Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

This mini-series on Behind the Knife delves into the technical aspects of the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, developed through the American College of Surgeons Cancer Research Program and Cancer Surgery Standards Program. This episode highlights sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer. Hosts : - Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anders...

This episode includes two full, sample vascular scenarios pulled directly from our Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course. Listen in and test your clinical pathways in real-time as we walk through the perfect answers and provide high-yield commentary to help you pass the "hot seat." Sample Scenarios Included in This Episode: Case 22: Aortoenteric Fistula (AEF). A 78-year-old woman presents to t...

In response to increasing surgeon burnout, unsustainable clinical demands, and ongoing loss of surgeon autonomy in the setting of employee-based models, the American College of Surgeons is speaking out. In this episode, hosts Dr. Steven Thornton and Dr. Emma Burke sit down with Dr. Douglas Wood, Chair of Surgery at the University of Washington and Dr. Thomas Varghese, Editor-in-Chief of the Journa...

The House Judiciary Committee just dropped a 47-page report calling the National Residency Match Program a hiring monopoly that harms patients, doctors, and the public — and the surgical community is talking. In this episode, Dr. Patrick Georgoff is joined by BTK surgical education fellows Dr. Emma Burke and Dr. Agnes Prem Kumar, along with special guest Dr. Brian Carmody (aka the Sheriff of Sodiu...

A career in surgery has a profound impact on those who practice the craft. High rates of poor mental health are well described but incompletely understood. One potential mechanism for advancing our understanding of surgeon well-being is studying surgeons' emotional experiences. Shame, a self-conscious emotion reflecting how an individual feels about themselves, could be a particularly powerful len...

A career in surgery has a profound impact on those who practice the craft. High rates of poor mental health are well described but incompletely understood. One potential mechanism for advancing our understanding of surgeon well-being is studying surgeons' emotional experiences. Shame, a self-conscious emotion reflecting how an individual feels about themselves, could be a particularly powerful len...

A career in surgery has a profound impact on those who practice the craft. High rates of poor mental health are well described but incompletely understood. One potential mechanism for advancing our understanding of surgeon well-being is studying surgeons’ emotional experiences. Shame, a self-conscious emotion reflecting how an individual feels about themselves, could be a particularly powerful len...

Welcome back to the AI journal club! In this episode, we bring you a deep dive into a game-changing paper from The Lancet -- the MASAI study. This is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening and we're so excited to discuss it. We'll break down the study's impressive findings on interval cancer rates, sensitivity, and massive wo...

Join the Johns Hopkins Thoracic Surgery Subspecialty team on this rapid research review revealing how investigative efforts have changed the way we view and use Veno-venous (VV) ECMO therapy in the pre-lung transplant patient population working to avoid ventilator dependence and the associated morbidity while facilitating continued ambulation and preoperative optimization.  Hosts: - Dr. Alfred J....

Welcome back to Behind the Knife with Cody, Patrick, Jason, and Ayman. Today, we are tackling a defining professional ritual for every surgical trainee: the Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference. We are providing a practical roadmap to help you build clear, high-quality presentations that facilitate real learning for the entire room. Whether you are a junior resident preparing for your firs...

Xenotransplantation—the use of organs from other species to treat human disease—has long existed at the intersection of science fiction and surgical innovation. While early efforts were marked by limited success and ethical controversy, recent advances in genetic engineering, immunosuppression, and organ preservation have brought the field closer than ever to clinical reality. In this episode of B...

INTRODUCING Behind the Knife OBGYN Oral Board Review! The oral boards aren't just about knowledge—they are about executing under pressure. This course is designed to give you the structure and confidence to command the room. We have curated 98 high-yield scenarios covering the "Big Three" of the exam: Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Office Practice. Whether it’s a surgical emergency or a complex clini...

In this episode, we explore the grueling realities of the general surgery preliminary year—a high-stakes, one-year audition for surgical trainees operating without a safety net. We sit down with a program director, a former IMG prelim turned attending, and a recently successful SOAP applicant to uncover exactly what it takes to survive the scramble and excel clinically. Listen in to learn actionab...

