The Intentional Surgeon with Sharon L. Stein, MD

In this deeply moving episode of The Intentional Surgeon , Dr. Sharon Stein welcomes Dr. Melissa Red Hoffman — trauma surgeon, hospice and palliative care director, writer, and former naturopathic doctor — for a conversation about the culture of surgery, vulnerability, and the power of integrated identity in medicine. Dr. Hoffman opens up about her nontraditional path, surviving violent loss, and...

This week on The Intentional Surgeon, I sit down with Dr. Amy Vertrees for a deeply resonant conversation on pivotal career moments, leadership in medicine, and the power of sharing hard-earned lessons. Dr. Vertrees shares the turning point when she realized the system wasn’t what she expected—and how she moved forward with intention instead of waiting for perfect conditions. From building somethi...

1001 Cuts: Being A Woman Surgeon in 2025 This episode is for women and men surgeons. It is important that all of us see the biases that still occur every day in (and out) of the operating room. It is literally 1001 Cuts. Asking for things multiple times, defer from the senior women surgeon to the young man medical student, having the equipment not fit. Needing a male colleague to explain what we a...

In this week’s episode of The Intentional Surgeon , Dr. Mark Soliman, the founder of SurgeOn App , joins the conversation to challenge the myth of surgical perfection. From the harmful culture of “peacocking” to the transformative power of vulnerability, Dr. Soliman advocates for honest reflection over performative excellence. Complications are inevitable, but it’s through embracing imperfection t...

In this week’s episode of The Intentional Surgeon , Drs. Sharon L. Stein and Sunil Geevarghese dive into the emotional aftermath of surgical complications, questioning whether we prioritize learning or healing after a complication. They explore the pressure to present cases at M&M conferences before true recovery can occur, the emotional toll this tradition carries, and the need to rethink how...

In this compelling episode of The Intentional Surgeon Podcast , Dr. Neil Hyman , retired colorectal surgeon and author of The Breaking of the Surgeons , joins Dr. Sharon Stein to discuss the emotional and systemic challenges facing today’s healthcare professionals. From the heartbreak of watching young surgeons navigate a performative and unsupportive system, to the growing concern that healthcare...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon L. Stein explores the often-overlooked aspect of professional development in surgical training. While medical school dedicates substantial time to pathology, pathophysiology, and technical skill-building, there is a third, crucial component to a surgeon's growth — the development of a professional identity. Sharon delves into her personal expe...

The importance of failing better. As surgeons, striving for perfection is ingrained in the profession, but failure presents an opportunity to rethink, adapt, and improve. Failure is an inevitable part of growth—and it happens to all of us. This week on The Intentional Surgeon, host Dr. Sharon L. Stein is joined by Dr. Tania Arora, a surgical oncologist, professor, and Vice Chair of Access and Enga...

Sometimes, a simple shift in perspective leads to groundbreaking innovation. In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon , Sharon L. Stein welcomes Dr. Daniel A. Hashimoto, a trailblazing surgeon who is reshaping how artificial intelligence is integrated into surgical practice. Dr. Daniel A. Hashimoto is a surgeon and AI expert dedicated to advancing technology in surgical practice. His research fo...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, we are going to talk about what happens when your values conflict with the profession of medicine. We are going to talk about how we, as surgeons, became indoctrinated into the profession of medicine. How we were rewarded for our service and the price we paid to belong. And we are going to talk about why, when we begin to feel that our values might confl...

In this enlightening episode of The Intentional Surgeon Podcast, we welcome Dr. Carla Pugh . Dr. Pugh's research in technology-driven training has made it clear that we are not measuring what matters most... we are not measuring the outcomes of surgery that matter. Why? Because we don't have the ability to do so safely. "No one wants a bronze medalist surgeon - we all want the gold medal surgeon....

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon L. Stein sits down with the esteemed Dr. Ross , a board-certified advanced Foregut and HPB surgeon with nearly two decades of expertise in robotic and single-incision laparoscopic surgeries. Dr. Ross has performed groundbreaking work in minimally invasive operations for conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and liver, and is d...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, host Sharon L. Stein welcomes Dr. Husein Moloo , Director of Planetary Health and Professor of Surgery at the University of Ottawa. Climate change is one of the biggest concerns for people around the globe, and surgery creates a huge amount of waste. In this episode, Dr. Moloo delves into the ways that we can change our eco-anxiety into eco-action - incl...

