Benjamin Theodore Johnson, BS
Medical Student
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
Chicago, IL
Member Since: 2023
Why did you join AAOS?
I joined AAOS to expand my connections within the field and immerse myself in an organization at the forefront of improving orthopaedic care. The various discounts offered to medical students are pretty sweet as well!
What are you looking forward to most about AAOS?
I look forward to presenting our group's research and meeting with other medical students, residents, faculty, and everyone else at the Annual Meeting.
What interested you about orthopaedics?
During my senior year of high school, while trying to throw out a runner stealing second base in a baseball game, I tore my UCL. After an MRI that confirmed a complete rupture of my UCL, I was consented for surgery. However, a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Washington changed my course. Despite the concerning MRI, my physical exam showed some stability, and I was advised to try physical therapy first. This non-surgical approach proved to be the right decision, as I returned to the field in only two months. Throughout five years of NCAA D2 baseball as a starting pitcher and catcher, I never had any issues with my elbow again. That surgeon later allowed me to shadow his clinic and OR, where I saw firsthand the transformative impact orthopaedic surgery can have on patients' lives. This experience also gave me a deep appreciation for the surgeon's ability to discern who needs surgery and who does not.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
My mom tells me to "always do your best." While it may sound like a cliché, the words still hold true across all aspects of my life, and I gain a greater appreciation for them every year.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
I typically try to get everything organized the day before so I can have a clear idea of what needs to get done and how I am going to do it. If that doesn't work or I start to get off task, I usually just need another cup of coffee.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
I am currently in a dedicated research year between my 3rd and 4th year of medical school at the University of Utah and am trying to read at least one scholarly article across the various orthopaedic subspecialties per day.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I greatly enjoy hiking, trail running, and skiing during my free time. I recently just completed my first ultramarathon while on my research year with plans to do a second one in February.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I was once on The Today Show for a featured cooking segment with Giada De Laurentiis in the fourth grade.