The House of Surgery

This episode features Mark C. Weissler, MD, FACS, an otolaryngologist and head-and-neck surgeon from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who delivered the J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In his lecture, “Surgical Professionalism and Autonomy in the 21st Century,” Dr. Weissler will unravel the profound shifts in surgery that have quietly reshaped the profession in ways s...

This episode features Declan J. Magee, MB, BCh, FRCSI, a retired surgeon from Dublin, Ireland, who gave the Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery at Clinical Congress 2024. In his lecture, “Global Surgery: A Tale of Two Colleges,” Dr. Magee addresses the gap between the surgical “haves” and “have nots”—something the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the College of Su...

This episode features Jo Buyske, MD, FACS, president and CEO of the American Board of Surgery, who gave the Olga Jonasson Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In her lecture, “Not on My Watch,” Dr. Buyske describes traits shared by surgeons leaders, including taking responsibility for the whole patient.   Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery

This episode features Andrew B. Peitzman, MD, FACS, a trauma surgeon from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who delivered the Scudder Oration on Trauma at Clinical Congress 2024. In his lecture, “Major Hepatic Injury: We Can Do Better,” Dr. Peitzman talks about the need for trauma and liver surgeons to collaborate to treat these uncommon injuries that have seen a patient survival plateau for decades. Talk...

This episode features Ann C. Lowry, MD, FACS, FASCRS, a colorectal surgeon from Minnetonka, Minnesota, who gave the Abcarian Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In her lecture, “Surgery Has Come a Long Way… Where Do We Go from Here?,” Dr. Lowry takes listeners on a journey through time, offering personal and professional perspectives on the past, present, and future of surgery. Talk about the podca...

This episode features Brian T. Andrews, MD, FACS, FAANS, a neurosurgeon from San Francisco, California, who delivered the Drake History of Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. His lecture, “Dr. Charles B. Wilson: Cherokee Neurosurgeon,” Dr. Andrews highlights the genius, amazing physical skill, and intense work ethic of Dr. Wilson, who is known for performing up to 15 operations per week in...

This episode features Jessica S. Donington, MD, MSCR, FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from The University of Chicago, who delivered the John H. Gibbon Junior Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In her lecture, “Lung Cancer Revolution,” Dr. Donington talks about the negative stigma that is sometimes associated with a lung cancer diagnosis, which can lead to unintended consequences such as disease-rel...

This episode features Lester Martinez-Lopez, MD, MPH, a retired family medicine physician from Falls Church, Virginia, who gave the Martin Memorial Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. Dr. Martinez-Lopez, who most recently worked as the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs at the US Department of Defense. His lecture is titled “Lessons Learned and Future Challenges for Surgery.”   Talk...

This episode features Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, who was installed during Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco as the American College of Surgeons 105th President. Shortly afterward, she delivered her Presidential Address, “Excelling Together.”   Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

This episode offers a deep dive into an alarming trend — a rising incidence of colorectal cancer cases in young adults, not only in the US but also in other countries around the world. Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD (Hon), FACS, a colorectal surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic in Florida talks with Matthew F. Kalady, MD, FACS, a widely recognized expert in colorectal cancer and its hereditary syndromes f...

This episode features a fireside chat with L. D. Britt, MD, MPH, FACS, a world-renowned, highly decorated, and innovative surgeon known for introducing the term “acute care surgery” and molding that emerging surgical discipline. Dr. Britt was a long-time leader in the American College of Surgeons, serving on numerous committees and making a profound and positive impact, not only on the ACS, but al...

This episode features Jennifer A. Wargo, MD, MMSc, a surgical oncologist from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center who is renowned for her understanding of melanoma treatment response and groundbreaking discoveries related to how the gut microbiome influences response to immunotherapy. Dr. Wargo gave the Commission on Cancer Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023, “Breaking the Mold: Chart...

