NICOLE DEAL: I'm Nicole Deal. I'm a hand surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. I was particularly drawn to hand surgery as a subspecialty, because patients do so well. You can change their lives drastically, frequently with a small surgery. 

People have questions about their recovery time, their functionality after any type of procedure, their pain levels. And we spend a lot of time with patients explaining exactly what we're going to do, what their recuperation time will be, how their pain will be handled post-operatively. I also try to really educate my patients about their conditions, because I think that's half the battle. If you know what you're up against, it helps you as a patient be more informed and make better decisions about your treatment plan. 

The UVA Hand Center is an amazing place to work. We have the best team. Patients feel very well cared for, and they are. The team genuinely cares about everyone's experience when they walk through the door of the Hand Center. And we really track patients' outcomes and want to know how they are. Frequently touch base with them and want to make sure that they're comfortable and happy with the care they received. 

My goal is really for them to get better, to do well, and to resume the activities they love doing.