Smitha Elizabeth Mathew, MBBS
Assistant Professor
Children’s Nebraska and University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
Omaha, NE
Member Since: 2024
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
AAOS is a notable and reliable resource for up-to-date orthopedic knowledge. Having trained in pediatric orthopedics and foot and ankle, it is my one-stop learning shop! The AAOS Annual Meeting is a great platform to gain and share knowledge. It also provides networking opportunities to connect with friends, colleagues, and leaders in the field.
As an Affiliate Orthopaedic Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
The Orthopedic Video Theatres are worth a thousand pictures! It is a phenomenal learning tool of surgical techniques taught by world renowned experts, which can be accessed from the comfort of one’s home and at the click of a button!
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for people.’ (Bible: Colossians 3:23).
‘Hard work never killed anyone.’ (Professor at CMC, Vellore, India).
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
“Eat that frog!” Mark Twain once said that if you have to eat a live frog, do it first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day. By tackling my hardest tasks first, it makes the rest of my day feel more manageable and productive.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Learning to say “no” and delegating tasks when necessary. I learned that refusing requests that don't align with my goals or well-being helps to prioritize my needs, set healthy boundaries, reduce stress and manage my time effectively.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I work hard and play hard. I go to the gym and work out 6-7 days a week! I also enjoy watching movies most days!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I learned Indian classical dance for 5 years as a child and had a couple of stage performances when I was in elementary school.
I survived a plane crash in 2016.