episode 23: Heather Vallier - trailblazer
Welcome to the latest episode of the see one / do one podcast.In this episode we speak with Heather Vallier, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and Medical Director at MetroHealth in Cleveland, and a Professor of Orthopaedics at Case Weston Reserve University.She is a colossus of research output around orthopaedic trauma and popularised the concept of “Early Appropriate Care” - her name is mentioned in every lecture, discussion and journal club around the world when discussing the topic of orthopaedic polytrauma.Heather is the 36th President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), and the first ever female president.She is also one of Pete’s orthopaedic heroes, as he reveals!In this wide-ranging and fun conversation we cover many different aspects of Heather’s life and career including:how to pronounce her surname properly!her time at medical school and how she chose orthopaedics as a careerhow she ended up in orthopaedic trauma and the support / challenges she encounteredresidency training and fellowshiphow she thrived as a woman in a traditionally male-orientated specialtythe value of allies and mentorship and key mentors in her own journeyhaving children as a medical student and internand how she balances work and home-lifesome background on how “early appropriate care” came to behow it defines a proportion of her careerand where the future lies in the field of orthopaedic polytraumathe difference between self-efficacy and recidivismrecovery after trauma and breaking the cycle of trauma and repeated harmviolence prevention and key initiatives she is involved withher relationship with the OTA and becoming Presidentwill there ever be a national US trauma system and registry and where the challenges lieand why Kash has to go to the next OTA meeting...her time as fitness instructorand much more!Please subscribe on your podcast player and please leave us a rating and a review!You can also find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagramand at www.orthohub.xyzTwitter:@orthohubxyz@kashakhtar@petebates