July International Member of the Month

Yasser Ali Elbatrawy, MD, PhD
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Head of Orthopaedic Department
Al-Azhar University
Cairo, Egypt

How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
AAOS has played a very important role in my professional life for many years. In 1997, I became a member of AAOS and was introduced to its outstanding scientific activities. I attended the Annual Meeting and Specialty Day programs, and I explored the wealth of educational resources available online. These experiences expanded both my professional network and my scientific knowledge.

I was fortunate to complete fellowships at some of the leading centers in the United States in my specialty of limb lengthening and deformity correction. After returning to Egypt, I developed extensive expertise in this field and have since published numerous scientific papers describing innovations and technical advances. I have also served as an editor for specialty scientific journals.

For many years, I have treated patients from around the world who travel to Cairo specifically for my care. They include mothers carrying their babies, young boys with congenital or post-traumatic bone deformities, and young women seeking cosmetic limb lengthening to increase their height.

Over time, I became internationally recognized in my specialty and have received invitations from around the world to deliver lectures, teach workshops, and perform live demonstration surgeries.

As an International Member, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
The AAOS Annual Meeting has always been my most valuable educational experience. I carefully planned which sessions to attend in person, and afterward I would watch the sessions I had missed online.

The Orthopaedic Knowledge Update is one of the finest resources for expanding the knowledge of any orthopaedic surgeon.

The AAOS website also offers an exceptional collection of educational videos and scientific publications that provide invaluable resources for orthopaedic surgeons who are committed to continuously improving their knowledge and surgical skills.

What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
The best advice I ever received came from my dear mentor, Professor Maurizio Catagni. During my fellowship with him in 2001, we were preparing for a particularly complex reconstructive procedure. Before the operation, I said to him, “This is really too difficult!”

He smiled and replied, “Nothing is difficult. There are things you know how to do, and there are things you do not yet know how to do. Learn how to do it first, and then it will become easy.”

The second-best advice came from Professor Ignacio Ponseti of Iowa, whose techniques revolutionized the treatment of clubfoot worldwide. I once asked him, “When is the best time to begin manipulation and casting for a baby with clubfoot?”

With his characteristic sense of humor, he replied, “If the baby is in the breech position and the clubfoot comes out first, start the manipulation before the head comes out.”

His message was unforgettable: the earlier treatment begins, the better the outcome.

What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Going to bed early after thoroughly preparing for the following day’s tasks. Then, waking up early and starting work as early as possible, while paying close attention to every detail. That discipline makes a significant difference.

What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Regular exercise. It is important not only for physical health but also for mental and emotional well-being.

What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Reading and playing squash.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
Although I am an orthopaedic surgeon who treats severe trauma on a daily basis, I cannot bear to watch an animal being slaughtered. Even seeing someone kill a chicken or a turkey is enough to make me faint.