Andrew Ghatan, MD, '13

Full name: 
Andrew Ghatan

Nicknames: 
Ghatan

Where are you from and where did you attend medical school? What was your favorite non-orthopaedic rotation?
I grew up in San Marino, CA. I went to USC for undergraduate and medical school. I really enjoyed my urology rotation as a medical student – they do all sorts of challenging and complex procedures

When did you decide to pursue Orthopaedic Surgery?
I grew up thinking that I wanted to do orthopaedics among other things.  Once I got to medical school, I realized that I got along well with the orthopaedic residents and the other students going in to orthopaedics, and this was a big factor in my decision to pursue this field.

What attracted you to the University of Washington?
I rotated here as a medical student on the tumor service with Dr. Chappie Conrad. It was the hardest I worked all year but I had such a great time. I saw trauma at Harborview, complex tumor reconstruction at the UW and Childrens, and got exposed to the academic conferences that the residents would go to. This showed me that UW had it all – plenty of academic opportunities but also a busy trauma experience.

If you had a month off to do whatever you wanted to relax, what would that be? 
I would probably spend a couple weeks in Quebec visiting some of my family up there, and the rest back in Southern California with my parents and my college buddies who still live there.

What 3 things would you bring with you if you got stranded on a island for 1 month? 
With all due respect to my co-residents who answered this question very practically, I will say a bottle of bourbon, my girlfriend, and a fishing rod.

What is the best excuse for being late to something or the best excuse that you have heard?
My car caught fire on the way here

What is your favorite meal? 
I love dinner, especially lately because its often the only meal of the day that I can sit down and enjoy

Who is your favorite music artist?
Madvillain 

Best color scrubs you have ever worn? 
Polka dotted with the Rush Hospital emblem (did a rotation there as an MS4)

What is the best advice you have received or could give to medical students pursuing Orthopaedic Surgery/Sports Medicine?
Eat when you can, sleep when you can – Sometime you won’t know when your next chance to eat or sleep will be, so take the opportunities as they come even if you aren't particularly hungry or tired.

Even if you have decided to go into Orthopaedics, learn everything you can about all the other medical and surgical subspecialities you are exposed to because all of it will help you down the road.