Cold Steel: The CJS Podcast

Hosted by associate editor Ameer Farooq and coeditor in chief Chad Ball, Cold Steel highlights the best research being completed by Canadian surgeons, discusses education topics of interest for surgeons and trainees alike, and provides guidance for career development.

You can find and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and Stitchr, or listen to the episodes using the links below.

Episode 143: At the end of the accompanying video to this episode, Dr. Antonio Caycedo-Marulanda shows us some clips of his own operations and shares his tips and tricks. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 142: This week we were joined by trauma surgeon and podcaster Dr. Dennis Kim. Dr. Kim, among many other things, hosts the very successful and highly educational @TraumaICURounds podcast. We in Canada are lucky enough to have him back on Canadian soil, and so on this episode talked to him about his experience moving back to Canada and collaborating to develop a trauma system in Victoria, BC. We then delved into a masterclass on fascial dehiscences, ranging from closure techniques to prevent dehiscences in the first place to strategies for dealing with them when they happen. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 141: In this “journal club” edition of the podcast, we are joined by the thoughtful trauma guru Dr. Hameed to talk about his paper in the Canadian Journal of Surgery (CJS). This paper, authored by Drs. Ball, Lee, Kaminsky and Hameed, gets at the “heart” of both the decision-making and technical aspects of treating penetrating cardiac injuries. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 140: For this episode, we had the opportunity to bring back Dr. Mark Soliman, chief of colorectal surgery at AdventHealth Orlando, to talk about his exciting new venture to develop a social media app for surgeons. The app is called SurgeON. Dr. Soliman talks to us about entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a new social media platform. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 139: We managed to catch up with the globetrotting colorectal surgeon, Dr. Neil Smart, after his in-depth session at CSF on parastomal hernias. Dr. Smart is based out of Exeter, UK, and is the current editor-in-chief of the Journal of Colorectal Disease. In this masterclass episode, we delved deep into the management of parastomal hernias, covering stoma formation itself to the surgical management of this complex disease. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 138: Sometimes it’s hard to process what we’ve all been through collectively over the last 2 years since the start of COVID-19. Canada's health care system is facing tremendous strain, and it’s likely fair to say that many health care workers are facing burnout. Our guest for this week’s episode had an inspiring response to her own feelings of burnout and frustration. Dr. Heather Patterson is an adult and pediatric emergency physician in Calgary. She just released her book, Shadows and Light, a book of photographs that document the experience of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We caught up with her to ask her about her motivation for the book and what she’s learned along the way. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 137: This week we caught up with Dr. Elijah Dixon, a liver and pancreas surgeon at the University of Calgary, to talk about mindfulness and meditation. Dr. Dixon really opened our eyes to how those practices might help us both inside and outside of the operating room. We also asked Dr. Dixon about what it was like to be the president of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association as well as the Canadian Association of General Surgeons. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 136: This week on the podcast we invited Corrie White, an absolutely fabulous and experienced Medical Office Assistant, to talk about what it takes to set up a well-functioning office. Corrie breaks down how to find a good assistant and what goes into setting up an efficient system. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 135: This week we got to peek behind the curtains of academic publishing with Wendy Carroll. Wendy is the Managing Editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal Group. Wendy had some amazing insights into what goes on during the submission process, as well as the overall landscape for journals in 2022. Perhaps our favourite part of our conversation with Wendy was her tips about what makes for good writing! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 134: Dr. Charles Vollmer is the Chief of GI surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and is a passionate pancreatic surgeon. This is the second part of our masterclass series with Dr. Vollmer on cystic lesions of the pancreas. In part 2, Dr. Vollmer dives deep on IPMNs, giving us an in-depth discussion of types of IPMNs, the various guidelines for IPMN management, as well as an overview of operative principles for resecting IPMNs. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 133: Dr. Charles Vollmer is the Chief of GI Surgery and Director of Pancreatic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a repeat guest of the show. We were lucky enough to have him do another masterclass for Cold Steel, this time on cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. In part 1 of this masterclass, Dr. Vollmer gives us an overview of cystic lesions of the pancreas, as well as their diagnosis and management. Make sure to check out part 2 as well, where Dr. Vollmer specifically focuses on IPMNs. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 132: On this episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Donna Kimmaliardjuk (@DKimmaliardjuk on Twitter). Dr. Kimmaliardjuk is the first Inuk cardiac surgeon in Canada and has won numerous awards for her trailblazing work. We were lucky enough to catch up with her to ask her about her career and get her thoughts on how we can both make surgery a more inclusive profession and how we can better serve our Indigenous patients. