The WISER Podcast

On this episode of the WISER Podcast, we continue Chief Insights , our mini-series highlighting the experiences of Emory’s female chief general surgery residents. Through these conversations, we explore their paths to surgery, the mentors who shaped them, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. For this installment, WISER co-presidents Julia Burns and Rachel Holstein sat down with Dr. Berna...

On this episode of the WISER Podcast, we continue Chief Insights , our mini-series highlighting the experiences of Emory’s female chief general surgery residents. Through these conversations, we explore their paths to surgery, the mentors who shaped them, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. For this installment, WISER co-presidents Julia Byrnes and Rachel Holstein sat down with Dr. Aile...

On this episode of the WISER Podcast, we continue Chief Insights , our mini-series highlighting the experiences of Emory’s female chief general surgery residents. Through these conversations, we explore their journeys in surgery, the mentors who shaped them, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. For this installment of Chief Insights, WISER co-presidents Julia Byrnes and Rachel Holstein s...

On this episode of the WISER podcast, we’re excited to launch Chief Insights , a new mini-series featuring conversations with female chief general surgery residents at Emory. Through these interviews, we explore their unique journeys in surgery and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. For our first episode of Chief Insights , WISER co-president Julia Byrnes and vice president Harleen Kaur sa...

Dr. Wendy Greene, the first African American female professor of surgery at Emory University, is a trailblazer in medicine and a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A founding member of the African American Women’s Collaborative, she has led national conversations on DEI, secured a Level I trauma designation at Howard University Hospital, mentored countless future surgeons, and was recen...

Nicole C. Schmitt, MD, FACS, is an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Emory University School of Medicine. A board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. Schmitt’s clinical and research work is focused on head and neck surgical oncology and novel therapeutic combinations. Dr. Schmitt obtained her Medical Degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri....

Dr. Emily Lagergren, MD, RPVI is a board-certified vascular surgeon with Vascular Surgical Associates. She joined VSA in 2018. Dr. Lagergren graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University, in Tallahassee, Florida, with a degree in biology. She obtained her general surgery training at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her interest to remain in the Southeast brought h...

Hi everyone! Welcome back to the third segment of our Moms in Medicine series. This week, we are talking with Dr. Gabriela García Nores. Dr. García is an esteemed plastic surgery faculty at Emory (and a huge advocate and sponsor of her mentees). Dr. Gabriela Garcia Nores received her MD degree from the Universidad San Martin de Porres, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Lima, Peru, in 2009. She complete...

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of WISER. We hope you enjoyed the first part of our series, Moms in Medicine. This week, we bring you Dr. Jacqueline Lee. Dr. Lee received her medical degree from the UNC School of Medicine where she continued on to complete an OB/GYN residency at Northwestern University. Following residency, Dr. Lee completed her Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinolog...

Hi everyone! Welcome back to The WISER Podcast after our mid-season break. We are super excited to start this new series, called Moms in Medicine, to share with you the stories from our wonderful guests about residency, motherhood, and family as busy surgeons. Our first guest is Dr. Melika Zarei Deaton. Dr. Deaton attended medical school at the Virginia Tech Carillon School of Medicine and has bee...

In this episode, we are honored to have Dr. Jennifer Kawwass with us on the podcast. Dr. Kawwass is joined by President and OBGYN hopeful Megan Wasson and Vice-President Rachel Holstein. Dr. Kawwass speaks with our team about the field of REI, the influence of social media on her patients, and her work in advocating for patients and residents. Among her numerous roles and responsibilities, she ser...

On this episode, president Shannon Su and president emeritus Elizabeth Rieger are honored to host Dr. Betsy Grunch on the WISER podcast. Dr. Grunch is a neurosurgeon, mom, and “medfluencer” who speaks with us about her insane balancing act of being a mom and a physician, working social media, and what it’s like to be a physician in the spotlight. Dr. Grunch is an esteemed Neurosurgeon and physicia...