Season 1 of The Intentional Surgeon Wraps Up! What a journey it’s been! Season 1 has brought us incredible guests, tackled challenging topics, and sparked so much learning and growth. As we plan for an even more impactful 2025, we’d love to hear from YOU! What intentions are you setting for 2025? Who would you love to see as a guest? Anything you’d like us to improve? Your feedback shapes the futu...

Jo Shapiro, MD, FACS , is an associate professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School and a consultant for the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2008, she founded the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center for Professionalism and Peer Support , where she served as the director for over 10 years. In 2018, Harvard Medical School gave her the Shirle...

Jo Shapiro, MD, FACS , is an associate professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School and a consultant for the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2008, she founded the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center for Professionalism and Peer Support , where she served as the director for over 10 years. In 2018, Harvard Medical School gave her the Shirle...

Dr. Bethany Malone is a colorectal surgeon, an actor, and a colorectal TickTok phenomenon. A native of Fort Worth Texas she did her medical training in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, before heading back to Texas to start practice in the middle of the pandemic. After just months, she was finding that her practice was making her miserable. She was running around doing acute care surgery, rather t...

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon with Sharon L. Stein, MD we hear from Steven D. Wexner MD, PhD (Hon), FACS, FRCS (Eng, Ed), Hon FRCS (I, Glasg) . Anyone who knows Steve knows what an academic, clinical, and educational powerhouse he is. With over 600 articles to his credit, zillions of lectures, and hundreds of mentees, Steve is known around the globe as a colorectal surgeon, researcher...

Dr. Buyske is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Board of Surgery (ABS). She joined the board in 1998, initially as a Qualifying Examination item writer, then an associate examiner, and finally, a director of the ABS starting in 2006. In 2008 she joined the staff full time as Associate Executive Director and Director of Evaluation, and in 2017 was named Executive Director. P...

Welcome back to The Intentional Surgeon with Dr. Sharon Stein - the podcast where we talk about the people, the institutions, and the ideas that are changing the culture of surgery. Today, we are joined by Dr. Rachel Pope . Rachel is a gynecologist who specializes in women's reconstructive surgery, concentrating on vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal surgery. Rachel's passion for this particular corn...

As academic institutions, we often find ourselves frustrated by the complexities of care transfer processes and the challenges of working with referring hospitals. It's easy to forget that everyone involved is striving to do their best under difficult circumstances. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Angela Ingraham, who encourages us to stay curious and open-minded in the face of these challenges...

Surgeons often have an A+ mindset, but too frequently, we tie our self-worth to our job titles. This fixation on continuous achievements and accolades can lead to burnout and an unbalanced life. This cycle needs to change. This week, I’m joined by Dr. Jennifer F. Tseng to discuss how our identity shouldn't be defined by our job titles, why working longer hours doesn’t necessarily make us better su...

Do you struggle with communicating and managing expectations as a surgeon? Do you find yourself expecting your residents to instinctively know what you need from them? If so, this episode is for you. Join Janet (Dombrowski) Pinkerton and me as we delve into how surgeons excel as problem solvers but often fall short when it comes to leadership. Janet has over 15 years of experience as President at...

“We either learn or win.” - Nelson Mandela. What are the fundamental attributes of leadership and how does mindfulness fit into them? Where is the fine line between respecting established foundations and initiating necessary change in a new role? Discover the balance in this week’s episode featuring Dr. Sharmila Dissanaike , where every situation is an opportunity to learn and grow. Dr. Sharmila D...

“The only true advocate for yourself is you.” - Shannon Marie Foster, MD, FACS This week, I'm thrilled to welcome the incredible Shannon Marie Foster . Join us as we explore the diverse career paths within the surgical field that can lead to a more joyful, balanced, and fulfilling life. Shannon Marie Foster, MD, FACS is a highly accomplished surgeon originally from Akron, Ohio. After completing he...