BOSS Business of Surgery Series

Episode Description What if the next goal isn’t the answer? In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, host Dr. Amy Vertrees speaks with Jessica Smarro, licensed therapist, certified life coach, and author of In Pursuit: Go After What You Want, Alive, Aligned, and Fully You. Jessica shares her journey from nearly 15 years working in jail diversion programs to helping high achievers “f...

Episode Description What happens when the career that once defined you no longer fits—or ends entirely? In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series , host Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Elizabeth Parsons , former Wall Street lawyer and author of Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement . Elizabeth shares her deeply personal journey of leaving a prestigious legal career...

Episode Description What if the peak of your career isn’t when you’re most celebrated—but when you no longer need to be? In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series , Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with surgical oncologist and former military surgeon Dr. Matthew Hueman to explore belonging, burnout, identity, and the quiet work of finding peace in a demanding...

The Real Economics of Rural Surgery with Dr. Randy Lehman In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series , host Dr. Amy Vertrees  sits down with rural surgeon Dr. Randy Lehman for a wide-ranging conversation about rural surgery, financial freedom, and the future of surgical practice. Dr. Lehman shares his unconventional journey, from growing up on a farm in northwest Indiana to becomi...

Summary This episode of the Boss Business of Surgery Series (episode 208) continues the discussion on expanding emotional capacity, specifically focusing on how other people can help surgeons expand their emotional capacity. The host discusses how surgeons traditionally focus on improving skills and knowledge throughout their careers, but emotional capacity is equally important yet often overlooke...

In this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees—general surgeon, coach, and founder of the Boss Surgeons coaching community—dives into one of the most overlooked competencies in surgical training: emotional capacity. Surgeons are taught how to operate under pressure, handle emergencies, and constantly pursue excellence. But very few are ever taught how to feel the intense emotions that come with the job, let al...

🔍 Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees explores one of the most pervasive and dangerous habits in surgery: overworking. Surgeons are trained for excellence and rewarded for endurance, but this mindset can quietly erode health, relationships, and even clinical effectiveness. Dr. Vertrees shares her personal journey of learning to set boundaries after years of believing...

Moral Courage in Medicine — Leading with Integrity at Every Level Guest: Dr. Jessica Bunin Host: Dr. Amy Vertrees, The BOSS Business of Surgery Series Podcast 💡 Episode Summary In this episode, host Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Dr. Jessica Bunin , a West Point graduate, psychiatrist turned critical care physician, and co-founder of All Levels Leadership . With over two decades of military serv...

Summary This podcast episode from the Boss Surgery Series features Dr. Amy Vertries interviewing Dr. Sarah Rasmussen, a pediatric transplant surgeon, about her experience of being in the wrong job and navigating a career transition. Dr. Rasmussen shares her journey from working at the University of Virginia (UVA) to Seattle Children's Hospital and then to a new position that better aligned with he...

Summary This episode of the Boss podcast features Dr. Jennifer Whittington sharing her experience with toxic work environments and how she navigated leaving such situations. The host, Dr. Amy Vertries, introduces the podcast as focusing on lessons not taught in residency for surgeons. Dr. Whittington discusses her first job search after residency, where she was geographically limited due to custod...

Summary This meeting record transcript is a conversation between a host and Dr. Michael Sutherland, the membership director of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The discussion covers various aspects of the ACS, including its mission, membership benefits, educational resources, advocacy efforts, international outreach programs, and the annual Clinical Congress event. Dr. Sutherland shares his...

In this episode, Amanda Hill, JD joins Amy to talk about why they relaunched the 90 Day Notice program —and why it’s more important than ever. Drawing from real stories of doctors facing workplace struggles, they highlight the common scenarios physicians are navigating: complications clustered together, staff complaints escalating into formal reviews, sudden RVU changes, a...

In this episode of the Boss Business of Surgery Series , Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Dr. Courtney McKeown , who shares her remarkable journey from navigating an operative gap to becoming chief of surgery at a rural hospital . Dr. McKeown opens up about the challenges she faced after being laid off from her first job, her prior recovery from substance use disorder, and the difficulties of secur...

Summary The meeting was day three of a launch week focused on complications in surgery, presented by a surgeon who is also an author, podcast host, and certified coach. The presenter emphasized that complications are inevitable in surgical practice and provided guidance on how to manage them effectively. The presenter began by outlining the main topics to be covered: understanding what a complicat...

n this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with her longtime office manager, Carrie Glass , to unpack one of the most overlooked yet critical dynamics in a physician’s career: the relationship between doctor and office manager. With decades of experience running medical offices, Carrie shares insider knowledge that every new attending needs to hear—from credentialing pitfalls and the revenue cycle...

How do surgery residents find their first job—and keep it? In this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Dr. Sharon Stein, a colorectal surgeon turned professional development coach, to talk about her new program designed to help residents land jobs that truly fit their goals and values. Dr. Stein shares eye-opening statistics: 15% of surgeons leave their first job within 2 years. 50% leave wit...

What happens when a “good job” no longer feels good enough? In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series Podcast , Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Dr. Yemi Lamikanra , orthopedic hand surgeon and founder of Cura Hand Surgery and Orthopedics in Atlanta, to discuss her bold decision to leave a large multi-specialty group and start her own solo practice. Dr. Lamikanra opens up about the piv...

Summary Dr. Amy Vertrees, a surgeon, author, podcast host, and certified coach, delivered the first session of a launch week series aimed at new attending physicians. The presentation focused on common mistakes new attendings make and strategies to avoid them. Dr. Vertrees   emphasized that the information shared was based on her own experiences and lessons learned throughout her career. Dr....

Episode Summary: In this deeply moving and practical episode, palliative care nurse Tammy Stokes shares how a personal health crisis at age 36—nearly 100% blockage in three arteries—transformed her career and mission in healthcare. Now an advocate and leader in palliative care in Tennessee, she brings firsthand experience and clinical insight to the often-avoided conversations about serious illnes...

Summary Amy introduces Dr. Adam Rosen, an orthopedic surgeon and author of "OR Confidential: Confessions of a Gen X Surgeon," highlighting the book's exploration of the challenges and mental health struggles faced by physicians, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the book's relevance to both medical professionals and patients seeking to understand the physician's journey, its...

🔍 Episode Overview: In this powerful episode, general surgeon Dr. Courtney Kemp shares her journey from a small town in Montana to establishing a successful private practice in Minnesota. She opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to become a national advocate for medical liability reform , and how early career complications transformed her into a leader in physician protection and legis...

Episode Highlights ✅ Introduction to Lion Taming (00:00:00) Dr. Amy Vertrees introduces the “Lion Taming” master class on power and negotiation. Highlights her coaching program for women surgeons, helping them handle difficult colleagues, power dynamics, and negotiations. Defines BOSS as a suite of coaching and courses teaching crucial career skills often missing from surgical training. ✅ Who (o...

🔎 Episode Highlights Career Evolution and Motivation Dr. Foster shares her journey from growing up in a working-class family in Ohio to becoming a trauma surgeon. Discusses how experiences in diverse healthcare settings—from academic to rural—revealed widespread communication issues. COVID-19 became a catalyst for shifting toward consulting, helping physicians navigate workplace conflicts. Identi...