Doctor Profile: Cassandra Ricketts, MD

Dr. Ricketts: Hi, I’m Cassandra Ricketts, I’m an Orthopedic Trauma surgeon here at Florida Orthopaedic Institute. I’m originally from the West Coast. I did my medical school at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, I then went and did my residency training in Orthopedics in Pennsylvania and now I’m here at Florida Orthopaedic Institute doing Orthopedic Trauma, joints and serving the people in the area. I see patients with traumatic conditions so if they have a broken bone or some sort of injury. I also see patients with hip and knee pain for example if they have arthritis or other degenerative conditions. I see the patient help them figure out what’s wrong and get them on the path to recovery.
I really enjoy helping patients on some of their worst days whether it’s a broken pelvis or just a bad knee condition where they have really bad arthritis. I see them on some of the worst days and I really enjoy coming up with a treatment plan and helping them get back to the things they love whether it’s golfing, fishing, sports, being with their families. It’s very rewarding to see them get back to the activities they love. My initial approach to any patient is sort of a team-based approach because the patient at the end of the day they know their bodies better than anyone else so, they can tell me what’s wrong and then I use my expertise and my experience to be able to figure that out. And then when it comes to a treatment plan it’s the same thing, it’s not just me telling them what to do. I need their buy-in and I need them to tell me what’s going to work best for them so it’s definitely a team-based approach to determine the best plan and get them back to their normal lives.
The most rewarding part is having someone come back to my clinic after they had a really bad problem. Whether it was really bad arthritis or a really bad injury that could be, you know, potentially life-threatening. They come walk back in with a smile on their face able to spend time with family, go to work and do the things they love. That’s definitely the most rewarding part. Florida Orthopaedic Institute is very unique and that we’re a very large facility and we have the best technology available right away for our patients. We have x-ray in almost every single clinic. We’re able to get the x-rays interpreted right away and get them done. We also have access to MRIs surgical centers and hospitals to be able to perform our procedures at the best locations possible. Additionally Florida Orthopaedic Institute is unique in that we are able to recruit physicians from all over the country in the top Specialties. So, ultimately, Florida Orthopaedic Institute has the best facilities, the best staff and the best doctors from all around the world to be able to provide our patients with the best outcomes and they can get back to their normal lives.