We had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Chew Zhihong, a distinguished visiting surgeon from Singapore who recently completed a six-month fellowship at the Center for Spine and Orthopedics (CSO). Dr. Zhihong focused on honing his skills in Cervical and Lumbar Total Disc Replacement surgery during his time at CSO. We learned about his takeaways and challenges as a fellow and his thoughts on working with Dr. Janssen.
What was your goal when you came to America for the CSO Fellowship?
I came to CSO for a fellowship with a focus on total disc arthroplasty. I am very thankful that I have gained invaluable insights, not just in the technical aspects of the procedure, but also in the understanding of motion preservation spine surgery as a philosophy and potentially better solution for the appropriately indicated patients.
What has been your greatest success while here?
The most rewarding part of my fellowship with Dr Janssen must certainly be the friendship and connections that I have managed to build over the course of my fellowship. I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a meaningful relationship with the spine surgery community in North America.
What has been your greatest obstacle while here?
The biggest obstacle was that I had to get out of my comfort zone and start interacting meaningfully with colleagues and patients, all while getting used to being in a different time zone away from my family back home. Once I got that out of the way, I began to benefit from what my fellowship had to offer
How will your experience at CSO with Dr. Janssen help you in Singapore?
My experience with Dr Janssen will help my endeavours in many ways. Besides the technical knowledge gained, I am now better equipped in engaging in a conversation with my patients to empower them to make better informed choices on their treatment options. Outside of surgery, Dr Janssen has also been most inspiring in taking all of his interests to a very high level. I bring away with me this spirit of pushing my personal limits.
What is the biggest difference about practicing medicine in America compared to overseas?
The biggest difference is that the patients that I have seen while in Denver tend to have a higher demand of their lifestyle. This applies to both work and leisure related activities. I recall seeing elderly patients coming into our clinics wanting to return to activities like skiing, snowmobiling, farming work, etc. This mentality goes a long way in ensuring positive patient outcomes. I am encouraged that the patient population back home is starting to take more ownership of their care and are keen to maintain an active lifestyle into their old age.
What are your goals for the future and how did your Fellowship at CSO help you to get there?
I am confident that I will be able to incorporate motion preservation spine surgery into my practice for the appropriately selected patients. The countless success stories that I have seen on fellowship at the CSO has convinced me of the tremendous benefits that this treatment philosophy has to offer. It all boils down to patient selection. Besides my practice in Singapore, I also hope to get my involved with the international spine community. I am optimistic that my friendships that I have built in my time here in USA will help me achieve this goal.
Favorite memory?
On the work front, that would be the numerous satisfied patients that come in to post-op clinics very thankful and having regained a desired lifestyle. On the leisure front, my favourite memory has got to be getting certified in scuba diving with Dr Janssen. I am already in the process of planning future dive trips with Doc!
Do you have a message for CSO, Dr. Janssen or other doctor’s considering an overseas Fellowship?
I cannot thank Dr Janssen and CSO enough for being so welcoming and generous in teaching and sharing with me invaluable lessons and experiences. I have gained much more than I ever expected to. For future fellows, be sure to go in with an open mind and a positive attitude. Your learning is most certainly not confined to the clinics and ORs. Jump at every chance to experience the culture and activities of your hosts!!
