The Intentional Surgeon with Sharon L. Stein, MD

Physician burnout is often treated as a personal failure—a symptom of missing a meditation session or a hospital pizza party. But true burnout isn't about how much you suck; it’s about the rigid institutional matrix in which you operate. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein sits down with Dr. Najjia Mahmoud , Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery at University of Pennsylvania and past president of the Am...

In rural, underserved areas of Kenya, a lack of access to timely cesarean sections leaves young women vulnerable to the trauma of obstructed labor. Beyond the tragic loss of the child, the resulting prolonged pressure on pelvic organs causes severe tissue necrosis and the formation of vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas. Leaking urine and stool continuously, these women are often heavily stigm...

If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth-worst greenhouse gas emitter on the planet! Within hospitals, the operating room generates a staggering one-third of that entire carbon footprint. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein sits down with Dr. Patricia Sylla (System Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System) and Dr. Shaneeta Johnson (Chair of Surgery...

As surgeons, we’ve all been told the same lie: The only way to get ahead in your career is to say yes to everything. We are conditioned to believe that if we turn down a single opportunity, committee, or research project, the powers that be will stop asking, and our academic or clinical careers will stall. In this episode on the Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon L. Stein dispels this toxic surgical...

We often treat surgical culture as an immovable force of nature, something we simply have to survive. But what if the norms we pride ourselves on, the "win-at-all-costs" mentality and the "show no weakness" rule, are actually holding us back from our true potential? In this episode, Dr. Sharon L. Stein welcomes Dr. Katrina Monton , an organizational psychologist and former professional athlete. Ka...

In our surgical training, we are masters of the clinical and the technical. We know the anatomy, the indications, and the surgical techniques. But there is a missing pillar in our education — one that often accounts for 70% of the problems residency directors and surgical chairs face. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein dives into the "Soft Skills" of surgery: communication, negotiation, emotional i...

In surgery, we are taught the mechanics of saving a life, but rarely the mechanics of managing ourselves. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein sits with Dr. Daniel Eiferman, a trauma and critical care surgeon at The Ohio State University and author of the new book, Cut Open: A Surgeon's Stories of Loss, Resilience, and Growth. They dive into the "black book" of stories Danny kept for a decade, the le...

In a medical culture that often views vulnerability as a deficit and burnout as a personal failure, Dr. Mary Brandt has spent decades advocating for a different path. A retired pediatric surgeon, ordained minister, and professor of medical ethics, Mary was talking about "wellness" long before it became a buzzword in surgical training. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein and Dr. Brandt explore the in...

We often think that our traditional model of specialty-based hierarchy is the most effective - for our patients and us... but what happens when we rethink that model, and create more patient- centric models of care. It is one of many topics we cover in this episode, as Dr. Sharon Stein sits down with Dr. Vikram (Vik) Kashyap , Chair of the Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute and Vice President of...

What happens when a surgeon and a hematologist-oncologist decide to take their commitment to public health from the bedside to the ballot box? In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein is joined by trauma surgeon Jana Hambley, MD , and her husband, Bryan Hambley, MD , a leukemia specialist currently running for Secretary of State of Ohio . From their early days meeting in freshman chemistry at Notre Dame...

In this episode of the Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon Stein welcomes her longtime colleague and friend, Dr. Tanaz Ferzandi , Director of Urogynecology at Keck Hospital of USC and Past President of the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS). Drs. Stein and Ferzandi dive into the power of "cross-pollination" between surgical specialties, the systemic gender inequities built into healthcare reimburs...

Welcome to 2026! In this solo episode, Dr. Sharon Stein kicks off the year by exploring a topic that defines—and often derails—surgical careers: The Surgical Ego. We all know the TV stereotype of the arrogant surgeon. But Sharon dives into a more subtle version: the ego that hides behind the mask of the "humble, meticulous surgeon." Whether you walk into a room saying "I’ve got this" or rack yours...