Welcome to episode 3 of season 6! In this episode, presidents Shannon and Megan speak with Dr. Jennifer Gross about her journey to becoming a head and neck surgeon and the intrigue of head and neck surgery. Dr. Jennifer Gross is an Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology in the division of Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University. She is an Emory University School of Medicine graduate! Before atten...

In this episode, our chief editor extraordinaire, Grace, hosts Dr. McKenzie Hollon on the WISER podcast. After many seasons of speaking with surgeons at the table, we figured it was about time to go beyond the drape, and there is no better person than Dr. Hollon to do that with us. She provides a peek into the wonderful world behind the drape, what it’s like to work and train as a cardiac anesthes...

Welcome to season 6! In this episode, newly minted presidents Shannon Su and Megan Wasson interview Dr. Angela Cheng, a Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon at Emory. Dr. Cheng provides insight into her experience as a woman in largely male-dominated fields, the significance of mentorship, and the importance of standing up for yourself and asking for what you deserve. Dr. Cheng is an esteemed f...

In this episode, WISER president Lara Schwieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary interview Dr. Kirsten Freeman, a cardiovascular surgeon at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman discusses her experiences training in hospitals around the country, touches on the pros and cons of integrated vs traditional residency pathways to CT surgery, and describes the transition from surgical trainee to attending.  D...

In this episode we interview Dr. Megan Tracci, vascular and endovascular surgeon at the University of Virginia, as well as the founder and co-medical director of the UVA Northridge Vein Clinic. Dr. Tracci is our first surgeon with a JD to be featured on the podcast! WISER president, Lizzie Rieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary team up to ask Dr. Tracci about being a dual MD-JD, health policy including...

In this episode we interview Dr. Laura Ramirez-Caban, a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University Hospital. WISER third year medical students Shannon and Megan team up to ask Dr. Ramirez about minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), a relatively new subspecialty in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Later, Dr. Ramire...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Olamide Alabi, an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Jessica Keilson, general surgery PGY4, and Dr. Emma Rooney, vascular surgery fellow, teamed up to discuss Dr. Alabi’s experiences in medical school, residency, and as a vascular surgery attending. Later, we discu...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Allison Linden, an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Katya Van Anderlecht and Sophia Stylianos (M4s) teamed up to discuss Dr. Linden’s experiences as a researcher and global surgeon in Rwanda and Uganda. Later, we talk about her many roles as ECMO director, pediatric surgeon, former critical car...

In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Priscilla Strom, the first female graduate of the general surgery residency program at Emory University. She completed medical school at Emory in 1976, general surgery residency at Emory in 1981, and a trauma surgery fellowship at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in 1982. She also holds master’s degrees in both theological studies and bioeth...

In this episode, Cameron Blount (M4) and Lara Schwieger (M3) interview Dr. Frances (Francie) Jenkins! This episode focuses on advice for 4th-year medical students navigating application season, including ERAS tips, navigating virtual interviews, and formulating rank lists. Dr. Jenkins reflects on her intern year experiences and shares where she imagines herself and her career in the future. Finall...

In this episode, we take a step back in time and focus on women throughout history that have gone against the grain and pursued their passions for surgery despite obstacles and opposition. These stories highlight how far we’ve come, and remind us that there is still more work to be done. Dr. Wang and Patience discuss Major Barbara Stimson, Dr. Nina Braunwald, and Dr. Margaret Ann Bulkley, among ot...

Dr. Castater followed a unique path to becoming a trauma surgeon. From fine artist, to business school, to an unexpected trauma experience of her own that led her to medical school, Dr. Castater walks us through her journey. This episode offers perspectives on medicine as a second career, family transitions and balance, and how Dr. Castater seeks to find the good in all experiences. Hosts:  Jessic...

In this episode, co-hosted with Audible Bleeding, Dr. Rockman, the Program Director of vascular surgery residency and fellowship and a professor of surgical research at NYU, walks us through her impressive research career, touching upon finding ways to fit research into a busy surgical lifestyle, her passion for trying to bridge the gap for underrepresented/marginalized populations in clinical tri...