Surgical Hot Topics

Healthcare - and life- are filled with friction. In this episode, Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Huggy Rao, co-author of The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier, about eliminating the forces that make it harder to get things done.

Harvard Business School professor and researcher of psychological safety, Amy Edmondson, explains the difference between good and bad failures and how to think about and practice failure wisely.  She shares examples of how people and organizations can embrace human fallibility, pursue smart risks, and prevent avoidable harm.

According to James Danckert, professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo and co-author of Out Of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom, “Boredom feels uncomfortable because it is pushing you to be the person that’s in control, to acknowledge that you’re the author of your own life." In this first episode of season four of The Resilient Surgeon, Dr. Michael Maddaus speaks with Danckert about the purpose of boredom and how it can help us find meaning in our lives.

In this season finale episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, host Dr. Thomas Varghese speaks with Dr. Stephanie Fuller, attending surgeon in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. and chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting, about creating a life of impact. For Dr. Fuller, it's about positioning oneself to be open to opportunities - both the expected and unexpected. "Lessons will come from all sorts of people along your pathway. Be receptive to anybody who is willing to each  you," she advises. "You don't want to look back one day and regret not fully taking advantage of learning opportunities and the relationships you've fostered over the years." She also shares a glimpse into exciting plans underway for the 2025 STS Annual Meeting 

Isabelle Opitz, MD, is the director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, and an associate professor for thoracic surgery at the University of Zurich, as well as the chair of the Lung Cancer Center in Zurich. In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, Dr. Opitz talks with Dr. Thomas Varghese about her international career path, spanning Germany, France, and Switzerland, where she now resides. She explains how career journeys in Europe differ from the US, especially for women, and how the healthcare system overseas is striving for greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Varghese joins Dr. Yolonda Colson, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, in an insightful conversation on the advancement of women into key leadership roles and why that is still lacking today in the cardiothoracic surgery specialty. Dr. Olson shares her origin story - "from farm to the CT surgery field" - as an accomplished surgeon and scientist. Her advice on becoming a consistently high performer? "Stay focused on your purpose and not just the result. And stay open to new opportunities." 

In this episode of The Same Surgeon, Different Light, podcast host Dr. Thomas Varghese explores the opportunities, the rewards, the sacrifice, and the struggles in life as a cardiothoracic surgeon with Dr. Mimi Ceppa, a thoracic surgeon at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Ceppa shares her family's journey as immigrants from Vietnam to Canada, the expectations placed on her to become a doctor, and how she balances her career and her personal life. No doubt, it's a "can't miss" episode. 

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, your host, Dr. David T. Cooke, talks with Dr. Ikenna Okereke, vice chair of the department of surgery at Henry Ford Health, and Dr. Mark Henderson, professor of medicine and vice chair of education at UC Davis Health, about the role of education in medical workforce diversity. Together, they address the need for an intentional, progressive approach to creating a more inclusive workforce and the significant impact diversity within the field has on decreasing healthcare inequalities, boosting workforce engagement and retention, and providing support for underrepresented communities. "Diversity brings improved results," said Dr. Okereke. "When a workforce is more representative, we reduce mistrust and improve access in marginalized communities."

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, host Dr. Thomas Varghese chats with Dr. Mara Antonoff, associate professor and program director of education, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about the origins of her career. Dr. Antonoff shares what it takes to be a leader in thoracic education, what she learned about the importance of independent and deliberate practice as a competitive figure skater, and the power of resilience from her parents who “made do with very minimum resources.” Dr. Antonoff remembers, “My parents worked hard to ensure we had opportunities to get the education we needed to become successful members of the community.”

In this episode hosted to Dr. David T. Cooke, Drs. Jordan Dozier, Clauden Louis, and Michael Onwugbufor talk about their long, education journey, how to design a practice, and their shared experiences. 

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, Dr. Thomas Varghese talks with Dr. Richard Ohye, the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center, about finding his superpower in cardiothoracic surgery, and how his career has evolved over the years. 

In this episode, Dr. David T. Cooke talks with Dr. Angelica Martin, UC Davis Health, and Dr. Lillian Tsai, Stanford Medicine, about their career journeys and the people who have been a positive influence on them. “I come from an underserved community and I’m the first in my family to go to college,” said Dr. Martin. “At first, it felt like I was navigating this career on my own. My mentor has been my north star.”

In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, Dr. Michael Maddaus interviews Monica Parker, author of The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead.  Parker has spent decades helping people discover how to lead and live wonderfully by cultivating curiosity, empathy, and open mindedness. Here, she explains the elements and elicitors of wonder, and how it can transform people's brains and bodies. It's about "becoming more wonder-prone and reconnecting with a reverence for the world and all the magic in it."      

In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, Gloria Mark, Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, explains how people interact with information technology in their everyday life: how it affects multitasking, attention, mood, and above all, stress. She studies people's behavior in real-world settings and found that most people are experiencing information overload, which continues to shrink our attention spans. What can you do to better manage information technology? Listen today.  

Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can lead to better health. In this episode, Dr. Fred Luskin, author of Forgive For Good, shares groundbreaking research and insight into the healing powers and medical benefits of forgiveness. He offers a forgiveness method that makes it possible to move beyond being a victim to a life of contentment.

In this episode of the Resilient Surgeon, Dr. Carrie Cunningham, associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, section head of the Massachusetts General Hospital Endocrine Surgery Unit, and past-president of the Association of Academic Surgery, talks intimately with Dr. Michael Maddaus about the mental health crisis facing health care workers and shares her own lived experiences. The conversation tackles stigma and increased resources needed to support and protect those who are struggling in the health care community.

Harvard researcher Todd Rose talks with Dr. Michael Maddaus about changing the way people think about success. Author of "Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment," Rose shares his story on the unlikely paths that led him to fulfillment and success, and what it takes to beat the odds.

How you communicate with others can be interpreted in many ways. In this new episode of The Resilient Surgeon, Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Zack Wieder, CEO at Principles, about communication styles and how to bridge the gap between intention and how it's received by others. Wieder explains how gaining self-awareness and other awareness helps people make better decisions and form deeper connections. Wieder also offers a free personality assessment test to better understand yourself and others. Listen today. 

In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, hear Diana Winston, author, speaker, and director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center, talk about the natural, accessible and scientifically backed approach to improving mental health, reducing stress and fostering a deeper connection with oneself through mindfulness and meditation. 

Do you find it difficult to say no to people? Do you tend to put others' needs before your own? Dr. Vanessa Patrick-Ralhan, author of The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life, talks about empowered refusal and strategies of people who are adept at giving a clear “no” while still honoring personal relationships and keep their reputation intact.