Identification of pancreatic cystic lesions has become increasingly common due to improved resolution and increased utilization of cross-sectional imaging. However, there are many types of pancreatic cysts, each with varying degrees of malignant potential. In this episode from the HPB team at Behind the Knife, listen in as we discuss the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, and management st...

With the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in those less than 50 years of age, one must wonder how many patients present with a Stage IV diagnosis. Take a deep dive with us discussing the management of metastatic colorectal cancer by joining our team and guests, Drs. Cathy Eng, Michael D’Angelica, and Nina Sanford. Hosts:  - Dr. Janet Alvarez - General Surgery Resident at New York Medical...

In the final installment of the Healthcare Econ 101 miniseries, Dr. Christopher Childers and Dr. Nina Clark demystify the "black box" of medical billing and coding. This episode breaks down the two essential components of every medical bill: ICD codes, which identify the patient's diagnosis (the "why"), and CPT codes, which describe the specific services or procedures performed (the "what"). The d...

Ever wonder why a complex gallbladder surgery only nets the surgeon about $350, while the hospital collects thousands? In this episode, Dr. Christopher Childers and Dr. Nina Clark pull back the curtain on how the money actually flows in medicine. From the birth of the RVU to the "Two Midnight Rule," we’re breaking down the math behind your paycheck. Next Step: Ready to make sure you're actually ge...

Ever feel like you’re fluent in medical jargon but totally illiterate when it comes to the business side of surgery? You’re not alone. In this series premiere, Dr. Christopher Childers (Surgical Oncologist and health policy expert) joins Dr. Nina Clark to demystify the "second world" of medicine: healthcare finance. We’re breaking down the basic vocabulary every surgeon needs to advocate for thems...

The high-stakes world of surgical oral boards just got a high-tech upgrade. In this episode, the Behind the Knife team dives deep into the 2026 evolution of their AI Oral Board Simulator . With over 10,000 exams completed and a 99% recommendation rate from recent examinees, we’re showing you how AI is leveling the playing field for residents everywhere. Join Drs. Georgoff, Swenson, and Ali as they...

In surgery, when we think of research, often we picture randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and big data sets. But have you ever considered what we might miss by limiting our research programs to quantitative inquiry? What if you want to understand the culture or identity of your department or your training program? Or, what If you want to understand the values, priorities, and lived expe...

Surgical quality is a term that is often thrown around in surgical practice. We have multiple quality improvement projects, metrics and benchmarks that motivate us to do better, and of course the ever expanding patient reviews to possibly “reflect” the type of surgical care provided. But what does quality actually mean? What metrics can we use to understand the type of care being provided by ourse...

The Match. Two words that define the trajectory of every physician’s career in the United States. But how does the algorithm actually work, and who is looking out for the applicants navigating this high-stakes process? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Donna Lamb, President and CEO of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), to pull back the curtain on one of medicine’s most consequentia...

Robotic surgery has moved from novelty to norm, and in this episode of Behind the Knife, Drs. James Jung and Joey Lew sit down with urologic pioneer and Medtronic CMO Dr. Jim Porter to dissect how we got here, what the data really say about “the death of laparoscopy,” and where competing robotic platforms like Hugo may take the field next. From ergonomics and education to economics and global acce...

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the PRADO and NADINA randomized control trials regarding neoadjuvant therapy in Stage III melanoma with macroscopic nodal disease! Hosts : Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center. Daniel...

Research years. Professional development time. Career exploration. Whatever you call it, stepping out of clinical residency can feel confusing, intimidating, and oddly hard to plan for.  In this episode of Behind the Knife , our BTK Surgical Education Fellows Drs. Elizabeth Maginot, Nicole Petcka, Agnes Premkumar, Kara Button, Emma Burke, and Michelle LaBella sit down with Dr. Daniel Nussbaum, Ass...