Surgeons at The Table

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode and the season finale, we are joined by one of the most distinguished figures in surgery, Dr. Andrew Warshaw. As the W. Gerald Austen Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Warshaw’s extraordinary career has shaped surgical practice, education, and leadership on a national and international sc...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, and the second-to-last of the season, Dr. John Cameron, the Alfred Blalock Distinguished Service Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joins us to share the extraordinary story of his career. A trailblazer in pancreatic cancer surgery, Dr. Cameron is renowned for performing over 2,400 Whipple procedures. Additionally, he has mentore...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Joseph Coselli, Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Surgery, Professor and Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Program Director of the Aortic Surgery Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, reflects on the profound impact of mentorship on his career, the evolution of surgical techniques in aortic surgery, and the role of insti...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Herbert Chen, Professor of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UAB School of Medicine, reflects on his journey from being inspired by his father, a retired orthopedic surgeon, to becoming a trailblazer in academic surgery. He highlights how mentorship and a pivotal research yea...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Justin Dimick, Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Surgery in the University of Michigan Health System, shares his journey to becoming a pioneering leader in surgical innovation. In this episode, he reflects on the transformative role of mentorship in shaping his career, the importance of high standards in surgic...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Oscar Joe Hines, Chair, Executive Director, and Professor of the Department of Surgery at UCLA, shares his remarkable journey in surgery, from early inspirations to becoming a nationally recognized leader in the field. In this episode, Dr. Hines discusses the qualities essential for leadership in surgery, including emotional intelligence, time management, and the ability to ba...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Amir Ghaferi, Professor of Surgery & Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and President & CEO of Physician Enterprise Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, shares his experience establishing a bariatric surgery program at the VA, and how leadership roles have shaped his career. He dives into his research on quality and...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Bruce Perler, the Julius H. Jacobson II Professor and Vice Chair Emeritus for Clinical Operations and Financial Affairs in the Department of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine, shares his journey from a middle-class upbringing to becoming a prominent figure in vascular surgery and academic leadership. With insights into his surgical training, mentorsh...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Thomas Varghese, Professor, Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery at the University of Utah, and Chief Value Officer at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, joins us to share his inspiring journey in surgery. In this conversation, he discusses the evolving roles of mentorship and leadership, stressing the importance of resilience and continuous learning. Dr. Varghese highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rebecca Minter, Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Vice Chair of the American Board of Surgery, Board of Directors, reflects on her journey in surgery and shares her perspectives on impactful leadership, emphasizing the importance of influence over titles. She discusses challenges in perform...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Thomas Scalea, the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery, Physician-in-Chief of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, and Director of the Program in Trauma at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, joins us to discuss his unconventional path to becoming a leader in trauma care. Reflecting on pivotal career moments, Dr. Scalea highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Charles Yeo, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and Senior Vice President and Chair of Enterprise Surgery at Jefferson Health, shares his journey to becoming a leader in pancreatic surgery. He reflects on the pivotal role of mentorship, the resilience needed during his transition to faculty, and t...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Robert McIntyre, John and Cynthia Schultz Professor and Chief of the Division of GI, Trauma, and Endocrine Surgery, as well as Vice Chair of Finance in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado, reflects on how personal trauma influenced his career path and discusses the transition from resident to attending surgeon, highlighting the new responsibilities that com...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Parsia Vagefi, Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Strategy and Finance in the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Chief of the Division of Surgical Transplantation, shares his journey into transplant surgery and the importance of mentorship in shaping his career. Specializing in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery, he discusses the rewar...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Keith Lillemoe, W. Gerald Austen Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Surgeon-in-Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, shares his journey to becoming a leader in the field. He dives into the critical role of mentorship, the key traits of effective leadership, and how surgical education and quality improvement are evolving. Dr. Lillemoe highlights the importanc...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Allan Kirk, Professor and Chair of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine shares his unique journey from time in the military to becoming a distinguished transplant surgeon and scientist. He offers deep insights into the evolution of leadership in surgery and reflects on the critical importance of authenticity, teamwork, and balancing innovation with financial sustainab...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Martha Zeiger is an internationally renowned endocrine surgeon at the National Cancer Institute, NIH, and is an expert in the molecular aspects of thyroid cancer. She is the Founder and Dean of Endocrine Surgery University and has served as President of both the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the American Thyroid Association. In this episode, Dr. Zeiger shares...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Timothy Pawlik, Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, shares valuable insights on self-awareness, mentorship, and the power of continuous learning. He highlights the critical role professional societies play in career advancement and underscores the importance of collaboration in research. Dr. Pawlik also offers advice for aspiring lead...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Cristina Ferrone, Professor and Chair of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, shares her journey in surgical oncology and the influence of her mentors. She emphasizes the importance of finding a niche area of expertise and building collaborations with colleagues. Dr. Ferrone also discusses the significance of career planning, skill enhancement, and mentorship in faculty pro...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Steven Wexner, Professor of Surgery and Emeritus Chair of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Florida, and Editor-in-Chief of Surgery , shares his journey into surgery, the importance of leadership, and the essence of effective collaboration in healthcare. He discusses his experiences, challenges, and the significance of mentorship in shaping future le...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Gilbert Upchurch, Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, reflects on his remarkable career journey, mentorship, and the complexities of surgical leadership. He underscores the pivotal role that mentors and role models have played in shaping his career and guiding his development. As a leader, Dr. Upchurch emphasizes t...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Kevin Bozic, Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care at Dell Medical School, shares his journey in surgery and the importance of understanding the financial aspects of surgical care. He emphasizes the role of mentors and role models in obtaining leadership positions and the value of getting an MBA. Dr. Bozic also discusses the importance of inno...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Andrew Cameron, a Professor of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, shares his journey to becoming a surgeon and his experiences in the field. He discusses the influence of his father, who is a giant in surgery, and the impact it had on his career choice. Dr. Cameron talks about the challenges he faced and the importance of adaptability...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Fredric Pieracci, Professor and Director of Surgery at Denver Health Medical Center, shares his journey into surgery and the impact of working with underserved communities. He emphasizes the importance of addressing healthcare disparities and striving for equity in surgical care. Dr.  Pieracci discusses his leadership style, which includes being a servant leader, practicing ra...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Mary Killackey, Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, discusses her journey to becoming a surgeon and a leader in the field. She emphasizes the importance of mentors and sponsors in obtaining leadership positions and highlights the role of organic relationships in mentorship. Dr. Killackey also shares her experience in creati...