Accessing AO: Network narratives

Michelle Dos Santos Flöter’s role models that inspired her journey as a surgeon

Michelle Dos Santos Flöter is an AO Trauma member and senior physician at the Clinic for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology of the Musculoskeletal System at the Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland.

I’m a mother, an orthopedic surgeon, and an expat in a European country that I thought would be more open-minded. I’m the first medical doctor in my middle-class family. I encountered tough challenges on my path to becoming a surgeon and managed—with grit and resilience—to become the role model I wish I’d had in my career journey.

In my traditional family, my grandmother—who raised four children alone without a complete education—was my primary role model. My mother, despite working full-time, studied in the evenings for five or six years to become a lawyer. While my father supported us, I always perceived the women in my family as the strongest.

I carried this strength forward, and during my residency in orthopedics, I confronted and overcame stereotypical jokes about women multiple times. I was driven by my will to learn more and become better. I moved abroad and continued working toward my professional goals with fellowships in shoulder and elbow surgery. These fellowships helped me develop and foster a strong desire to aim high in my career.

During this time, my pregnancy and motherhood led to a break of more than a year in my career, allowing me to fully embrace my role as a mother and dedicate myself 100 percent to my boys at home, giving me a taste of a life I hadn’t planned. Later, when I was ready to resume my career in orthopedics, it was challenging to navigate interviews as an expat mom. Despite encountering some disappointments, I never gave up. I realized how difficult it is to challenge the norms and stereotypes associated with the parenting role, both in South America and Europe. When I first resumed my career, I was unsure about my skills—and even my knowledge—after so long. It’s strange how we start doubting ourselves. Another challenge was realizing the lack of support in our field for parents, as well as the lack of women in leadership roles like chairpersons.

Now, after five years, I’m back on track and close to obtaining my second orthopedics specialization, this time in Europe. I’ve strengthened my mindset, improved my soft skills and knowledge, all while being a mother. I made the tough but fair decision to work 80 percent, allowing more time for my family and giving my partner the opportunity to grow in his path.

My current status is that I am almost specialized (again) and seeking equality in orthopedics. My hope for our field is to ensure that other families and caregivers for children are represented, that they can strengthen their own potential as surgeons, and that they don’t give up on the beauty of improving others’ quality of life.

In AO Access’ Mentorship Program,  I could fully use my soft skills as a mentor to deal with mentee issues and work on solutions for daily life. This was a nice opportunity to foster a problem-solving mindset, and, even more, to prime how I deal with colleagues. I truly recommend this program as a part of personal improvement for those in a medical profession. 

Michelle Dos Santos Flöter has participated in the AO Access mentorship program; to learn more about how you can get involved, click here.