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 131: We touched some “taboo” subjects today on the podcast – money and religion. Dr. Jeff Way is a trauma and general surgeon in Calgary. Today we asked Dr. Way about his interest in spirituality and how that has affected his career inside and outside the operating room. He shares his thoughts on managing a busy practice, as well as his work on a provincial and national level with the government on healthcare and billing. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 130: Dr. Homer Tien is a trauma surgeon at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. We were excited to have him on the show due to his incredible work in multiple leadership roles, more recently as the President and CEO of Ornge, Ontario’s air ambulance and transport service. Largely because of the amazing work he had done with Ornge, Dr. Tien was also made in charge of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force back in April 2021. This was a conversation about trauma care, paramedic services and air ambulances, but even more importantly, we heard Dr. Tien’s insights on leadership.  Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 129: This week, we hear from Dr. Paul McBeth, intensivist and trauma surgeon at the University of Calgary. Dr. McBeth combines his unique engineering background with surgery and shared his insights on how we all might use an engineering mindset to discover new ways of looking at old problems. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 128: On this episode of Cold Steel, we caught up with Dr. Helen Pham, a clinical associate lecturer at the University of Sydney and the current HPB fellow at the University of Calgary. Dr. Pham shared with us some of the differences in training paradigms for surgical programs between Canada and Australia and gave us her invaluable advice for new trainees. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 127: Dr. Rob Leeper is a trauma surgeon at Western University in London, Ontario. We spoke with Dr. Leeper about his work on trauma simulation and particularly on his work on data-driven competitive motivation strategies. Finally, Dr. Leeper shared with us the tips that he wished he had when he started out in practice. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 126: Lauren Kirwan is the nurse clinician for general surgery at the Foothills Medical Centre, she is currently finishing up her nurse practitioner degree. We asked Lauren her thoughts on what it means to be an OR nurse and what she wishes surgeons would do in order to make the OR environment better. We also hear about the impact of COVID-19 on our nursing colleagues. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 125: On this episode of Cold Steel, we had the unique opportunity to speak with the Honourable Minister John Haggie. Dr. Haggie is a general surgeon who spent his career in Newfoundland and Labrador, and went on to become a Member of the House of Assembly in 2015. During that time, he was appointed as the Minister of Health and has continued to serve in that portfolio ever since. We spoke with him about his fascinating life story, his thoughts on leadership and the role of physicians in politics, and about his favourite book! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 124: This week, we sat down with Dr. Paul Engels, a trauma surgeon from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Our conversation went into great detail about trauma training and, more broadly, how we define what a resident should be able to perform at the end of training. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 123: This week we were once again joined by Dr. Pasieka, who spoke about strategies to fight stress and burnout as surgeons, especially in the context of COVID-19. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 122: Dr. Bill Wall is one of the pioneers of liver transplantation, especially in Canada. In this episode, we spoke with him about his training, the early days of transplantation, and his new children's book! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 121: This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Peter Brennan, an oral maxillofacial surgeon in Portsmouth, England. A tremendously accomplished academic, he has a keen interest in human factors in surgery. Dr. Brennan is also the coeditor of the Gray’s Surgical Anatomy, sister publication to the famous Gray’s Anatomy. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

SAGES Stories Episode 2: We are excited to be collaborating with the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). SAGES produces an excellent podcast called the SAGES Stories podcast, where they highlight some of the amazing work members have been doing. In this episode, hosts Shireen Towfigh and Kevin Elhayek interview one of our favourite former guests, Dr. Liane Feldman, the outgoing president of SAGES. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 120: Dr. Jonathan Meakins is former Chair of the Department of Surgery at McGill and an Officer of the Order of Canada for his outstanding work in immunobiology, laparoscopic surgery, and transplantation. Art is one of his many interests and at the age of 73, Dr. Meakins has gone back to school to obtain his Masters in Fine Arts. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 119: Dr. Pat Sylla is a minimally invasive and colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She is a world famous innovator and was the first surgeon in the world to perform a transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. We caught up with her in person at the recent SAGES annual meeting. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 118: This week, we had a great talk with Dr. Eric Pauli, a surgical endoscopist at Penn State who has a varied and novel practice, including abdominal wall reconstruction, endoscopy, and general surgery. We discussed surgical endoscopy and his work on endoscopic management of anastomotic leaks. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 117: Dr. Elizabeth Clement, colorectal surgery fellow at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, put together a fantastic set of mock oral exams. We are grateful to be able to share with you the recordings of these exams, which were delivered at the Alberta Association of General Surgeons (AAGS) annual meeting in Banff in November 2021. