New Book Shares Life Lessons From More Than 100 Eminent Orthopaedic Surgeons
Posted 9/23/2026
Beyond the Scalpel explores the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape a career – and a life – in orthopaedic surgery.
What do surgeons wish they had known earlier in their careers?
That question is at the heart of Beyond the Scalpel: Life Lessons from 100+ Eminent Orthopedic Surgeons, a new collection featuring candid, personal reflections from more than 100 accomplished voices in orthopaedic surgery.
Rather than focusing on surgical techniques or clinical decision-making, contributors turn their attention to the experiences that shaped them throughout their careers and lives.
Across more than 100 chapters, Orthopaedic Surgeons reflect on mentorship, leadership, sacrifice, burnout, family, work-life balance, career decisions and lessons learned – sometimes the hard way.
Chapter titles such as Practice Pearls that Actually Matter, The Harder Question: How Do You Keep the Job?, Regrets, Three Things I Learned the Hard Way, The Myth of Balance and the Truth of Presence and A Letter to the Next Generation of Orthopedic Surgeons offer a glimpse into the range of perspectives included throughout the book.
Together, the stories offer hard-earned wisdom about building not only a meaningful career, but a fulfilling life.
Order Beyond the Scalpel
Copies are now available to pre-order. Choose to pick up your book at AANA27 in Hollywood, Florida or have it shipped directly to you (Spring 2027).
Questions about the book or your order? Contact books@aana.org.