Rachel Talley-Bruns, MD
Orthopedic Surgery Sports Medicine
Team Physician, Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Member Since: 2023
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
When I was a resident, I used the AAOS ResStudy question bank extensively to study for the OITE and Part I of the ABOS boards. I attended the AAOS meeting as a resident, where I was able to meet other orthopedic surgeons from across the country and learn about new research and innovations in the field. Additionally, when I started my job search during my fellowship, I utilized the AAOS career center and job board to see what orthopedic sports medicine positions were available.
As a Candidate Member, which AAOS resources do you use the most and why?
As an AAOS candidate member, I find the AAOS resources to be extremely helpful. The continuing medical education portion of the website makes it easy to keep track of my CME credits and transcripts. When I am looking for the latest literature for my cases and patients, the Journal of the AAOS is one of the first places that I look for the most current research and techniques. Additionally, I recently participated in the webinar for the AAOS Part II Board Certification Preparation, which was very informative as I prepare to take Part II of the ABOS Board exam this summer.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
While I was in fellowship, my mentor Dr. Paul Fadale often said to me “You have to get to the end of the day.” In the year we spent together during my fellowship, he got to know me very well. He could see when I would become frustrated with certain steps of the case, or when I was struggling with certain techniques. When he would say “You have to get to the end of the day,” it would remind me to step back, take a deep breath, and keep moving through the case. He is an excellent teacher and role model, and he could tell when I needed a gentle nudge to keep on moving.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
When I am feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things on my plate, I find making “To Do” lists very helpful. It helps to organize my thoughts and prioritize the things that need to get done. Plus, there is a lot of satisfaction in crossing off an item once it is complete. As a working mom, the “to do” lists just keep growing, and I have found that if I don’t write them down, some things might end up falling through the cracks. Having my list helps me to make sure I get done everything that needs to be done.
What’s the one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
One of the surgeons I worked with in residency used to ask the residents during the debrief at the end of each case, “What went well, and what could have gone better?” I try to do this for myself in every case that I do. I review the things that went well, and I try to have an honest conversation with myself about what I could do better in the future. I also try to do this with the residents that I teach now. I like to give them solid, tangible, real-time feedback about what they did well during the case and what they can work on in future surgeries.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our one-year-old daughter. We love taking her on hikes in the woods near where we live, or spending time by the pool or the beach when the weather is nice.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
Before my career as an orthopedic surgeon, I was a professional ballet and modern dancer. I started dancing when I was two years old, and continued throughout my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. I graduated from State University of New York at Purchase College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance and spent several years living in New York working as a dance teacher and professional modern dancer.