Q&A: Eric Ye (Orthopedics)
Growing up in Taiwan, Eric moved to Shanghai after high school to pursue his career in medicine where he studied Clinical Medicine at Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. After graduation, he went to Jinan University School of Medicine in Guangzhou to pursue a Master’s in orthopedics. Along with completing his orthopedics training and receiving his medical license, he also obtained his American chiropractic certification form the Taiwan ACPC Association and the Chinese Spinal Health Research Center.
Eric joined up several months ago and says that so far he’s had the privilege of serving patients alongside some of the nation’s best orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists.
“This is the most exciting thing for me! The close collaboration within the team has been incredibly beneficial, giving me even more confidence in the future treatment of my patients.”
Eric’s expertise is “stepped and individualized treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction,” primarily treating patients with functional impairments caused by neck, back, and shoulder pain, sports injuries, osteoarthritis, and postoperative rehabilitation. He has also received advanced training in chiropractic care and is certified, enabling him to provide patients with more diverse treatment options beyond routine orthopedic and physical therapy, to further delay or avoid surgery.
Eric is also an avid sports enthusiast – especially when it comes to cycling, hiking, diving and surfing. This allows him to better support many of his patients who have shared lived experiences.
Having pursued a career in this industry straight out of high school, Eric clearly has a passion for helping others. So we asked what inspired him to pursue a career in orthopedics?
My maternal grandfather and father were both doctors. Growing up in this environment, and under my father’s guidance, I developed a passion for medicine. In my spare time, I would participate in free medical clinics with my father, which sparked my interest in studying medicine.
When I interned at Ruijin Hospital of National Chiao Tung University, my first area of expertise was orthopedics. My supervising doctor taught me a great deal of clinical knowledge and how to become a qualified doctor, planting a seed in my heart.
Additionally, during my childhood medical outreach trips with my father in the mountainous regions of Taiwan, I saw many patients with mobility issues, further strengthening my resolve to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Of course, as a sports enthusiast myself, I have experienced many injuries due to improper training. I understand that sports activities can cause some degree of injury, so I hope to use my own experience to help more sports enthusiasts and patients.
It’s inspiring for someone to speak so passionately about the industry they work in. At UP there are a variety of medical professionals; how do you see the relationship between orthopedics and physical therapists working?
I believe orthopedics and physical therapy are complementary and inseparable. Orthopedic surgeons are like the mechanics repairing a race car, ensuring the engine and framework are back to normal; while physical therapists are like the coach and driver, ensuring the driver can safely and efficiently navigate the repaired car and prevent future crashes. Even the best race car can’t win without a skilled driver.
For us orthopedic surgeons, physical therapy is our extended eyes and hands during the rehabilitation phase. Their feedback on the patient’s functional progress is invaluable in adjusting our treatment plans.
When you work with your patients – how do you approach each individual to support their needs?
In fact, for me, every patient is unique and worth remembering. Every patient who comes to see me has something to learn from. Although some people have the same disease problems, their needs, goals, and even psychological stories are unique. How to diagnose and how to provide personalized treatment are all challenges that each patient entrusts to me, allowing me to improve on the path of medicine and also to feel the warmth that patients bring to me in the medical field.
It can take a lot of work to help someone recover – what do you see as the biggest challenge when working with patients?
I believe the biggest challenge for patients is the transition from a ‘passive recipient of treatment’ to an ‘active leader of recovery’. This requires not only overcoming physical pain but also navigating multiple psychological, cognitive, and behavioral barriers.
That’s a challenge for many people – is that how you would describe your ‘healing’ style and the way you work with patients?
My philosophy is to be an “orthopedic surgeon who doesn’t operate lightly.” I use “structural problem and biomechanical diagnosis” to delve into the structural and functional levels. Through patient education, I guide patients to become the protagonists of their rehabilitation and proactively collaborate with physical therapists to develop tiered and individualized rehabilitation plans for patients, ultimately helping them return to a healthy and high-quality life and exercise.
本篇文章来源于微信公众号: 上海优复康复医学门诊部