In the final episode of the year, Dr. Sharon Stein sits down with Dr. Mel Thacker , an otolaryngologist and master certified coach, to discuss how surgeons can design success on their own terms. Obligation vs. Creation Energy Dr. Thacker explores the shift from "obligation energy"—performing tasks out of a sense of "should"—to "creation energy." By approaching surgery and clinic as a creative act,...

Dr. Monique Hassan , a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon and former Army surgeon, joins the podcast to share the philosophy behind her brand, "Surgery with Soul: Rooted in Purpose, Powered by Compassion." Dr. Hassan details her circuitous path to general surgery, motivated by a dramatic life-saving trauma case that cemented her commitment to becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. She disc...

Orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Lisa Canada joins the podcast to discuss her pioneering work in reforming surgical culture. Dr. Canada, who recently made history at UNC by being the first orthopedic surgeon to win both the Faculty Teaching Award and the UNC Mentorship Award, is a co-founder of Speak Up Ortho . Speak Up Ortho was born from an overwhelming collection of anonymous stories revealing the...

In this powerful episode, we welcome Dr. Brian Williams , a trauma and critical care surgeon, Air Force veteran, and former Congressional healthcare policy advisor. Dr. Williams shares the intensely personal journey that led him to write his critically acclaimed book, The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal . Dr. Williams discusses how th...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon Podcast , Dr. Lee Ponsky , Chair of Urology, shares his journey of pushing boundaries within academic medicine, finding purpose beyond traditional roles, and discovering new paths to fulfillment. Dr. Ponsky reflects on his early frustrations with systemic roadblocks in medicine and how his drive for innovation led him to challenge the status quo—most nota...

Malpractice litigation is a universal reality in medicine, yet it remains one of the most isolating and difficult experiences a physician will face. We break the silence with Dr. Gita Pensa , an emergency medicine physician, educator, and the creator of the groundbreaking podcast and resource platform, Doctors and Litigation & LEAP . Drawing on her personal 12-year legal saga that involved two...

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Dr. Julie Freischlag —a titan in surgery, education, and academic administration—to reflect on her groundbreaking career and the enduring lessons she's learned about leadership, connection, and resilience. Dr. Freischlag is currently the CEO and Chief Academic Officer at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and the Executive Vice President of Health Affairs at Ad...

Navigating a career in medicine can be a challenging journey, and sometimes, physicians face injustices and workplace conflicts that are isolating and overwhelming. In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon , we sit down with Dr. Pringl Miller and Dr. Andrea Merrill , the founders of Physicians Just Equity (PJE) , to discuss their mission to support physicians and surgeons in the United States wh...

Training as a surgeon is intense—almost a decade of education, residency, and fellowship. But for many, the most stressful phase comes next: the job search. In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Madeline Torres shares her journey from the uncertainty and anxiety of looking for her first surgical position to finding clarity, confidence, and mentorship that supported her early career. From...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon L. Stein speaks with Dr. Geeta Lal about the importance of surgical ergonomics. They discuss Dr. Lal's personal journey with surgical-related injuries, the cultural shifts needed in the surgical community to prioritize surgeon longevity, and practical tips for improving ergonomics in the operating room. Included in this conversation: The role...

Welcome to The Intentional Surgeon Podcast , where we talk about the people, institutions, and ideas that are transforming the culture of surgery. In this episode, I’m sharing a process I’ve designed to help graduating residents and fellows navigate the job search process with clarity and confidence . As someone who has mentored and coached many surgeons through the transition from training to car...

In this episode, Dr. Sharon L. Stein is joined by Dr. Edward Barksdale, a renowned pediatric surgeon and mentor. Together, they explore the powerful concept of hope—how it influences both our personal and professional lives, especially for surgeons. Key Discussion Points: The relationship between vulnerability and resilience in surgery—why hope is not "soft" but an essential discipline that drives...

Welcome back to The Intentional Surgeon , the podcast where we dive into the people, institutions, and ideas that are changing the culture of surgery. In this episode, Dr. Sharon L. Stein is joined by the incredible Dr. Sherry M. Wren , a highly respected surgeon with a career dedicated to international medicine, humanitarian surgery, and global surgery. Key Discussion Points: Dr. Wren’s introduct...