Dr. Patrick Laboe is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in acute fractures after traumatic injury, with operative and nonoperative treatment, to return patients to normal activity and quality of life. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he received his undergraduate degree in Preprofessional Studies with a minor in Anthropology. Dr. Laboe obtained his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies/Michigan State University. Dr. Laboe then achieved his Orthopaedic Traumatology fellowship at OrthoIndy. Regarding his approach to patient care, Dr. Laboe believes it is his responsibility not only to provide patients with the technical expertise of managing and repairing their fractures, but also to educate them to better understand their injury. He feels the more that patients can learn about and understand their injury will help them be an active participant in their recovery and rehabilitation.
Dr. Laboe’s interest in becoming a physician started in high school when he took an anatomy and physiology class and found himself very fascinated with the human body and how it works. Once Dr. Laboe decided that his goal was to become a physician, his opportunity to work as a student athletic trainer at the University of Notre Dame gave him exposure to taking care of patients with acute injuries and returning them to normal function. One of the things Dr. Laboe enjoys most about his job is being able to tell patients that their fracture has healed and that they have no restrictions. The process of recovery from a bone fracture can be a very long and difficult time in a person’s life, both physically and mentally, and the joy he sees in people when they have finally gotten into the other end of that journey and have come out of it still able to do the activities that they love is something that Dr. Laboe looks forward to with every patient.
In his free time, Dr. Laboe likes to travel, especially to areas where he can explore outdoor activities, such as hiking. He also enjoys gardening and cooking and always look forward to being able to plan meals for family and friend.