Orthopedics, Service, and Building Resilience Beyond Medicine

Welcome to Doctors Making a Difference! In this episode, orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Chris Hills shares his inspiring journey from Army medicine to the Tetons, and how a personal tragedy led to the creation of the Brody Hills Foundation—a program using dirt bikes, mentorship, and the outdoors to build resilience in teens.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

Why Dr. Hills chose the military scholarship route for medical school and how it shaped his career

Lessons from deployments and battlefield medicine that continue to influence his orthopedic practice

The challenges and rewards of returning to fellowship after serving as a staff surgeon

How living in Jackson, Wyoming has allowed him to balance a busy surgical career with family and recreation

The story behind the Brody Hills Foundation and its mission to support youth mental health through adventure

🌐 Learn more about the Brody Hills Foundation: brodyhillsfoundation.org
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Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and introduction
02:00 – Choosing the Army route through medical school
06:00 – Military deployments and lessons from battlefield medicine
10:00 – Returning to fellowship after active duty
14:00 – Building a practice in Jackson, Wyoming
18:00 – The importance of balance to prevent burnout
22:00 – Facing loss: the story of Brody
26:00 – Founding the Brody Hills Foundation
31:00 – Using dirt bikes and mentorship to build resilience
35:00 – Expanding the foundation’s reach

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💬 Comment below with your thoughts or share your own story of resilience

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