Laurel Collings, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, PGY-5
University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Incoming Orthopaedic Trauma Fellow (July 2025-June 2026)
Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago
Christchurch, NZ
Member Since: 2020
How has the AAOS helped you during residency?
The AAOS has provided me with invaluable resources and support throughout my residency. Their educational materials, research publications, and networking opportunities at the Annual Meeting have greatly enhanced my learning and professional development.
As a Resident Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
As a resident member, I often use the AAOS ResStudy question bank to help with my board exam prep and day-to-day rotation preparation. I’ve also found the JAAOS articles really useful throughout my residency. These resources keep me up to date with the latest advancements and best practices in orthopaedic surgery, helping me stay current and improve my clinical knowledge and skills.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." – Alberta Schweitzer
The best advice I got during my orthopaedic surgery training was from one of my early mentors at Queen’s University. He told me to pick a career that makes me happy and fuels my passion. Steve Jobs once said, "the only way to do great work is to love what you do," and that really stuck with me. This advice has shaped how I approach both my life and my career. In the end, orthopaedic surgery is about helping others and making a big difference in their lives. Even on the long days, I still get excited about helping people in pain and putting in the hours to make them feel better.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
When there is a lot on my to-do list (which happens often), my go-to productivity trick is time-blocking. By assigning specific time slots for different tasks, I can focus on one thing at a time and make sure I stay on track with my responsibilities.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
One of my goals is to be more deliberate about dedicating time each day to non-work activities—whether it’s spending quality moments with my partner or friends, cooking, reading for pleasure, or engaging in regular exercise. It can be challenging to keep the stresses and to-do lists from encroaching on this time, but it's a work in progress!
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy drinking coffee, snowboarding, biking, and travelling. Calgary is an excellent city to live in, with easy access to the mountains and a very young, active population. These activities help me stay active and connected with my community.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I am a recorded violinist! I had the opportunity to contribute to a friend’s studio album, playing as the backup violinist and performing a few solos. It was definitely one of the coolest and most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done.