In the season premiere of Same Surgeon, Different Light, new co-hosts Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with Dr. David T. Cooke, professor in the Division of General Thoracic Surgery at UC Davis Health, and Dr. Thomas Varghese, professor and section chief of General Thoracic Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Together, they reflect on the surprising and inspiring stories shared throughout previous seasons. The episode wraps up with Drs. Cooke and Varghese turning...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 160
Host Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Jonathan Clark, leadership scholar at UTSA and co-author of Leading Through: Activating the Soul, Heart, and Mind of Leadership, about prioritizing people, purpose and real productivity to transform an organization. Hear compelling stories that show how "the legacy model of leadership can be destructive," resulting in what he calls "organizational darkness." Learn about a positive model focused on caring for people and helping them thrive.
Jan 14, 2025•51 min•Ep. 188
In this episode, Dr. Hari Keshava talks with Dr. Sid Murthy, section head, thoracic surgery at Cleveland Clinic, about thoracic surgical emergencies related to pulmonary and lung surgeries...and how optimal management of these situations often requires surgeons to anticipate, collaborate and be prepared with a well-thought-out action plan.
Jan 07, 2025•47 min•Ep. 187
In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, host Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Dr. Ross Bremner, the executive director of Norton Thoracic Institute and the department chair of the Center for Thoracic Disease and Transplantation at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, about surgeon burnout. Dr. Bremner shares his journey through burnout and how he used the 3 Cs - compassion, connection and creativity, to recover. According to the National Institutes of Health, 40% of surgeons met criteria fo...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 186
In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, Dr. Jane Yanagawa talks with Dr. Stephanie Worrell, clinical associate professor and thoracic section chief, division of cardiothoracic surgery, University of Arizona, about her expertise in esophageal perforation management. Hear how esophageal surgery can involve complications such as anastomotic leak, pain, bleeding, infection, and reflux and how surgeons can best handle them.
Dec 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 185
A traveling, mobile lung screening program has the potential to diagnose cancer earlier, leading to a higher cure rate and lower death rate. In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, STS’s new podcast series, host Dr. Jeffrey Yang talks with Dr. Robert Headrick about CHI Memorial’s “Breathe Easy” mobile lung screening program and how meeting people where they are with quality healthcare services like this one is saving lives. Learn how to build a mobile lung screening program at a hospital and gain ...
Nov 20, 2024•41 min•Ep. 184
This episode delves into the pressing need to reevaluate the management strategies for Aortic Valve Disease (AVD) worldwide. With a focus on South Asian and Sub-Saharan African nations, the discussion highlights how low-income countries predominantly rely on surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) using mechanical valves. The episode explores the unique challenges faced in these regions, where patients are generally younger compared to those in high-income countries, and the disease often stems...
Nov 19, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
As Lung Cancer Awareness Month begins, it's crucial to acknowledge the significant efforts made by STS over the past year to advocate for improved lung cancer outcomes and raise awareness. These initiatives are paving the way for better access to care and education. One of the key initiatives is the Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Initiative. STS is collaborating with institutions nationwide to help them secure funding and operational support for new mobile lung cancer screening units. These units ...
Nov 19, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In this first episode of Thinking Thoracic, Dr. Erin Gillaspie talks with Dr. Wade Iams about notable takeaways on key clinical trials presented at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer and how these findings will help shape the thoracic surgery landscape.
Nov 05, 2024•40 min•Ep. 182
In this insightful episode, we explore the multifaceted role of surgeons as leaders throughout their careers. From their first day in practice to retirement, surgeons are at the helm of guiding their teams toward common objectives. Discover how successful leaders not only articulate and emphasize shared goals but also inspire their team members by acknowledging progress and the individuals driving it. Join us as we delve into the dynamics of creating a cohesive and effective team, and discuss wh...
Nov 01, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Early career cardiothoracic surgeons face the challenge of managing and developing crucial relationships, particularly with patients. These relationships can be a source of pride and healing or a cause of stress and contempt. While training provides explicit lessons on technical procedures, guidelines, and publications, it often lacks guidance on how to achieve the best and manage the worst aspects of patient relationships. This episode delves into the complexities of patient interactions and of...
Nov 01, 2024•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Dr. Steven Gerndt is a cardiothoracic surgeon, speaker, and leadership mentor who developed the concept “Civilitas,” a system-wide cultural transformation focused on psychological safety and fostering of leadership by example. In this episode, Dr. Gerndt talks about his work dedicated to helping organizations and people navigate personal crises through counseling, affirmation, and empathy. He shares the critical importance of allowing people in crisis to be heard.
Oct 23, 2024•52 min•Ep. 181
In this week’s Resilient Surgeon episode, Sheila Heen, a lecturer on negotiation at Harvard Law School and co-author of Thanks for the Feedback and Difficult Conversations, talks about giving and receiving feedback and how we can be better at both. Specifically, Heen explains how to be less dismissive in the way we receive feedback and become genuinely grateful and appreciative of feedback from others. She also talks about creating a productive feedback culture in the workplace.
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 180
Former US Navy Commander Mike Abrashoff joins Dr. Michael Maddaus for a conversation on leadership with humanity. Abrashoff shares his success in turning around a struggling ship, the USS Benfold, which became the subject of his New York Times bestselling book, It's Your Ship. Hear about his simple yet powerful approach to leading with compassion, empathy, and respect for others.
Sep 25, 2024•59 min•Ep. 179
Join Dr. Michael Maddaus, host of The Resilient Surgeon, for a discussion with Amer Kaissi, professor of health care administration at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of Humbitious: The Power of Low Ego, High-Drive Leadership, about embracing change with an open approach rather than a defensive stance. Kaissi explains that when leaders "connect with humility and elevate with ambition" they can transform organizations.
Sep 16, 2024•48 min•Ep. 178
It's not what you do — it's what you do in-between what you do — that really matters. In this episode of The Resilient Surgeon, Dr. Michael Maddaus talks with Dr. Adam Fraser, leading educator and researcher on human performance and author of The Third Space: Using Life's Little Transitions to Find Balance and Happiness, about transitioning from one role, such as a surgeon, to the next role, such as a spouse or parent. Dr. Fraser explains, "We carry our mindset and emotional state from one of th...
Sep 09, 2024•53 min•Ep. 177
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.
Aug 29, 2024•54 min•Ep. 176
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.
Aug 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 175
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.
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 174
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 any...
Jul 25, 2024•34 min•Ep. 173
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 fro...
Jul 08, 2024•31 min•Ep. 172
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 consist...
Jun 26, 2024•49 min•Ep. 171
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" episo...
Jun 10, 2024•43 min•Ep. 170
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...
May 21, 2024•43 min•Ep. 169
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 wi...
May 14, 2024•48 min•Ep. 168
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.
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 167
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.
Apr 17, 2024•47 min•Ep. 166
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.”
Apr 02, 2024•57 min•Ep. 165
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...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 164
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 techn...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 163
