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What does it really take to become a great hip surgeon — not just technically excellent, but trusted by patients, teams, and colleagues around the world? 🦴🌍

In this episode of the AHF Podcast, host Joe Schwab sits down with Dr. Michael Solomon, a high-volume hip and knee surgeon based in Sydney, Australia, who has performed over 10,000 hip and knee replacements and more than 900 joint replacements per year.

Together, they dive into:

• How a young medical student from South Africa became a global leader in hip surgery 🇿🇦➡️🇦🇺
• The mentors who shaped his approach — including legendary figures like Des Dall, John Steven, and Michael Millis
• Why Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) became such a key part of his practice, and how he navigated the learning curve without becoming a zealot about any single approach
• Where Anterior Approach fits (and where it doesn’t) in complex and high-risk patients
• The role of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and hip preservation in young patients
• How to set realistic patient expectations and why deep infection remains the complication that keeps him up at night
• The importance of team culture, consistency, and routines in the OR — and why “don’t take shortcuts” may be the most important surgical rule of all
• Advice for young surgeons on building a career: volume, humility, mentorship, and playing the long game 🧠💡

Dr. Solomon also shares his perspective on becoming a leader in the Anterior Approach community, his involvement with the Anterior Hip Foundation (AHF), and how collaboration, data, and honest conversations are reshaping modern hip surgery.

If you’re a hip surgeon, trainee, or just someone facing hip surgery and wanting to better understand your options, this conversation is packed with insight, nuance, and practical wisdom. 🎧

👉 If you enjoy this episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your questions or future topic ideas.

You can also find the AHF Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcast apps, as well as in video form here on YouTube.

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