Physician Spotlight on Dr. Wei Shen

What is your practice philosophy?

There are three parts to my professional philosophy: The first is that I treat every patient as if they were a family member. Each patient’s diagnostic and treatment process is formed the same as I would for someone in my own family, keeping the best interest of the patient as my top priority.

Number two, I believe that each patient deserves a unique treatment plan designed just for him or her. I follow the principle of the textbook, but I also tailor the plan for every unique patient. Treating the same type of ankle fracture, the plan and goal will be formed differently for an 18-year-old athlete and an 80-year-old grandparent.

Number three, I believe that surgery is the very last option. Although I am a surgeon and enjoy performing surgery and fixing people, I believe most of my patients can get better without surgery or with minimal surgery. When I believe that surgery is a good option, I present the patient with the non-surgical plan as well as all the information around the surgical alternative so they can make the decision that is best for them. If the patient chooses surgery, it will be a well-informed decision.

What made you chose to become a foot and ankle surgeon?

After learning as a young child that my great-grandfather (whom I never met) was a physician, I have always wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to follow the family tradition, and I have always enjoyed helping people to get better from their illness or problem. During medical school, I found orthopedic surgery especially interesting. Eventually, I chose to specialize in treating injuries and conditions of the foot and ankle because of the complexity and challenges in that field. I find it continually rewarding and never feel that I am actually going to work each day.

How do you stay current in your field?

Since I finished fellowship training in foot and ankle surgery six years ago, I continue to stay in tune with current trends by attending academic conferences, weekly workshops, and communicating often with my colleagues to discuss challenging and complex cases. During the pandemic, I attended online webinars and took refresher exams to keep myself up to date with the latest research.

What trends in your specialty area do you see emerging?

There are always new techniques and technologies coming out in the medical field. In foot and ankle, there is a trend for more minimal invasive surgery, and newly designed implants. But I critically evaluate new techniques or treatments to be sure they can indeed help my patients and are not just a new gig on the market. In my practice, I have seen good results from using PRP to treat ankle and hind foot arthritis and Achilles tendinitis.

What are your personal interests?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I love playing sports with my kids and trying the many different restaurants New York has to offer with my foodie wife. My family enjoys travelling very much, and when the pandemic is over, we will be ready to set sail again to see the world! I also appreciate art, especially Chinese ceramics and calligraphy. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is my favorite place in Manhattan.