The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

Message from the Chairman

One of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had was being on an unbeaten/untied athletic team.  It was a long time ago (high school), and it was a grueling sport (wrestling). In a hometown where football and basketball dominated, wrestling was easy to ignore. But for a very special season, my sport captivated an entire community. In the process we taught a lot of people (most importantly ourselves) about teamwork and what is required to achieve group success.

In wrestling, a team of ten athletes of varying size and weight compete against an opposing team in individual matches; points are awarded to a team in accordance to whether their wrestler wins, ties, or loses. Team strategy, which changed with one’s individual opponent, required that teammates meet a different challenge each week; win when superior, tie when evenly matched, and struggle to avoid a loss when inferior. These tactics were predicated on the belief that each week someone would overachieve; win or tie, they were predicted to tie or win. Each week the onus to overcome knowingly rested upon different wrestlers; and each week someone on the team did just that. Although not initially touted, by season’s end this team came to epitomize perfection, success, and all the merits of hard work and commitment for my community.

As a department (or institution) we also represent a diverse group of individuals. We may have different life expectations and goals, education and talents, or jobs and responsibilities. But we are a team. All of us will be called upon to consistently meet the group’s expectation, and, occasionally, to “overachieve” if the team is to be victorious.  We should encourage each other, support each other, trust each other, and be loyal to each other. We must believe that our individual efforts, whatever they may be, are critical to the overall success of the organization. Finally, our sense of gratification for the group’s triumphs must always exceed that associated with personal triumph.

Many of us try very hard to do our best, but there always seems to be insurmountable obstacles. I strongly believe that personal excellence is extremely hard for most of us to realize. But put people into a group that can truly come together behind a common goal and the possibilities are endless. I know because some years ago I belonged to such a group...as individuals we were good, but as a team we were perfect.

Ronald W. Lindsey, MD

Clinic Appointments: 409-772-7300

Academic Offices: 409-747-5700

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