Dr. Hustle

Kevin Kruse, M.D., is an author, educator, and upper extremity orthopedic surgeon who has found that technical skill alone no longer secures a successful career in today's U.S. healthcare market. Surgical talent is only the entry point. Dr. Hustle lays out nine core principles that orthopedic surgeons, whatever their subspecialty, can apply to build, grow, and sustain a practice in a field that keeps shifting.

For many physicians, the word "hustler" suggests a shady operator dealing in back rooms, not a doctor who has devoted his life to medicine. Kruse, a board-certified shoulder surgeon based in Dallas with fellowship training in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, takes that word back. He describes how he built a successful orthopedic practice in one of the country's most competitive markets, and argues that surgeons anywhere can do the same. The book focuses on the many small operational decisions that make up a practice, with the aim of helping surgeons reach their financial and professional goals while keeping a good quality of life.

The book covers practical ground for both new and established surgeons. Topics include running a clinic efficiently so that more patients are seen and profits rise while the surgeon leaves on time, hiring and training staff who share the surgeon's vision, creating additional income streams that require little ongoing effort, and using modern technology so that patients and referring physicians can book appointments and leave online reviews with ease. It also helps readers clarify their personal "why" and free up schedule time for hobbies and family outside the clinic and operating room.

Whether a surgeon is just opening a practice or wants to sharpen how an existing one is managed, Dr. Hustle offers a framework. Readers who work through the nine principles can aim for a thriving practice alongside a fulfilling personal life.