Dishman 1

Colton Dishman
Mrs. Duron
Senior AP English
18 August 2014
Interview:
Dr. Kent Vincent, my mentor since July 14th, 2014, is an orthopedic doctor for
Childrens Orthopedics Specialist in Tucson, Arizona. He has risen expertly in his field,
practicing at Childrens Orthopedics in Tucson since 2001 and has completed numerous
cases with neuromuscular shoulder, plexus, spinal deformity, and limb-length injuries.
1. Question: What are the advantages and risks of becoming an Orthopedic
Surgeon?
a. Answer: Advantages are to manage diverse conditions, meet people from
all walks of life, and a stable job. Risks are the stress of unpredictable
hours and decision-making.
2. Question: What is the average salary of an Orthopedic Surgeon?
a. Answer: Range is around $80,000 per year to $350,000 per year.
3. Question: What are residencies looking for in an Orthopedic Surgery applicant?
a. Answer: Varies with each program, but look for degrees and education
along with factors of diversity, intellect, flexibility, and interest in
research.
4. Question: On average, how many of these surgeries are done annually at this
hospital?

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a. Answer: Myself, I do a range of surgeries, with the low end being 250
cases a year to a high end being at 600 cases a year.
5. Question: What is the job market like for Orthopedic Surgeons?
a. Answer: Because our number of trainees is limited, but overall the need is
generally good. Bigger cities are more competitive, with smaller cities less
so.
6. Question: What can you tell us about Orthopedic Surgery Sub-Specialties?
a. Answer: Usually people train for 1 to 2 years in fellowships for these.
Examples like total joints, sports/arthroscopy, pediatrics, foot, and spine,
7. Question: What are the potential downsides of Orthopedic Surgery?
a. Answer: Long hours, burnout, and injuries from the stress of the
mechanical aspects. Any hand, wrist, and elbow disability or injury can be
really problematic.
8. Question: What is the educational training of an Orthopedic Surgeon?
a. Answer: Undergrad College: 4 years
Medical School: 4 years
Residency: 5 years
9. Question: How do you determine whether patients are a surgical candidate or cast
candidate?
a. Answer: Every situation is different for the seriousness of breaks and
fractures.
10. Question: How do you determine what screening tools (X-ray, MRI, CT Scan) are
necessary?

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a. Answer: Depends on the specific situation:
-Fractures: We can tell what is needed through X-rays.
-Deformities, serious fractures, and many tumors need 3-D
imaging. (CT or MRI)
-In general, CT Scans is best for the bone, while MRI is best for
soft tissue.
11. Question: What are the measurements to find normal body composition?
a. Answer: BMI (Basal Metabolic Index). Some sports labs calculate % body
fat with special (pool) scales.
12. Question: Does being overweight increase the risk of orthopedic complaints?
a. Answer: Yes, especially with aging. There are some conditions in
pediatrics, which show up more commonly in obese points. (Slipped
capital femoral epiphysis)
13. Question: Can complaints be caused through obesity as individuals take shorter
steps or walk slower?
a. Answer: The mechanism for problems is usually gravity-based, affecting
the lower extremities disproportionately.
14. Question: Can Orthopedic Surgeons efficiently identify obesity and initiate
referrals and education?
a. Answer: Yes, usually we use basal metabolic index (BMI) to identify.
15. Question: Does excessive adipose tissue affect bone health and structure?

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a. Answer: In many instances it actually helps the bone health. More stress
equals more density of bone. Downsides to density buildup are the joint
cartilage wears out faster and falls make a greater risk for fracture.
16. Question: Are Orthopedists missing opportunities for diagnosing and treating
obesity-related complaints?
a. Answer: Each surgeon diagnoses through tests and measurements in
determination to certain situations and complaints through each patient.
17. Question: How far should an Orthopedic Surgeon go in treating obesity in a
patient?
a. Answer: Education: Suggestions to improve their specific diet.
-Referrals: to treatment centers and dieticians.
-Some Orthopedic programs design their own diets for patients.
18. Question: Are surgical options altered to fit an overweight individual over an
underweight individual?
a. Answer: Sometimes, to prepare for the varied body structure and each
individual injury or conditions.
19. Question: Can obesity influence the amount of biochemical stress on individual
joints?
a. Answer: Yes, it almost always does through the excessive pressure of the
weight bearing on them.
20. Question: Are obese individuals less tolerant to minor abnormalities like
degeneration or deformity in structures?

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a. Answer: This is quite variable through the pressure of excessive weight on
the joints and structures.