Dr. Greg Erickson likes fixing things. From carpentry to surgery, he makes things better for people. “It’s gratifying to take someone who has pain or an injury, and be able to fix that problem.”
First job? Tennis court attendant. I grew up in Hopkins and Minnetonka; both junior high schools rented out their tennis courts in the winter, and it was my job to collect money and direct people to their court. It was a really good job during high school because I could still play sports after school, and do my homework during work. In summers, I had laboring jobs – mowing lawns, painting houses, construction work. I always wanted to work outside.
Free time? Being outside. I like cycling – road biking, mountain biking, fat-tire biking in the wintertime. Skiing – I raced in high school, and was on the ski team at Duke University. Spending time at our family cabin on a remote lake up north. Really, my kids take up a lot of my time. We have two grown kids, and two in grade school who are very active in sports. They love going to the cabin, skiing, being outside, and being active.
Best advice you ever got? In the Air Force core values, the first one is “Integrity first.” I try to live by that. I teach my kids, “Do the right thing even when no one’s watching.” It’s a big value I have that was instilled in me in the Air Force, and I live by it still.
Best part of your work? Seeing patients have successful outcomes. It’s gratifying to take someone who has pain or an injury, and be able to fix that problem. That’s a very gratifying aspect of orthopedics: the ability to fix things. I’ve always liked working with my hands and building things, and orthopedics is like carpentry for the human body – we’re using saws and drills and screws, and you can take someone who’s broken and fix them. Seeing someone get back to activities they like to do or improving their quality of life, that’s really rewarding.
Why healthcare? I always wanted to do something that helps people. I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was in elementary school. My mom was a nurse, so I had some exposure to healthcare through her. I went into med school and clinical rotations with an open mind. I immediately discovered that I love the operating room. I thought I wanted to be a surgeon. My interest in sports and sports-related injuries led me to a career in orthopedics.
If not healthcare, what would you be doing? I’d be an architect. I like designing things, especially homes. We’ve designed a cabin and a house. I did some architectural drawing classes in junior high and really enjoyed it.
Appointments: 507-646-8900