On a busy afternoon on the third floor of Shriners Children's Lexington, Anne Marie Dumaine, M.D., moved between exam rooms, offering encouragement, high-fives and laughter to her young patients.

One teen beamed as she proudly showed Dr. Dumaine her Taylor Swift T-shirt - a moment that Dr. Dumaine celebrated with a big smile and genuine excitement.

It's small moments like these that set the tone for Dr. Dumaine's patient care: approachable, compassionate and rooted in building trust.

Dr. Dumaine is the newest pediatric orthopedic specialistandsurgeon at Shriners Children's Lexington. She cares for children with a variety of orthopedic conditions, including neuromuscular challenges, clubfoot, hip dysplasia and traumatic injuries.

"I'm tremendously blessed to be able to impact patients really early in their life, get them back to what they want to do, and give them the highest level of function," Dr. Dumaine said.

Discovering a Passion for Pediatric Orthopedics

Born and raised in the small Northern Kentucky town of California, Dr. Dumaine always felt a pull toward science and problem-solving. She pursued a bachelor's degree at Transylvania University in Lexington before earning her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati.

Her journey to pediatric orthopedics continued with an orthopedic surgery residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, as well as a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at Texas Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas.

During medical school, Dr. Dumaine initially thought she would become a pediatrician. But a series of experiences in surgery revealed a different path.

"I quickly found that my personality fit a little bit better as a surgeon," she said. "Really, the biggest thing for me is the opportunity to get patients back to what they love to do, and seeing that immediate impact for patients."

She found her perfect fit in pediatric orthopedics, drawn to the opportunity to provide care that spans from head to toe.

"In pediatric orthopedics, we're still able to offer a lot of general care - whether it's the spine, trauma, neuromuscular conditions - and that really appealed to me, and made me want to pursue a career in pediatric orthopedics," Dr. Dumaine said.

Sights Set on Shriners Children's

Dr. Dumaine's relationship with Shriners Children's Lexington began long before she joined the team. During her time as a medical student, she completed a rotation at Shriners Children's and immediately felt the impact of the team's passion and dedication.

"Even from that standpoint, it was just a special group," she said. "There was great education for the residents. Everyone was really passionate about what they were doing."

When a position opened last year, everything lined up - including the opportunity to care for a patient population she is especially passionate about: children with neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy.