Go From Good to Genius on the Leadership Journey

OR Excellence

By: Outpatient Surgery Editors

Published: 7/26/2022

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Oct. 1 | 11:15 a.m.


Nancy Yen Shipley, MD, knows a thing or two about standing out. As a proud member of the 6% — the percentage of female orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. — she has never had the luxury of maintaining the status quo or doing the bare minimum. Working in a male-dominated field required Dr. Yen Shipley to stand out and shine, but she refused to do it at the expense of her personal life — and she’s found both remarkable professional and personal success in the process. As a practicing orthopod, Dr. Yen Shipley was voted the 2020-2021 Top Orthopaedic Surgeon by Portland Monthly, the city where she works as a partner at a thriving orthopedic clinic and serves as the team physician for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, Multnomah University and the Portland Interscholastic League. She has also worked with SpeakUp Ortho, a platform for surgeons who have experienced bullying, harassment or bias to make their voices heard. “It’s about creating an initiative that will someday blossom into something that will lead to real systemic change and keep individuals with a long track record of bullying from holding leadership roles,” she says of the new and rapidly growing organization.

PASSION AND PURPOSE Through her captivating presentations, Dr. Yen Shipley hopes to provide OR Excellence attendees with the tools and the motivation they need to find their professional and personal purpose.

Outside of the OR, Dr. Yen Shipley has created a loyal following from her work in podcasting and motivational speaking. Attendees might recognize her from The 6%, a popular podcast named after the small percentage of women orthopedic surgeons currently working in the field. The podcast, which Dr. Yen Shipley says she started in part to inspire, motivate and educate people of all genders, doesn’t limit its message to healthcare workers. “I interview women in any traditionally male-dominated fields about what drives them, how they became interested in their careers and what makes them tick,” she says, adding that she hopes the podcast also gives male listeners a true sense of what it’s like to pursue a demanding career as a minority in their chosen field.

I want to provide attendees with the inspiration to ask themselves the right questions to find passion and purpose both inside and outside the OR.
— Dr. Nancy Yen Shipley

Whether she’s speaking at major medical conferences or talking to a select group at a small, intimate venue for a charitable organization whose mission is near and dear to her, Dr. Yen Shipley prides herself on her ability to captivate any audience, regardless of age, specialty or setting. She’s excited to bring her unbridled passion and unique background to OR Excellence. Through her empowering presentation, “From Good to Genius on the Leadership Journey,” Dr. Yen Shipley hopes to energize attendees and give them the tools and motivation they need to advance their careers. “I’m looking forward to coming to Orlando to entertain and educate my peers,” she says. “I want to provide them with the inspiration to ask themselves the right questions to find passion and purpose both inside and outside the OR.”

Dr. Yen Shipley promises to share the many lessons she has learned throughout her career on everything from facing and tackling fear to finding and maintaining balance in the ever-changing, always challenging world of surgery. Regardless of what phase of the leadership journey OR Excellence attendees find themselves in, Dr. Yen Shipley hopes her talk will instill in them the skills and confidence they need to level up from good to genius. The concept is much more than a compelling catchphrase for Dr. Yen Shipley. It’s a philosophy for thriving in your chosen field, on your own terms — something she hopes to instill in the surgical leaders who attend her presentation. OSM

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