After fifteen years of practice as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery, Dr. Pamela Davis has an independent streak that draws on an early childhood spent with her family in places ranging from Wyoming to London, England. Now with a husband, two daughters and an independent Orthopedic practice of her own, Dr. Davis seems to embody the very advice she wishes to pass on to patients …
Doctor: Pamela F. Davis, M.D.
Area of Specialty: Foot and Ankle Surgery – Orthopedic Surgery
Years in Practice: 15 years
College and Medical School:Baylor College of Medicine – Medical Doctor, Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Foot and Ankle Fellowship
Where did you grow up?
All over the place! My father was in the oil business during the 1950s and 1960s. During my early childhood we moved from North Dakota to Mississippi and from Ohio to Wyoming. In 1973 we even relocated to London, England, while I was a junior high student. By high school, we were back in the States and Richardson, Texas, became my hometown. All of my siblings and our parents are still in north Texas. Even though I have been in the Midwest for 15 years, I still have Texas in my blood…and everyone knows it when I say, “How are y’all doin’!”
Tell us about your family:
I have been happily married to Taylor S. Davis for over 20 years. Taylor is the true “modern man,” who has his own demanding career and is very involved in the management of our home, the girls’ activities and the community. Without such a supportive husband, I would not have been able to become the first woman partner at ORA or begin my most recent journey as a solo practitioner. We are truly a good team! We have two daughters, Sarah and Suzanne. We enjoy snow skiing and water skiing, and the girls are very active in athletics.
Hobbies:
I enjoy gardening, traveling, and maintaining physical fitness. I recently participated in a triathlon for the first time in 20 years and plan to keep at it! I am the treasurer for the Snowstar Ski Team.
What inspired you to study medicine? I started out in physical therapy because I liked helping people regain strength and function after an illness or injury. I also enjoyed biology, especially the
musculoskeletal system. After working as a physical therapist for several years, I decided go to medical
school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Why did you choose to become a surgeon? I enjoy working with my hands. I like the immediate feedback of successfully repairing broken bones and correcting deformities. Orthopedic surgery
allows me to make an immediate positive impact on patients’ lives.
What are some of the latest advancements in foot and ankle surgery patients should know about? Orthopedics is making great strides in medicine. Now, patients can benefit from bone substitutes and advances in bone healing as well as improved treatments in the areas of soft tissue healing. In all of these areas, we are learning how to enhance a patient’s ability to heal even if they have other health issues that can affect recovery.
What do you feel is the top healthcare issue facing patients today? I want patients to be able to maintain a choice in their doctor. I am also concerned about the rising costs of healthcare and believe it’s important to maintain access to affordable health insurance.
What advice do you wish patients would take more often and why? My main goal in practice is to help my patients maintain as active a lifestyle as possible. Even if a person’s health condition only allows a short daily walk, or 15 minutes on a stationary bicycle, doing just that makes a difference. It takes discipline, motivation and encouragement to stay with an exercise program. I hope always to be the motivator and encourager…so, my advice is: “Keep moving!”
