successful careers.
“You don't have to be the first to adopt something new, but you shouldn't be the last either if it's worthwhile.” — Dr. Dustin Richter
At Fair Winds Medical, we enjoy conversations like these because they highlight the people behind orthopedic care. Technology and innovation matter, but so do mentorship, collaboration, and the willingness to keep learning throughout a career.
Want to hear the full conversation? Watch or listen to the latest episode of Healthcare Unscripted with Dr. Dustin Richter and Dr. Hunter Greene for more insights on fellowship training, building a practice, and the evolving future of orthopedics.