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 116: This week, we were joined by Dr. Bill Kent, a cardiac surgeon at the University of Calgary, to discuss minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery. Dr. Kent shared a number of important insights on where MIS techniques fit in an era of rapid evolution in cardiac surgery, particularly with the advent of new catheter based techniques. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 115: In this episode, we chatted with Drs. Francis, Major, and Padmore. Fantastic surgeons from the Carribean, who trained in North America. We explored their experience and how they used their training to improve surgical care when they returned home. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 114: This week, we were delighted to speak with Dr. Tarek Razek, a trauma surgeon at McGill University and a major figure in global surgery in Canada. We discussed how we can make an impact in global surgery, while avoiding past colonialism patterns. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Dr. Razek. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 113: Dr. Su-Yin MacDonell is an anesthetist specializing in perioperative medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. She is particularly interested in the concept of noise in the OR, and how it can affect decision-making and focus. We were privileged to hear about her research, as well as her views on how we can improve the OR environment and communication across the drapes. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 112: This week, we were joined once again by Dr. Colin Schieman for a masterclass on paraesophageal hernias. Dr. Schieman is a thoracic surgeon in Calgary and is a previous guest of the podcast. In this episode, we discuss types of paraesophageal hernia, the management of gastric volvulus, as well as operative approaches to repair. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 111: In this week’s episode, we had a great conversation with Dr. Sam Minor, a general surgeon in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Minor has helped develop in situ trauma simulations used by residents and staff surgeons to prepare for major traumatic injuries. We also discuss what it’s like to practice in Halifax and some of his other research interests. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 110: We’ve all experienced the frustration of working in clinical environments that don’t seem to be set up intuitively. This week, we hosted Dr. Andrew Petrosoniak and Dr. Chris Hicks, ER doctors who have done extensive work on human-centered design. We spoke about ways to improve the design of the places and processes where clinicians practice, as well as their own experience redesigning the St. Mike’s trauma bay and other areas in the ED. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 109: This week, we invited all of the English-speaking general surgery programs across the country to speak about the CaRMS 2022 general surgery residency. We were able to cover most of the programs and talk about what makes each of them unique. We hope this episode and the advice shared by program directors will be helpful for prospective applicants as we head into the interview cycle. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 108: We are very excited to bring you this episode on Black surgeons in North America. Lead by Dr. Don Nakayama, this initiative brings to light an amazing collection of their contributions and untold stories. We were lucky to sit down with Dr. Vivian McAllister, a longtime friend of the podcast and one of the chapter authors on Black surgeons in Canada. We were also lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Nakayama, as well as Dr. Cathy Slaney, a sociologist whose work has focused on one of the surgeons profiled in the book, her great-grandfather, Dr. Anderson Abbott. Last but not least, we were joined by Shannon Prince, the curator of the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 107: This week, we spoke with Dr. Francis Sutherland, a hepatobiliary surgeon at the University of Calgary. Dr. Sutherland brought us a masterclass on common bile duct injuries. We discussed how CBD injuries happen, why they happen, and the cognitive biases that lead up to them. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 106: This week, we talked about a timely issue dominating the news lately: gun violence. We were joined by Dr. John Kortbeek, a trauma and critical care surgeon at the University of Calgary, who helped us tackle the complex topic of gun control, specifically on policies here within Canada. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 105: On another episode of our “Companion” series, we sit down with Dr. Morad Hameed and Dr. Kelly Vogt to share ideas on the important topic of death and dying in surgery, particularly Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). We discuss the philosophical nuances of this complex topic, branching out to explore how we can better prepare surgeons and patients for difficult discussions around end of life care. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 104: This week we spoke with Dr. John Neary, an internist at McMaster University, who was instrumental in submitting a motion to waive the royal college exam for trainees graduating in 2020, due to COVID19 complications. In addition to covering the MCC decision to eliminate the MCQE Part II exam, we had a much deeper conversation with Dr. Neary about the nature of examinations in medical education. What does the ideal exam look like, and where do we go from here? Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 103: This week we sat down with Dr. Teodor Grantcharov, a bariatric surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto who is widely recognized for his work on the OR Blackbox – a platform that allows for immense data capture (video, audio, physiologic). We dove deep into the blackbox – not only its development, but what it means for the future of surgery, both culturally and institutionally. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 102: This week we were joined by Dr. Sunil Patel, a colorectal surgeon in Kingston, Ontario who’s worked with one of the few general surgery teams in Canada to tackle high volume Robotic Colorectal Surgery. In our discussion, we get to the root of robotics, how it compares to laparoscopic and Ta-TME approaches, and explore the topic of “spin” in surgical research. