Hello All!
My name is Matthew Dumbroff and I am a freshman at the university of Miami.
While many students are unsure about which occupation they are interested in, it became unambiguously clear to me what I want to do with my life after my junior year of high school. When I visited an orthopedist after having recurring pain in my knee, I was told that for the last three months my ACL had been in three pieces and my MCL had been completely torn. Two months later I found myself in the preoperative room at Cedar Knolls Surgical Center getting a nerve block administered to me by the center’s anaesthesiologist. The sedative administered to me prior to the nerve block procedure combined nicely with my nervously talkative state, producing a truth serum effect. I told Dr. Shrem that I was lost. I had good grades and found my strong suit in the sciences; however, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I awoke in the postoperative area with a hazy recollection of my conversation with Dr. Shrem, yet clenched in my hand was his personal card boasting a note written in the stereotypically illegible doctor’s handwriting which I deciphered to read, “Call me when you’re walking.” I could not wait.
Two weeks following surgery, I stood like a newborn bird on unsteady feet at the desk of the Surgical Center once again, insisting to the woman on the other side of the counter that Dr. Shrem had told me I could shadow him despite the fact I was 17. After 8 hours in the operating room and observing 3 different surgeries, it became unambiguously clear what I wanted to do with my life. I aspire to use everything I have learned and will learn in the pursuit of improving the quality and longevity of others’ lives. Although I faced adversity in tearing my ACL, I realized that overcoming this injury led me to discern the value in adversity as this particular instance led me to my future career choice.
To some people, a doctor is simply the person one visits when they are not feeling well; however, within the medical sphere, there is an immense amount of differently specialized doctors. The discipline of medicine I am most drawn to is orthopedic surgery. An orthopedist by definition is someone that deals with the musculoskeletal system, in other words, an orthopedist is the doctor one would go to if they had broken a bone or torn muscle. An orthopedic surgeon deals with the same aspects of the human body; however, while an orthopedist solves problems through the means of casting or bracing a body part, an orthopedic surgeon deals with such issues surgically. For instance, when a person has an internal injury such as a torn bicep, an orthopedic surgeon would have to create an incision and repair the injury on the muscle itself.
Orthopedic surgeons typically operate out of hospitals or surgical centers; however, they are very versatile. While becoming any type of surgeon is tremendously difficult, becoming an orthopedic surgeon requires an immense amount of schooling as well as practical training. Beginning with four years of undergraduate education at a university, followed by four years of medical schooling, the education ends after a four to five year residency which is similar to hands-on training. While the preparation required to become an orthopedic surgeon is extensive, it shys in comparison to an orthopedic surgeon’s ability to positively impact a person’s life.
Through the use of this blog I aim to share what I learn about my intended future occupation through research for all to enjoy.
Matt's Blog 