Justin Siebler, MD, will receive the Outstanding Teacher Award at the annual faculty meeting, which will be held virtually through Zoom at 3 p.m. on April 15.
- Name: Justin Siebler, MD
- Titles:
- Chief of orthopaedic trauma surgery
- Associate program director, orthopaedic surgery residency program
- Associate professor, UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
- Joined UNMC: 2014
- Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska (LSE Knights)
What are the greatest rewards of mentoring?
The “human/personal” interaction. Helping people better themselves, in part by sharing “work/life” lessons learned. I attempt to learn something new every day from someone.
Describe a moment in your career when you realized you had picked the right occupation.
I am fortunate in that I love what I do and knew from early on I wanted to be involved in an academic/teaching/mentoring role.
I had a couple of medical students I mentored from early on in medical school who then happened to match in our residency program. I saw them continue to mature during their training, and now they are successful practicing orthopaedic surgeons valued and respected by their patients, partners, hospitals, and communities, along with being good spouses and parents. That is the good stuff.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a mentor?
Like many, I believe mentorship is most effective if it is not forced. Therefore, that initial engagement can be the challenge, especially for younger folks looking for a mentor. I try to be as inviting as I can be to overcome that getting to know you stage and that initial hesitancy, in order to make a connection.
How do you know when you’ve been successful as a mentor?
It is not always tangible and it is does not always end in a success/win. If each person puts in the time and is candid, if there is good dialog that goes both ways, sometimes that alone is success.
When there are “wins” it is fantastic, but there is always something to learn from “losses” as well. Every day is a school day.
Congratulations Justin. Well deserved.
Congratulations Dr. Siebler! Well deserved!
Great job! Proud to have you recognized as an outstanding teacher to our residents and students.
Wonderful accomplishment, Justin. Especially noteworthy that the sources of this award
include your student contacts – both those striving for an Orthopedic Residency as well as well as those aiming toward Orthopaedic practice certification. You can't do much better in your current endeavors.
Congratulations Dr. Siebler!