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 101: This week we were lucky enough to have a masterclass with Dr. Helen Macrae, a colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai in Toronto. We explored her in-depth approach to the acute colitic, laparoscopic total colectomy and pelvic pouch reconstruction, as well as reflect upon her considerable expertise and extensive career in surgical education. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 100: Tune in this week as CJS celebrates its 100^th episode! Taking bits and pieces of stellar advice from guests across the board, we take some time to reflect on the last year, what we’ve learned, and where we’re going. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 99: On this episode we spoke to Dr. Neel Datta, former program director of the residency program and currently a prominent colorectal surgeon in Calgary. With a Master of Health Economics at the London School of Economics, Dr. Datta has channeled his expertise to interrogate some key issues around surgical workforce planning. We dive deep into these issues, particularly with regards to unemployment and underemployment of surgeons in Canada, and explore possible solutions for a post-COVID world. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 98: On this episode we sat down with Dr. Martin Schreiber, trauma and critical care surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. We talked to Dr. Schreiber about his experience with the military, his advocacy around trauma research, and the incredibly nuanced world of trauma resuscitation. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 97: On this episode we had a masterclass on gastrointestinal neuroendorine tumours by endocrine and trauma surgeon, Dr. Daryl Gray. Dr. Gray is an associate professor at Western University in London, Ontario, and is possibly one of the most interesting people in the world. We explore his life, his experience being the father of a teen TV star, and of course his greatest passion: neuroendocrine tumors. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 96: This week, we welcome Dr. John C Alverdy: an iconoclastic scientist and minimally invasive surgeon at the University of Chicago, known most notably for introducing innovative minimally invasive pancreatic surgery operations to the field. With publications in Nature and many other high impact journals, his research focuses on gut microbiome and its impact on surgical site infections. We talked to Dr. Alverdy about his experience working with gut microbiomes, the theory of solipsism and his continuous impetus to challenge commonly accepted ideas in surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 95: On this episode of Cold Steel, we sat down with Dr. Michael Rosen: general surgeon and Director of the Hernia Center at the Digestive Diseases Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. With more than 20 years’ experience as a world-renowned expert in abdominal wall reconstruction, Dr. Rosen gave as an in-depth masterclass on all things hernia. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 94: Mental health and its impact on surgical outcomes has been poorly studied. That’s why for this episode, we invited Dr. Rebecca Afford, Dr. JJ Sidhu, and Dr. Morad Hameed - the authors of recently published paper, “Improving Surgical Quality for Patients with Mental Health Illnesses: A Narrative Review” to discuss their findings. Together we dive deep into the complex spectrum of mental health, its impact on surgical outcomes, and how institutions can manage these issues better. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 93: This week we sat down with Dr. Husein Moloo – a minimally invasive colorectal surgeon in Ottawa known primarily for his unique shared practice model in the Ottawa colorectal group. From his impressive quality improvement initiatives to life in the OR blasting tunes from the “Six God” star Drake, we had a blast picking the brain of this true Renaissance man. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 92: On this episode we sat down with Dr. Wayne Rosen, colorectal surgeon at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary. Shedding light on his particular experience in intercessory prayer we spoke to Dr. Rosen about the philosophical side of science; namely, the complexity of evidence-based medicine, rationing resources in a COVID-ridden world and the ethical debate around making vaccines mandatory. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 91: On this episode we were joined by Dr. Richard Buckley – an orthopedic surgeon at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. With more than 30 years of clinical practice and hundreds of publications, Dr. Buckley has had an amazingly productive career pushing surgeons in Calgary and across Canada to think beyond received wisdoms and critically examine how we treat patients and how we organize our systems. We get a taste of his unique insights on topics from resident call, to his orthopedic textbook and finally, his thoughts on how to retire gracefully from a life in surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 90: This week we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Mark Hamilton – a well-known neurosurgeon at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. Dr. Hamilton helped us walk through a number of neurosurgical issues that are pertinent to general surgeons, such as hydrocephalus, the role of craniectomy in traumatic brain injuries, and DVT prophylaxis in patients with traumatic brain injuries. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 89: On this episode we were lucky enough to interview Dr. Liane Feldman – Chief of the Division of General Surgery at McGill University, newest president of Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and a true Canadian icon. We cover all bases with Dr. Feldman, from the future of SAGES, her work on the co-creation of the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE), and finally, what it really means to be a minimally invasive surgeon. