|
by Kirsten Brown
“This is where it
all started for me,” said Daryl Sybert, D.O. (’86),
gesturing around Irvine 194.
Sybert, an
orthopedic surgeon, went on to say he doesn’t know much about
anything — except spinal reconstruction. In the first speech of
this year’s Career Medical Specialties Week, Sybert gave OU-COM
students a glimpse into the field of spinal surgery.
As he has had
more and more training in his field, his knowledge became more
specialized, Sybert said.
“This is one of
those topics where you learn so much about one thing that it’s
all you really know about,” he explained. “I don’t know much
about anything other than spinal injury. So when one of our kids
has a rash, my wife calls my friend who’s a general
practitioner; she doesn’t even bother to ask me.”
However, Sybert’s
expertise in his field more than atones for these shortcomings.
“I fix spinal
deformities caused by scoliosis and your garden variety disc
problems,” he said. “It sounds odd, and it’s peculiar, but it’s
amazing. We’re very busy. People are coming in with these
problems all the time.”
Sybert’s career
continues to be one set apart by several remarkable
achievements. He began his career with a general surgical
residency at Sinai Hospital in Detroit, where he learned many of
the techniques he applies today.
“I use the
surgical knowledge and experience that I had in that year,”
Sybert said. “One thing I am a firm believer in is that this is
not a race. All the training you can get is great, and you are
always going to use that knowledge later in life. Don’t be in a
hurry.”
After his
residency, Sybert was mentored by renowned orthopedic surgeon
Arthur Steffee, M.D., who invented the pedicle screw. This
spinal fixation system virtually revolutionized the treatment of
spinal injury, Sybert said.
“He literally
changed spinal surgery forever,” he said. “You go to any
hospital these days, and they will know who you are talking
about. They still use his techniques.”
Despite many
advancements, spinal medicine remains similar in at least one
aspect, Sybert said.
“This is still a
very rapidly evolving field,” he said. “Disc replacements are
just everywhere now, but there wasn’t any of that 15 years ago.
There was a lot of risk. But I enjoy things that are maybe a
little riskier.”
These days,
Sybert sees cases such as paralysis caused by spinal cord
compressions. One patient regained his ability to walk, thanks
to Sybert’s team.
“We made an
incision in his neck and removed the two vertebrae that were
causing the problem,” Sybert said. “Then we bolted them
together, to allow the spinal cord to improve. We — OrthoNeuro —
do a lot of that kind of work.”
OrthoNeuro was
founded 60 years ago by Ohio’s first orthopedic surgeons. Now,
it has grown into a multi-disciplinary practice with physicians
specializing in neurology, neurosurgery, pain management and
physical rehabilitation.
“Our group lives
on and now we have encompassed other specialties,” he explained.
“We have two neurosurgeons, three neurologists, and five spinal
surgeons, so we have the “ortho” and the “neuro” part of our
group’s name.”
However, five
years ago, OrthoNeuro realized that the need for these surgeries
demanded a hospital be built. As a result, the group joined with
more than a dozen other orthopedic surgeons to build the New
Albany Surgical Hospital in New Albany.
“We do about
8,000 orthopedic surgeries a year,” he said. “Also, there’s
hip-and-knee reconstruction and probably 1400 spinal surgeries.
So we’re busy.”
This lecture
proved a departure from other ones he has given, Sybert said.
“This is odd for
me,” he said. “I never really have had the chance to talk about
me. I don’t mean to sound like an egomaniac, but it was actually
very reflective for me to go through this and figure out what
brought me to where I am now.”
Sybert was the first speaker in
the Career Medical Specialties Week series. Three of the
remaining presentations will take place noon to 1 p.m. in Irvine
194, which will take place Thursday, April 13; Friday, April 14;
and Wednesday, April 19. On Wednesday, April 12, neonatologist
Carl Backes, D.O., made the second presentation of the
week.
Dermatologist John Hibler, D.O.,
a graduate of West Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, will speak
to students twice Thursday, April 13. He is a board-certified
dermatologist working in Zanesville and the dermatology
residency director at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital.
In the afternoon, Hibler will talk
with students about what it takes to specialize in dermatology.
He will present with Dawn Sammons, D.O. (’03), who is
completing her dermatology residency at O’Bleness.
“I chose dermatology because I
found it fun and very interesting,” Hibler says, adding he has
spent 18 years in the field.
In the evening, he will discuss
the business side of medicine with David Geiss, D.O. (’89). They
will discuss the positive and negative aspects of owning a
private practice compared to a group practice, as well as how to
run a successful medical office. Zimmerman agrees, adding that
success in medical school does not guarantee becoming the
successful administrator of a medical practice.
“We want Dr. Hibler to talk
about the business side,” says Sharon Zimmerman,
director of alumni affairs. “Why is it important to have
a CPT code? Why is it important to have a good billing
administrator?”
Back by popular demand, Robert S. Houser, D.O. (’97),
will speak about his plastic surgery practice. Houser spoke to
students last year, and many requested his return to learn more
about his practice in Westerville. He is in practice with
father, Robert G. Houser, M.D.
“For the most part, I will talk
about the day in the life of a plastic surgeon,” Houser says. “I
want to focus on the necessary training. I want to inform about
aspects of plastic surgery of which students may not be aware,
and as the other presenters, what it’s like day to day in my
specialty.”
Although much of his practice
does focus on cosmetic surgery, Houser says he has a passion for
reconstructive surgery. In his third year in practice, he says
he wants to help students understand there are other fields of
medicine available to them. Houser completed a internship at
Doctors Hospital and a residency at Mount Carmel Health System
and the Ohio State University Medical Center.
Cardiologist H. Paul Kim, D.O. (’94), will speak
Wednesday, April 19. After a residency at Riverside Methodist
Hospital, Kim completed a fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center
in Pennsylvania.
Kim is board certified and is currently practicing in Columbus.
- 30 -
News for
the week of
April
10
– April 15
News for
the week of
April 3
– April 8
News for
the week of
March 27
– April 1
News for
the week of
March 20
– March 25
News Archives
|
