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6 years ago, the world stopped—and so did elective orthopedics.

In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we take a look back at the early days of the COVID shutdown and how it changed life inside an outpatient orthopedic practice. From empty OR schedules and canceled surgeries to the sudden rise of telemedicine, we talk about what it was like when one of the busiest specialties in medicine suddenly went quiet.

Hannah also shares what it was like being in PA school during the pandemic, navigating disrupted clinical rotations, uncertain training experiences, and learning medicine during one of the most unpredictable times in modern healthcare.

We discuss:

• What the shutdown actually looked like inside an ortho clinic
• How patient care changed overnight
• The strange realities of pandemic medicine
• How COVID impacted surgical training and PA education
• What parts of healthcare changed permanently

Five years later, we’re reflecting on the lessons, the challenges, and the strange moments we’ll never forget.

Because if there’s one thing orthopedics knows—when things break, we figure out how to fix them.