BOSS Business of Surgery Series

Summary Dr. Amy Vertrees, the host, introduces the episode focusing on the prolonged stress cycle, a topic relevant to many, especially female surgeons, given the various stressors in medicine and the world . She notes that this topic arose from discussions within the female boss surgeons group, emphasizing its importance and broad applicability . The group, which meets weekly and twice monthly on...

The latest BOSS podcast episode features Dr. Jill Clark, with a truly inspiring story. She had her dream job as a colorectal surgeon in a beautiful city, respected by her peers. But under the surface, she felt a growing discontent—one that she tried to ignore until life forced her to listen. Between the pandemic, a breast cancer diagnosis, and an unraveling work environment, Jill felt like a hurri...

🎧 Episode Summary: What makes a great speech? In this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees welcomes Cesar Cervantes , author, stand-up comedian turned speaker coach, and expert on public speaking strategy. Cesar shares how his comedy roots led him to discover the power of humor, vulnerability, and story structure—and how surgeons and professionals alike can apply these principles to speak with authenticity...

Summary Dr. Elisa Chiang discussed strategies for creating predictability in unpredictable economic times, emphasizing that the fundamentals of the economy are generally sound, with current uncertainty stemming from external factors. She highlighted the importance of understanding economic interrelations and the potential impact of challenging international relationships. Dr. Chiang suggested that...

Summary The meeting focused on discussing the concept of being a 'slow surgeon' and strategies for managing surgical performance and confidence. The speaker began by exploring what 'slow' means in surgical context, encouraging participants to share their perspectives. Participants noted that slowness could be relative, influenced by comparison to others, and affected by various factors including s...

Summary Dr. Amy Vertrees hosts a discussion with Sarah Bellenger, a CRNA with extensive military and civilian healthcare experience. Sarah discusses her journey from military service to civilian practice, and the development of her app 'ManageYou'. Sarah Bellenger shares her 25-year nursing career experience, including service at the White House, military deployments, and transition to civilian pr...

Summary Dr. Amy hosts a discussion with Dr. Cate Straub about community and rural surgery. Dr. Straub shares her journey from being an East Coast city girl to practicing in rural North Central Washington, specifically in Wenatchee. Dr. Straub describes her experience establishing a pancreatic surgery practice in a rural setting. She explains how she built the practice by working with interventiona...

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series , we dive into the journey behind the third edition of a widely used surgical textbook. Dr. Mark Neff, the book’s original author, shares how failing his oral board exam inspired him to create a resource that has since transformed surgical education. Joined by Dr. Kay Yoon-Flanery, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon, and Dr. Ashanti Ratnaseke...

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael Hersh, a practicing gastroenterologist and physician coach, to discuss his personal journey through medical burnout and how coaching transformed his career and well-being. Dr. Hersh shares candid insights into the pressures of practicing medicine, the impact of a malpractice lawsuit, and the additional stressors brought on by COVID-19....

Summary In this interview, Dr. Adrienne Towson, an orthopedic surgeon with 21 years of experience, shared her professional journey and insights about the changing landscape of healthcare. Dr. Towson discussed her career progression from hospital employment to private practice, and ultimately to a private equity-backed management company. She described her early career challenges as a single mother...

Summary In this interview, Dr. Sarah Smith, a rural family physician and charting coach, shared valuable insights about improving clinical efficiency and patient care. Dr. Smith discussed common challenges faced by surgeons in clinic settings, including high patient volume, time management, and staff delegation. She emphasized the importance of effective communication with clinic staff, proper del...

Summary Dr. Amy Vertrees presented a comprehensive discussion on 'Swimming with Sharks 2.0', exploring the metaphor of surgery and surgical environments as shark-infested waters. She explained how surgeons are often perceived as sharks, and how this perception has been perpetuated in medical culture. Dr. Vertrees, a general surgeon in private practice, author of 'Become the Boss MD', and certified...

Summary In this interview, Dr. Susan Trocciola, a cardiothoracic surgeon, discussed her experiences with locum tenens work and expert witness consulting. Dr. Trocciola shared her journey from traditional employment to locums after facing challenges in finding the right job fit and dealing with personal health issues. She emphasized how locums work has allowed her to achieve better work-life balanc...

Summary This meeting featured a discussion with Dr. Josh Hartzell about his new book 'A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership'. Dr. Hartzell, a recently retired army colonel with 25 years in military medicine, shared insights about building a culture of compassion and excellence in healthcare leadership. He emphasized how healthcare, despite being a caring profession, often neglects its...

Episode Title: Blood Sugar Stabilization and Preventive Health with Dr. Amina Goodwin Summary: In this insightful episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, Dr. Amina Goodwin shares her expertise on blood sugar stabilization and its impact on overall health. An internal medicine and infectious disease physician originally from Antigua, Dr. Goodwin has been practicing in Mississippi since 2013...

Summary In this interview, Dr. Christin Mullane discusses her new book 'Medical Stress and Trauma: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Reclaiming Safety and Empowerment,' which addresses the psychological challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients in medical systems. Dr. Mullane, a psychologist with extensive experience in various healthcare settings across the United States, explains how the...

Find more information here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/impactwellbeingguide/index.html https://drlornabreen.org/become-an-ambassador/   Summary In this interview, Dr. Stephanie Simmons, an emergency room physician and Chief Medical Officer of the Lorna Breen Foundation, discussed the critical issue of mental health among healthcare workers. Dr. Simmons shared her personal experience...

Summary In this interview, Dr. Mel Thacker discussed her significant career transition from a successful surgical practice to becoming a coach for surgeons. Dr. Thacker shared that she left her practice in December 2024 after nearly a decade of service, despite being at the peak of her career with a high six-figure income. She cited three main reasons for her departure: moral injury from the healt...

Summary The meeting featured Frank Lobb, a former Navy pilot, discussing healthcare insurance contracts and their impact on medical care. Lobb shared his personal experience of losing his wife after being denied healthcare coverage, despite offering to pay out of pocket. He explained how his investigation through legal proceedings revealed that healthcare insurance contracts are secret, state-appr...

Summary In this conversation, Dr. Jen Johansson shared her journey from being a dentist to pursuing a more holistic approach to life and work. Dr. Johansson discussed her experiences with seasonal depression, feeling misaligned in her dental career, and eventually finding a new path through digital marketing and coaching. The discussion focused on how to have difficult conversations about controve...

Summary The meeting featured Dr. Erin Stevens, a gynecologist oncologist at Prevea Health, discussing her experiences with medical mission trips to Bolivia through Solidarity Bridge since 2019. Dr. Stevens shared how she began these missions through a former surgery partner's invitation, initially working in Santa Cruz and later in Sucre. She detailed the significant differences between US and Bol...