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 88: On this episode of Cold Steel, we were joined by the well-renowned Dr. Walt Biffl – pioneer of the Biffl score for blunt cerebrovascular injury. We picked Dr. Biffl’s brain on what goes into generating good clinical guidelines, his work on blunt cerebrovascular disease and the world of pancreatic trauma. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 87: This week we sat down with Dr. Christopher "Chip" Doig, an intensivist at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta. We focused on a number of ethical issues in the ICU, from donation after cardiac death to the idea of “futility”, and how to discuss that with patients and their families. After years and years in the field, we try to figure out how Dr. Doig manages to remains so fresh, bold and poised in his field. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 86: This week we sat down with Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, critical care and palliative intensivist based out of Ottawa. Along with recently launching the “Solving Healthcare” podcast, Dr. Kyeremanteng spoke about his experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic, growing up in Edmonton, and sheds light on his newest project, the “Solving Wellness platform” – an online community offering wellness support to healthcare workers. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 85: Repeat guest and co-editor in chief of CJS, Dr. Ed Harvey, joins us on this episode to discuss “Innovation”. Shedding light on his work in co-founding various startups, we chatted with Dr. Harvey about what innovation really means once you get past the buzzword hype: what’s the nature of innovative work, how we can improve and how innovation fits into the world of healthcare. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 84: This week we explored the complex world of rectal cancer with Dr. Carl Brown (twitter.com/drcarl_vancouvr?s=20), colorectal surgeon at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. Along with an in-depth masterclass, we discussed a variety of topics pinnacle to the development of rectal cancer; from its history to the evidence around neoadjuvant therapy, as well as a peak into future treatments with emerging technologies such as TEM and TaTME. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 83: This week we sat down with Dr. Jillian Horton (twitter.com/JillianHortonMD?s=20), internist at Max Rady College of Medicine in Winnipeg and the author of "We Are All Perfectly Fine". Reflecting upon her personal journey through medicine, Dr. Horton takes us through the process of writing her memoir, the culture of medicine and physician burnout, and reminds that vulnerability is endlessly powerful. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 82: This week we sat down with Dr. Charles Vollmer, an internationally renowned Professor of Surgery and Director of Pancreatic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. As a leading expert in Pancreaticobiliary and other complex gastrointestinal surgery, Dr. Vollmer gave us a complete masterclass on pancreatic fistulas: from how to define them, predict them, prevent them, and ultimately how to treat them. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 81: We were joined this week by Drs. Rhea Liang (twitter.com/LiangRhea?s=20) and Simon Fleming (twitter.com/OrthopodReg?s=20) to talk about bullying, psychological safety, and culture change in surgery. We hope that the episode can be an opportunity for discussion and reflection for listeners. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 80: This week we were joined by an icon of surgery, Dr. Ken Mattox. He talked to us about the evolution of trauma surgery; the development of the Trauma textbook; the Las Vegas Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery Conference; and why he thinks we need to challenge the status quo. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 79: Leena Yousefi is an award-winning family lawyer and founder of YLaw in Vancouver, BC. We asked her to come on the show to talk about a difficult subject: divorce. Leena has some really insightful comments on some of the factors that seem to play a role specifically in physician divorce. She shares some of the advice she gives her clients who unfortunately end up going through a divorce. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 78: Dr. Brian Cameron is a pediatric surgeon at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He has dedicated himself both to pediatric surgery and to global surgery, and has worked around the world in resource-limited settings. This was a particularly memorable episode for us because Dr. Cameron retires this year. This episode was a chance for us to ask him about his career, his life story, and of course, global surgery. Congratulations to Dr. Cameron on his well-earned retirement! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 77: In this week’s bonus episode Dr. Colin Schieman gives us a Masterclass on his approach to lung nodules and lung cancer screening! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 76: Dr. Colin Schieman is a thoracic surgeon at the University of Calgary and the current program director for the thoracic surgery program. We discuss a key issue in modern surgical training: are direct entry programs good or bad for training and trainees? Dr. Schieman also talks about his approach to intraoperative teaching. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 75: Dr. Peter Angelos (twitter.com/pangelos1?s=20) is an endocrine surgeon at the University of Chicago and one of the founders of the field of surgical ethics. We ask him to define for us the term “surgical ethics,” and chat about a number of important ethical issues such as informed consent, paternalism, and the limits of disclosure. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 74: Jessica Grossman is a digital marketer, actress and model. She is also a powerful advocate for patients with Crohn disease and has worked hard to destigmatize what it’s like to live with a stoma — a surgically created opening that allows stool to exit the body into a bag. Her website uncoverostomy.org is an incredible resource for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this episode, we explored what physicians and surgeons can do better when counselling patients who might have or need a stoma. