Newsworthy

In today’s day and age, we’re all soooo busy. We have jobs with harsh deadlines, kids who forget to tell us about their science project (which is due tomorrow by the way!), friends who keep inviting us to book club or sporting events, and houses that are filled with half-completed projects that will get done when we find the time. Spoiler alert: we’ll never find the time!

All of these stressors are enough to make you start pulling out your hair. Now, add in being a hand surgeon and you might as well shave your head entirely! However, when you first meet Dr. Patricio Roman you would have no idea any stress exists in his life at all.

Dr. Roman’s laid back demeanor and positive attitude are a couple of his strongest traits. He never seems overly concerned or out-of-his-element. But, what is it that makes Dr. Roman so well-equipped at handling stressful situations? Perhaps it’s due to his time with the Army.

“Most people don’t expect that I’m a combat veteran,” Dr. Roman said. “The last time I was deployed was about three years ago. I’m now a Major in the National Guard and am pretty proud of what I do.”

Or maybe Dr. Roman’s superhero power of handling stress comes from his life experiences.

“Both my parents are from Chile, however I was born in St. Lucia and grew up in Venezuela,” Dr. Roman explained. “We moved to the U.S. in 2000 and I lived in Florida while working toward my undergrad. Then, I moved to Colorado for four years with the Army. Then, New Hampshire for medical school. Finally, I ended up in Kansas for my residency at KU Med.”

Whatever it is that makes Dr. Roman so chill, he has the perfect qualities for an orthopedic hand surgeon. He possesses the ability to see the big picture without getting flustered.

During his time with Stormont Vail Health, Dr. Roman has performed countless surgeries and treatment services. One of the most common ailment he sees in patients is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pinched at the wrist. This can cause pain, numbness, or tingling in the hand and arm.

“There are various ways of treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgery, medication, injections, so on. I may be a hand surgeon, but I will only do surgery if I think it’ll help the patient. If there’s a better treatment option available, that’s not surgery, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Being in the military and coming from a diverse background have helped Dr. Roman handle stressful situations. However, it’s his life outside of the office that truly keeps him grounded.

“I enjoy watching T.V. and movies with my family,” Dr. Roman said. “My wife and I also like going to Chiefs games and going out to dinner every now and then.”

Even with his ability to handle stressful situations, Dr. Roman is just like us when it comes to having a busy lifestyle. When asked about his hobbies, he laughed and responded, “Well, I used to play guitar and video games. But with two small kids, I don’t really have time for anything!”

We are honored to have Dr. Patricio Roman on our orthopedics and sports medicine team. He brings such passion and dedication to the service he provides. His ability to make his patients feel comfortable and reassured is second-to-none. Learn more about Dr. Roman by visiting his provider page.