Meet Our Surgeon
Lt. Col. Ross Puffer, MD, FAANS, FACS
U.S. Army
What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare?
I come from a family of health care workers, including physicians, surgeons, imaging technologists and others. With both of my parents having been physicians, I heard many patient stories over the dinner table while growing up. In fact, I actually started college saying “there’s no way I will be a doctor.” However I came to enjoy studying all of the topics in medicine during college and medical school, and have since found it incredibly rewarding to apply that knowledge to help patients who are facing challenging health problems.
What is your area of expertise, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I am a board-certified neurosurgeon, and I completed a fellowship in peripheral nerve surgery, including brachial plexus injury and functional nerve reconstruction. While I see all types of patients with issues relating to the brain, spine and peripheral nerves, I find it very rewarding to use surgical techniques to reconstruct limb function for patients who have experienced paralysis due to trauma or other factors. Along with plastic surgery, neurology, PMR, orthopedics and PT/OT, I participate in a joint clinic called PNC (peripheral nerve clinic) that tackles complex problems involving the peripheral nerves and utilizes multi-disciplinary expertise to identify solutions, including surgery, other interventions, medications and targeted therapy.
How do you ensure a positive patient experience in your care?
I try to take time to listen to my patients describe what is affecting them in their own terms, and then ask directed questions to try and get to the underlying diagnosis while it seems as if we are just having a friendly conversation. I also try to always go over the images in the office with the patient directly, explaining exactly what I see and why that leads me to suggest a certain treatment strategy. I make every effort to answer all patient questions and provide an avenue for patients to submit further questions as they come up, since it is often challenging to remember to ask your physician every question you are considering during an office visit.
Can you share a memorable moment or success story from your practice?
In the PNC we have had several excellent surgical and rehabilitative outcomes, and we are very happy when patients who have suffered a paralyzing injury are able to regain function and ultimately remain in the military if they so choose. Recently we had a patient recover significant upper extremity function after a severe injury from a motorcycle crash, and initially it seemed certain that he would be medically separated from the military. However, after our reconstruction and rehabilitation, we are very happy that he was able to re-enlist and continue his career.
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my wife Emily, and our two sons, Knox and Nathan. At this point I can no longer count how many times we have been to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center to see the space shuttle and the many other aircraft on display.