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 73: In this episode we interview Dr. Lawrence Gillman, a trauma surgeon at the University of Manitoba. We start off talking about the course that he and Dr. Sandy Widder developed: the Simulated Trauma and Resuscitation Team Training (STARTT course). We also get his thoughts on mentoring in point-of-care and trauma ultrasonography. Finally, and most powerfully, Dr. Gillman shares his experience having to cope with the loss of his beloved wife Kerry, and the impact that has had on his family and his career. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 72: Dr. Clay Cothren Burlew is a trauma surgeon in Denver, Colorado, who is world-renowned for her work on pelvic packing and blunt cerebrovascular injuries. We caught up with her to find out how she manages stay so productive, and to talk about pelvic packing and blunt cerebrovascular injury. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 71: Dr. Mark Soliman (twitter.com/MarkSoliman) is a colorectal surgeon at Advent Health in Orlando, Florida. We spoke to Dr. Soliman about his passion for robotic colorectal surgery and where he sees robotics going in the future. We then did a deep dive on the use of video in surgery, from how to edit surgical videos to how Dr. Soliman incorporates video into resident education. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 70: In this episode we welcome Dan Van Hooren, the head coach for the University of Calgary Dinos basketball team and a legend in Canadian university basketball history. We asked him to tell us about what goes into creating great teams — the parallels to surgery were striking! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 69: Dr. Marcus Burnstein is a colorectal surgeon at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. In this episode, we ask him to break down his approach to patients presenting with anal pain, perianal abscess, and perianal fistula. We also hear about the famous "circle of love"! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 68: Dr. Melissa “Red” Hoffman is 1 of only 80 dual-boarded trauma surgeons and palliative care physicians in the US. She joined us on this episode to talk about surgical palliative care and how surgeons can potentially do this better. We also ask her about her life journey informs the work that she does today, including her outstanding writing. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 67: It’s not uncommon for surgeons to think about taking a break at various points in their career, but for many of us, it might seem daunting to think about how to make that happen. Dr. Paul Duffy is an orthopedic surgeon and clinical assistant professor and division chief of orthopedic trauma at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta. He recently gave a fantastic grand rounds for the Department of Surgery in Calgary about his experience taking a 6-month sabbatical. In this episode, we asked him to share with us his thoughts on his career and “taking a break.” Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 66: Dr. Vahagn Nikolian (twitter.com/VNikolian?s=20) had been thinking about the way we can adopt virtual care far before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Dr. Nikolian is a surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University and specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction. In this episode, we talk to him about how he got interested in telehealth, how we can streamline telehealth consults, and where he sees telemedicine going in the future. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 65: It is astonishing how a pea-sized gland in the neck could be so troublesome. Dr. Jesse Pasternak is an endocrine surgeon at Toronto General Hospital. In this episode, we delve into the workup of hyperparathyroidism, Dr. Pasternak’s approach to parathyroid surgery, and his thoughts on the introduction of new surgical techniques. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 64: What do you do if you are a struggling trainee or trying to help a struggling trainee? We were lucky enough to have Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin join us on this episode to try to answer those questions. He might even change your mind on the way you think about the word "struggling." Dr. Karimuddin is a colorectal surgeon at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. We talk to him about how to approach the struggling trainee, as well as some of the innovative strategies the UBC program is utilizing to more objectively select residents. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 63: In this episode, we interview Shane DiNapoli, a chartered accountant based in Calgary, Alberta. We talk to him about some of the common mistakes he sees physicians make with their finances, physician corporations, and the advice that he has for physicians starting out in their practice. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 62: Have you ever stared at the garbage bags in the operating room and thought, that’s a lot of trash! Dr. Andrea MacNeill (twitter.com/Ecosurgeon) decided to do something about it. Dr. MacNeill is a surgical oncologist at Vancouver General Hospital and is on a mission to improve planetary health, inside and outside the operating room. We ask her in this episode to walk us through how the operating room impacts the environment, what we can do to lessen that impact, and how that effort might help cut costs and improve patient care. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 61: Dr. Michael D’Angelica (twitter.com/MichaelDAngeli2) is a surgical oncologist and hepatobiliary surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. He is world-renowned for both his research and clinical expertise in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. We got to pick his brain on his approach to colorectal liver mets, advice for prospective fellows and his experience living in New York City though the COVID19 pandemic. