Dr. Gregg Schellack
Dr. Gregg Schellack is a California-based orthopedic surgeon with many years of experience. He is currently one of the leading professionals in this particular subfield of medicine as his patient-care skills, bedside manner, and overall knowledge is unparalleled. Before starting with the Sutter Coast Hospital, which he is still affiliated with, he got his medical degree at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University. He also went on to pursue a full-time residency and has completed an internship to cement his skills. Nowadays, his focus is split between attending to his existing patients as well as doing multiple hours of consultations with those that would like to become his patients soon.
What do you do in your spare time?
Well, the list is quite long I must say. Some of the most common things that I like doing involve going out and trying new restaurants with my friends or family members. That way, whenever I find a place that is outstanding, I get to take some of my associates there. I also enjoy going out and doing things like hiking, running, and even camping. I am not the type of doctor who feels incomplete absent my office equipment and quick access to the peer-reviewed journals. On the contrary, I enjoy taking a moment to not think about work and letting my brain relax before heading into another day of back-to-back appointments.
What’s your favorite film?
I have a list of the top three films that I constantly update and always advise people to watch. These include “The Shawshank Redemption”, “Rocky”, and the time honored classic “The Godfather”. Of course, time makes this list very susceptible to changes as I tend to modify it at least a few times a year. This is because the top three movies are subjective and I seldom let a single movie be on that list for a prolonged period of time. After all, what used to be my favorite movie when I was a decade younger may not even be in my top ten anymore.
Describe your typical day.
I start it off with a large cup of coffee that lands me a helping hand in fully waking up. My body has grown to be accustomed to about 6 to 7 hours of sleep. So, I get to be productive for at least 15 hours every day. Of course, not all of that time is dedicated to me treating patients. On the contrary, the few hours of my workweek day are normally spent catching up on e-mail correspondence, looking over my schedule and making modifications when needed, and planning to see my patients. Then, I actually meet with people during the remaining two-thirds of my work hours. This includes everything from the time we spend discussing their condition to me actually performing surgery on them.
What is one thing you’ve learned since starting your career?
I learned that the medical field is even more complicated than it seems from the outside. Before I became a doctor, I remember getting intimidated by the sheer amount of responsibility that doctors have to carry on their shoulders. Not to mention the administrative side of things for someone who is a surgeon. After starting, however, I realized that this job is similar to most others where one has to interact with someone, develop an in-depth plan, and execute flawlessly.
What motivates you every day?
The fact that I am still not the best orthopedic surgeon in the world. In fact, it is highly unlikely that I will ever be able to achieve that particular title. Nevertheless, that is the exact reasons why I leverage it as my motivation. When you are guided by your willingness to outwork everyone, you are definitely striving for the top. The only problem is the fact that the longer you chase that goal, the further away it gets. For me, this represents a perfect opportunity to never give up and continue traveling towards perfection. The fact that I may not be able to ever achieve it is beside the point. So long as I have a reason to keep going, I think that I will continue providing my patients with outstanding care.