This episode provides an overview of the recent ACS Leadership & Advocacy Conference and offers advice to surgeons in all career stages about how they can enhance their leadership skills and then use those skills to advocate for the profession. Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS, Director of the ACS Division of Member Services, talks to two high-powered surgeon-leaders—Timothy J. Babineau, M...

This episode features Henry Buchwald, MD, PhD, FACS, a pioneering metabolic surgeon and educator from the University of Minnesota, who gave the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “Metabolic Surgery: Bariatrics and Beyond,” Dr. Buchwald reviews the evolution of metabolic surgery and how it is being used to ameliorate obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperten...

This episode features Travis N. Rieder, PhD, a well-regarded bioethicist and former opioid therapy patient from Baltimore, Maryland, who delivered the J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. His lecture, “America’s Opioid Dilemma: Ethical Prescribing during an Overdose Epidemic,” explores the multifaceted nature of ethical prescribing and emphasizes his own poignant stru...

This episode features a fireside chat with Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, FACS, the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. He’s also the surgeon-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine Center, Vice-Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, and Chair of the ACS Clinical Congress Program Committee. Dr. Michelassi reflects o...

This episode features Edward E. Cornwell, MD, FACS, a trauma surgeon from Washington, DC, who delivered the Scudder Oration on Trauma at Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “Trauma Care: The Vehicle, the Barometer, the Original Yardstick for Equal Care in America,” Dr. Cornwell uses some historically significant cases to describe how trauma surgery has the unique power to transcend barriers. ...

In this episode, the Medical Director for ACS Cancer Programs—Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS—talks with three of his colleagues— Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, Laurie J. Kirstein, MD, FACS, Timothy W. Mullett, MD, FACS—about the recent successful ACS Cancer Conference in Austin, Texas. In addition to the key insights and lessons learned from the conference, they also discuss new opportunities for c...

This episode features Tracy L. Hull, MD, FACS, a colorectal surgeon from Cleveland, Ohio, who gave the Abcarian Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In her lecture, “Things I wish I Had Known at the Start of My Journey,” Dr. Hull shares 10 important career lessons, including publishing early, getting the right mentor, putting family first, and finding your niche.     Talk about the podcast on social...

This episode features Ewen M. Harrison, OBE, MB, ChB, MSc, PhD, a hepatobiliary and transplant surgeon from Edinburgh, Scotland, who gave the Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery at Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Global Surgery,” Dr. Harrison talks about using AI to enhance precision care through prediction and democratiz...

In this episode, two retired Navy captains reflect on the benefits and challenges of careers as military surgeons. They also provide considerations for transitioning from a military to a civilian surgical career.     Capt. (Ret.) Richard Sharpe, MD, FACS, MC, USN, is a general surgeon specializing in trauma and surgical critical care. He is the chief of surgery at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital in Phi...

This episode features Frederick G. Barker II, MD, FACS, a neurosurgeon from Boston, Massachusetts, who delivered the Charles G. Drake History of Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. His lecture, “Pathologies of the Surgical Image in Modern American Popular Culture,” begins with a sensational neuroscience case from the 19th century and pivots to sensational portrayals of surgeons in the liter...

This episode features a fireside chat with Anton Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, past Chair of the ACS Board of Regents and current Lewis B. Saltz Chair and Professor of Surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Sidawy reflects on his career as a vascular surgeon, researcher, teacher, and leader. The program host is Dr. Mohsen Shabahang for the ACS Academy of Master Surg...

In this episode, the Medical Director of ACS Trauma Quality Programs—Avery B. Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS—talks with two of his trauma colleagues—Anne G. Rizzo, MD, FACS, and Bryce Robinson, MD, MS, FACS—about the recent successful Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the key insights and lessons learned from TQIP, they also discuss a new guidance do...

This episode features Susan E. Mackinnon, MD, FACS, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from St. Louis, Missouri, who gave the Olga M. Jonasson Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In her lecture, “Phoenix Rising: The Culture of Surgery—A Paradigm Shift,” Dr. Mackinnon discusses the concept of energy leadership, a seven-level strategy that can transform how an individual interacts with—and ultimate...