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 60: Dr. Andrew Ibrahim (twitter.com/AndrewMIbrahim) is a general surgeon at the University of Michigan and an architect at the firm HOK. In this episode, we talk about his path and how he combined his passion for surgery and architecture. We get his thoughts on visual abstracts, the concept of design, his vision for hospitals of the future and what architects might learn from surgeons. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 59: Our guest in this episode doesn’t believe in comfort zones. Dr. Vivian McAlister is a transplant surgeon, a professor of surgery in London, Ontario, and a former Editor-in-Chief of CJS. At the age of 52, Dr. McAlister decided to enlist with the Canadian Forces Health Services as a combat surgeon. For all his contributions to Canada as a surgeon and researcher, he was recently named an Office of the Order of Canada. In this episode, we talk about why he chose to become a military surgeon, some of the challenges of current training paradigms, and his experience being an Editor-in-Chief of CJS. Warning: we discuss some very real but terrible things Dr. McAlister witnessed while on tour with the Canadian military (description of injuries in children hit with improvised explosive devices at 12:30–16:45) Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 58: We are delighted to have Karen Norris (twitter.com/freckleface23) join us on the podcast today. Karen Norris is the conference manager at CAGS and manages the Canadian Surgery Forum, the largest annual meeting for Canadian general surgeons. In this episode we talk about what the future holds for conferences in a COVID world, including how organizations can optimize their virtual conferences and what hybrid conferences might look like. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 57: It’s our pleasure to start off the new year with an episode on social media and surgery! In this episode, we were joined by Dr. Sean Langenfeld (twitter.com/seanlangenfeld). Dr. Langenfeld is a colorectal surgeon at the University of Nebraska and has spent a long time doing research and thinking about social media and surgery. We talk about the concept of professionalism on social media, the infamous “medbikini” incident, and online reputation management. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 56: In this episode, we were lucky enough to have Dr. Nicholas Zyromski (twitter.com/nzyromski) give us a masterclass on pancreatitis. We go over classification and then go through a host of controversial topics: endoscopic management, percutaneous drainage, antibiotics, nutrition, and surgical management. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 54 (b): In this episode, we were joined by surgical oncologist Dr. Carolyn Nessim (twitter.com/carolynnessim). Dr. Nessim works at the Ottawa General Hospital and gave us a masterclass on melanoma. We talk about an initial approach to melanoma, staging and immunotherapy, and we walk through of how Dr. Nessim does her groin dissections. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 54 (a): In this episode, we discuss the Danish mask study. We discuss the paper itself and the results. More importantly, we discuss the challenges of science communication and science literacy for physicians and the general public. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 53: In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ryan Martin, an orthopedic surgeon at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, about what it was like to be a sports doctor for the Calgary Stampeders, and the preparation he does for going into the operating room. After completing his surgical residency, Dr. Martin completed his Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery - Cornell University (New York, NY) and his Sport Medicine and Arthroscopy Fellowship at the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON). Since returning to Calgary, Dr. Martin has focused on the arthroscopic treatment of traumatic knee conditions involving fractures as well as cartilage and ligament injuries. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 52: In this episode, Dr. Kelly Vogt (twitter.com/kellynvogt) and Dr. Rebecca Auer (twitter.com/auer_r) join us to talk about the documentary film "RBG". What can we as surgeons learn about from the work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

CAGS Meet Week — Revitalizing the morbidity and mortality conference: This is a special episode of Cold Steel done in collaboration with the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS: twitter.com/CAGS_ACCG). In this session, we discuss the challenges facing morbidity and mortality conferences and how we can continue to revitalize this time-honoured tradition. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 51: In this episode we were honoured to once again have another icon of trauma surgery join us. Dr. Ernest E. Gene Moore is a trauma surgeon at the Denver General Hospital. In this episode we explore Dr. Moore’s early insights into the developments of acute care surgery as a specialty, how he defined not one but two major surgery journals, and how he continues to think about the evolution of surgery moving forward. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 50: In this episode we speak with Dr. Ed Harvey, an orthopedic surgeon in Montreal and coeditor in chief of CJS. Dr. Harvey shares his take on what it’s like to run a scientific journal and talks about the changing landscape of publishing and the rise of predatory journals. Finally, he shares his thoughts on the challenges of evidence-based medicine in surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 49: In this episode, we were lucky to be joined by Dr. Clarence Wong, an interventional gastroenterologist at the University of Alberta. He gave us a masterclass on the approach to large polyp. We also talked about the development of screening guidelines in Alberta and ways to improve the quality of colonoscopies on a very practical level. