New shoulder surgeon expands M Health Fairview’s expertise in growing field
Allison Rao, MD, joined M Health Fairview in August as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder surgeries, expanding our expertise in a field that is growing rapidly as the American population ages, people live longer, and more surgical options become available.
A graduate of Stanford University Medical School, Rao completed her residency in orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago before pursuing specialized fellowships in sports medicine as well as shoulder and elbow surgery. She sees patients at M Health Fairview Clinics and Specialty Center – Burnsville, adjacent to Ridges Hospital, and the M Health Fairview Clinics and Surgery Center in Minneapolis. She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
We sat down with Rao to learn about the procedures she offers and her approach to caring for patients with a range of orthopedic needs.
What inspired you to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery?
I chose to specialize in orthopedic surgery because of the patients—these are people experiencing everyday problems that are impacting their quality of life. It’s also a very common issue; everyone has knee or shoulder pain at some point in their life. The goal of orthopedic surgery is to get you back to doing what you want to do, and I believe in setting those goals with patients whether they’re an athlete or an older adult wanting to maintain independence and improve their quality of life.
Why did you choose to specialize in shoulder surgery?
Hip and knee replacements have really taken off over the past few decades, and shoulder replacements are now following a similar trend. It’s a growing field and there’s a lot of demand for this type of expertise. People are living longer, and that leads to more wear and tear on the joints; in these cases, our goal is to help older adults improve their quality of life.
It’s one of the fields in orthopedic surgery where it can be difficult to find someone who specializes in it. A lot of surgeons operate on shoulders, but they may not be available if there are complications or it ends up being a complex situation.
I also work with athletes who have shoulder injuries. As orthopedic surgeons, we can sit down with patients and talk through the whole gamut of treatments, including nonsurgical options, and help every patient determine the best fit for their unique situation.
What other procedures do you offer?
I specialize in other arm-related procedures, including bicep tears. I also do the gamut of knee procedures, including ligament and meniscus surgeries.
What is your approach to patient care?
It’s all about communication. My goal is to use my medical knowledge and expertise to help guide patients in choosing what’s best for them. For some people, that’s not surgery. We can help talk through all the available options, including operative and nonoperative.
Whether I’m working with a young athlete or an older adult, we define their goals and use them to inform treatment. We talk about their goals for physical activity and what older adults need to be able to do to live independently and how we can help them get to that point. It’s amazing to see someone who wasn’t able to lift their arm be able to independently shower or put away dishes a few weeks later.
When should patients reach out to an orthopedic surgeon?
People can reach out to us at any time. You can go through a referral from your primary care physician, but you don’t need a referral. No matter your concern, we’re available to talk through possible treatment options.
M Health Fairview offers several convenient orthopedic locations throughout the Twin Cities metro. Our central scheduling line can help you find an appointment with a specialist at a time and place that works for you.
Learn more about how our team of dedicated orthopedic surgeons can help you by visiting our website or schedule an appointment by calling 612-672-7100.
