Med School/Year Graduated: Columbia University, 2000
Years in Practice: 18
Is it often a race against time to get patients on the table after they’ve severed nerves in their hands or arms? How soon post-trauma must you treat them to salvage nerve function?
Outcomes are often better when surgery is done sooner, but it also depends on the severity of the injury. I operate twice a week and always leave room on my schedule for emergent cases.
What is the most severe case of traumatic amputation that you’ve successfully corrected in your career?
I once had to reconstruct the thumb, index and ring finger of a patient with a table saw injury. Luckily, the patient was able to get his grip and pinch strength back. A motivated patient is very important in this scenario.
Why must an orthopedic surgeon or plastic surgeon receive additional training to operate on hands? Is there something about the anatomy that’s particularly challenging?
It’s the diversity of the tissues and techniques that are unique to hand anatomy. It’s not uncommon for a hand surgeon to deal with tendons, nerves, bones and soft tissue masses in a single day of operating.
Is carpal tunnel on the rise thanks to our tech dependency? What are ways people can forestall the onset?
Tech dependency causes more problems with tendons and joints than [it does for] carpal tunnel. For all these issues, paying attention to ergonomics, taking frequent breaks and avoiding repetitive motions is the best way to prevent problems.
You went to school in New York! What do you miss most about the city that never sleeps?
The variety of culture that is at your fingertips, whether it is food, theater, music or art. However, Phoenix has made impressive gains in all these areas since I moved here 19 years ago.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Hiking, reading historical non-fiction and going to plays, musicals or concerts at smaller venues with my wife – and keeping fit through cardio and strength-training workouts.
What shows are you streaming these days?
I am notoriously bad with streaming shows – I just recently finished Better Call Saul! My wife, who is also a physician, and I are watching The Pitt together. We enjoy its drama and laugh at the inaccuracies.
“If I wasn’t a doctor, I’d be…”
Maybe doing something involving nature or animals, like a park ranger or wildlife conservation. However, I’ve never really wanted to be anything other than a physician.
