“As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a physician,” says Dr. Avery Arora.
With that goal in mind — and a lot of hard work — this quiet, studious young man accomplished his dream. Now a board-certified shining star in his field, Dr. Arora was selected by local physicians as a Top Doc of 2013 in the field of Hand Surgery.
Practicing medicine since 2005, Dr. Arora’s medical journey started at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his residency and internship in general surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. During his residency, Dr. Arora had the good fortune to meet some surgeons who were pursuing hand surgery training. Exploring the specialty further, he knew this was the right path for his career. Technical and functional aspects of a hand surgery specialty suited him exceptionally well.
“I enjoyed the concrete, mechanical nature of the hand. Hands are an integral part of the body, and their form, function, and anatomy are interesting and challenging,” Dr. Arora explains.
He was accepted into fellowship training in the department of orthopaedics at the University of Colorado in Denver, where he honed his skills as a hand surgeon — treating a spectrum of hand problems associated with veterans, and children through adults. He excelled in advanced hand trauma, microsurgery, and common problems with the hand, wrist, and elbow.
Dr. Arora conveys that many of us take for granted how much we need our hands for the activities of daily living. When there is something wrong with your hand, there is a lot riding on the outcome — and, therefore, on whom you choose to help you recover. Because he has seen such a range of challenges associated with hands during his career, Dr. Arora is sensitive to a patient’s situation, and meticulous and vigilant with regard to procedures.
“I am not a salesperson,” Dr. Arora says. “I enjoy one-on-one interaction with my patients, learning about their lives, their work, their struggles, and what makes them tick. There’s always a uniquely personal aspect to each case.”
He conveys this with genuine sincerity. Introspective and respectful, this doctor and father of two young boys brings a big heart and impressive professional competence to bear when dealing with his patients.
There is no cookie-cutter routine to Dr. Arora’s method. He is adamant about practicing a patientcentered approach to his work, and involves his patients in all aspects of the decision-making process. He presents a menu of options as patients move forward with their care, and they are encouraged when he guides the process and helps them choose the clinical path that makes sense for them.
“Patient and surgeon must be on the same page,” Dr. Arora says. “I like to take the time to talk through all the options with patients — imaging, surgery, therapy, follow-up care; and educate them and make it easy for my patients to make decisions that suit them best for their circumstances.”
Practicing medicine is not the same today as it was a few decades ago. There are patients who are uninsured, and the risk of medical malpractice has increased tremendously. Unlike some in his field of expertise, Dr. Arora will take calls and see patients in the emergency room and hospital, as well as in his office. He enjoys the variety of patients and interesting cases, and this keeps his array of skills polished.
Dr. Arora maintains membership in a number of professional organizations, including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Association of Hand Surgery, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the American Board of Surgery. Emphasizing his work, Dr. Arora says, “I am grateful and happy, and although I might appear a little reserved to some, in truth I care very deeply about what I do and the outcome for my patients.”
