A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON WITH DR. ROBERT GIRLING
DR. GIRLING SHARES A DAY IN HIS LIFE AS AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON SPECIALIZING IN ADULT RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY—NOTABLY FULL AND PARTIAL KNEE & HIP REPLACEMENTS.
“I really love what I do. I wake up in the morning thinking about surgeries.
— Dr. Girling
Dr. Girling loves to operate and really enjoys being in the operating room. However, he will never rush a patient into the operating room without the patient having failed all treatment options available for their condition.
‘Going in and seeing a patient that I've been working with in a clinic setting, who we’ve tried all treatment options with, finally getting to the point where surgery is an effective option [is exciting],’ because Dr. Girling knows he's about to make a difference in this patient’s life through surgery.
I REALLY ENJOY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.
Dr. Girling enjoys spending time with my patients and talking to them as much as possible during their consultations. While he can't sit and reminisce over the grandkids for too long, he does try to understand where patients are coming from and listen to them to know what's going on.
His favorite way to finish a consultation is by asking his patients, “what can I do to make things better for you?” Something that simple reminds his patients that he truly cares for them.
While he loves being in the operating room and performing surgeries, the part Dr. Girling enjoys the most is getting his patients through the recovery process. At the end of the day, the most gratifying part of his job is being able to give a patient their life back.
After performing a hip or knee replacement, he’ll get a handshake, a hug, some tears, and the confession that his patient had been living in silence and in agony for a long time. Post surgery, his patients are able to get on the floor with their grandkids and keep up with family members–finally enjoying their life again.
Aside from performing surgeries, Dr. Girling works just as hard to get home to be with his family. Luckily, he gushes that his wife “is a saint and she is very good.” She knows that “being an orthopedic surgeon is part of who I am, it's not just my job, and I think that's what motivates me.”