Walk With Dr. Christie: Day 3, April 7, 2013

We continue to wrestle with the sterilizer issue. We were only able to do 3 of 4 cases scheduled today. They went well with the patients doing fantastic. Just a word about our patients. They are amazing. Enthusiastic, grateful and non complaining, it is a privilege to take care of them.
We were joined yesterday afternoon by a couple of new team members, Dr Mike Wind and Dr Steve Embry. Mike is a former SJRI fellow who practices in Virginia. He finished his training with us about 5 years ago. Craig Morrison is leaving tomorrow to see the Master's with his father and Mike will be filling his spot. Many of the OR staff have worked with him when he was a fellow, so he is a great fit. Great surgeon, great guy. Steve Embry is a hospitalist who works with our patients back in Nashville. He has been with our total joint program from the beginning and has led the effort to build and integrate internal medicine into the pre and postoperative care of our joint replacement patients. It will be great to have him here to assist us.
Both have agreed to give lectures as part of our first region wide Joint Replacement Conference. As many of you know, an integral part of our mission is education. Our goal is to create a self-sustaining program here in Veracruz. We have always given talks to the residents and staff here at the hospital. Last spring we decided to broaden this to a larger conference format and invite the regional surgeons and residents from other orthopedic programs. On Wednesday, from 9am to 4pm our team will be giving a conference composed of multiple lectures related to the care of the joint replacement patient. The conference has been promoted widely and a good turnout is expected. I'll report more on Wednesday.
Things continue to run more smoothly than they have on past trips. Everyone doing their jobs, caring for the patients, teaching their Mexican colleagues, inspiring excellence.
I can't imagine working with a greater, more compassionate group of people.
Best job ever.