Dr. Tiffany Willard: Redefining The Approach to Patient Care

Colorado Springs native Dr. Tiffany Willard is an experienced and successful surgeon who has established herself in the local community. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and has spent over 15 years in prominent surgical roles. Dr. Willard is a trusted medical provider and lends her talents to St Mary Corwin Trauma and General Surgery, as well as other trauma centers in the Denver area.

What circumstances led you to the medical field and specifically to surgery?

As I progressed through medical school, we were able to do a rotation in every field of medicine, and my surgery rotation was genuinely comfortable, positive, and engaging the entire time. 

 I found myself examining my role as a physician and decided to place unwarranted trust in the desire to become a surgeon—the best decision I have ever made. My goal is to ensure that every single person who interacts with me becomes a better person because of our encounter. 

What inspired you to accept the position of Surgery Liaison at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and continue to teach?

It is well known that medical students are a product of their experiences, and I genuinely feel that if medical students can have an amazingly positive educational surgery rotation, then I can change their perspective on either becoming a surgeon or at least respecting the field of surgery even if they chose a different career pathway.

What is something unique about your work that sets you apart from your competition?

I truly believe that a patient knows their own bodies better than anyone else, and one of my many jobs as a surgeon is to listen to what is being said. After I listen to everything, we can work together as a team to make things better.

What is a problem you have identified in modern ORs?

Most cutting-edge equipment and procedural resources are extremely expensive, and most hospital institutions struggle to justify the cost ratios with the lack of financial reimbursement from patients, insurance companies, and government-run Medicare and Medicaid. Therefore, some patients do not get offered what has the potential to be standard of care.

What does a typical day as a surgery liaison look like?

My days as a surgery liaison were continuous and 24/7. I always made it a point to be available at all hours of the day—even at 2 am if needed. In the morning, before 7 am, I would make sure all the students were in the right OR (or clinic) with the correct surgeons. I would put out any fires and resolve any conflicts that would arise. 

Usually, in the afternoon, I would have a lecture or two to give to the eager medical students. At some point during the day, I would hold multidisciplinary patient rounds for a lengthy patient census allowing each student to present and attempt to manage their patients safely and effectively. 

At the end of the day, a good surgery liaison sends each student their OR assignments for the next day so they can study the night before and be prepared for what is to come. I will continue to teach moving forward throughout my career. 

How do you think your background has impacted your success?

Having been fortunate enough to travel around the world to many countries and having to embed myself within different cultures and religions, my eyes and heart were opened to wonderful groups of people. This allows for a very open mind and hopefully aids in seeing a situation through the patient's eyes as much as possible.

What is a necessary skill that is crucial for success as a surgeon?

The most valuable skill in the operating room, no matter how chaotic or scary, is to be calm and collected. Take in the entire room and be a leader. A true leader finds the calm in the chaos and draws the entire team together to create a healthy, safe environment to provide the most exceptional care for any patient. Another invaluable skill is that of communication. If you communicate effectively and respectfully, your care team will always provide the best care possible for any patient.

How did you overcome failure and progress forward?

I believe one of the hardest failures to face for any surgeon is the failure to save a patient's life. We will be neck deep in saving someone's life, and when we can't, we do not have time to dwell on what happened because we have 30 plus other patients to move on to and provide perfect care for. 

For better or for worse, our grief coping mechanism has a solid on/off switch. In extreme cases, we, as surgeons, will run a debriefing with the entire treatment team to allow everyone to digest what they have seen. 

What is something you do regularly that you recommend to other surgeons?

I recommend discussing every patient's diagnosis, story, plan, and expectations with the entire preop, operating room, and post-op treatment teams. The patients will receive well-rounded, informed, and all-around better care experiences when the team knows everything about them.

What is an important piece of advice you give to someone looking to start medical school?

You must be a well-rounded person. Yes, a high GPA and test scores are important, but there needs to be creative balance in your life that shows them you can enjoy the clinical world and be a normal person who can interact with patients safely.

What is an accomplishment you are most proud of?

Although I have a passion for trauma surgery, I believe one of the hardest things to cope with is seeing a child/teenager come into the trauma bay injured or dying because of a preventable poor choice they made. Parents tell kids, "Wear your seatbelt," "Don't drink and drive," or "Don't do drugs" but oftentimes, we don't take the time to tell them what could happen if they do not listen. They do not know the consequences of their actions. 

Because of this, I decided to create a program that travels to elementary schools to engage 6th graders about why they need to make good choices and what could happen to them if they don't. The program became very popular and proved to be rather impactful for the prevention of child and teen trauma.

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

If I could give my younger self some advice, I would express the importance of balance in your daily life. Although I thought surgery was what defines me, my health, my husband, and my children deserve much more of my attention.

Key Takeaways:

• Carve out a well-rounded life full of experiences, connections, and opportunities to learn and grow.

• Patients understand their bodies and can provide key insights into symptoms that lead physicians to proper care plans. 

• Use your experiences to educate others and understand that shared experiences can be great influencers.