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 48: In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Alison Laws. Dr. Laws completed a general surgery residency at the University of Calgary and a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Laws’ clinical and research interests include optimizing oncologic outcomes after breast cancer surgery, improving cancer care delivery through implementation of evidence-based practices, as well as managing patients at high-risk for breast cancer. We were lucky enough to get her expertise about a number of important topics, including neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer, indications for axillary node dissection in 2020, and an approach to recurrent breast cancer. Finally, we delve into her experience as a patient, and how that shaped her practice as a surgeon. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 47 - Surgical Companion 1 — The aging surgeon: This is the first in our the new Cold Steel "companion" series, which is meant to offer a discussion on new topics and events. We are lucky enough to be joined by Drs. Kelly Vogt and Morad Hameed, both previous guests on the show. In this episode a paper published in CMAJ, "Relation between surgeon age and postoperative outcomes: a population-based cohort study" is the springboard for our discussion on the aging surgeon. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 46: In this episode, we were lucky enough to be joined again by Dr. David Feliciano. Dr. Feliciano is a world-renowned trauma surgeon and a passionate surgical historian. Today he joins us to talk about surgeons who won the Nobel Prize and the complex and rich history that surrounds them. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 45: In this episode, we explore the many challenges facing an under-discussed topic: undergraduate surgical education. We were joined by Drs. Andreana Butter and Geoffrey Blair, current and former chairs of the Canadian Undergraduate Surgical Education Committee (CUSEC). Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 44: Joe DuBose is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He obtained his surgical training at Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center and the University of Virginia from 2001 to 2006. Lt Col DuBose has been a staff trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist at Wilford Hall Medical Center and an assistant professor of surgery at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center / University of Maryland since 2008. During that period he has deployed as a trauma director once to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base in Iraq (2009) and twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (Kandahar-2010; Bagram Air Base 2011-2012). He presently holds the title of Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland Medical Center. In this episode we talk to Dr. DuBose about his training pathway, his experience in the military, and about integrating his vascular training with his trauma background, which includes his thoughts about REBOA. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 43: Dr. Sarvesh Logsetty obtained his Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology and completed the Surgical-Scientist Program from the University of Toronto in 1996, garnering many awards along the way. He continued his training in fellowships in Acute Burn Care & Reconstructive Surgery at Ross Tilley Burn Centre in Wellesley Hospital in Toronto and in Critical Care of Burns at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, Washington. He was appointed to the position of Associate Director of the Firefighters Burn Treatment Unit at the University of Alberta Hospital in 1999. In 2007 he was recruited by the University of Manitoba and the Health Sciences Centre to take on the position of Director of the brand new Burn Unit located at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. He remains an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Manitoba and was appointed the Director of Research for the Section of Plastic Surgery. In this episode, we get all fired up about burn care. We talk about training pathways for burn surgeons, burn resuscitation, operative management of burns, and about Dr. Logsetty’s innovative research into burn wound management. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 42: Dr. Henry A. Pitt trained in surgery at Johns Hopkins and has been at the forefront of developing HPB surgery over the past three decades. His career has taken him to UCLA (1979), back to Johns Hopkins (1985) in Wisconsin (1997) and Indiana (2004), (2013) to Temple University Health System (TUHS) and now to Rutgers Cancer Center. His focus in recent years has been on quality, both at the hospital and the national level. His accomplishments have been honored by the Surgical Research Society of South Africa, the Surgical Research Society of Australia, the Tongi Medical College of Wuhan, China, the Second Military Medical College in Shanghai, China, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland. In this episode, we delve deep on his initiatives to improve the quality of HPB surgery around the world. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 41: Dr. Mark Campbell has been practising general surgery for 23 years and has been a member of the Space Medicine Branch and The Aerospace Medical Association since 1989. He has authored or co-authored 25 published papers concerning surgical care during space flight and surgical techniques in weightlessness. He also was the author for the surgical section of “Medical Guidelines for Air Travel” published by the Aerospace Medical Association. Dr. Campbell has been a private pilot since 1984 (single and multi-engine ratings) and received his Air Force Flight Surgery wings in 1994. He began performing parabolic flight research with NASA Medical Operations at the Johnson Space Center in 1991 and was a NASA Flight Surgeon at the Johnson Space Center from 1994 to 1996 where he was deployed to Star City, Russia to support the Shuttle-Mir program. In this episode we talk to him about prophylactic surgery for astronauts, developing remote surgical capacity, and telementored ultrasound. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 40: Dr. Melinda Davis is an anesthesiologist at the Foothills Medical Centre. She teaches at all levels of medical education and has received numerous awards for education including the Jones Award for Teaching Excellence in Undergraduate Medical Education. Dr. Davis holds a number of leadership positions in medical education and has a research interest in medical student career choice. She is the lead of the Career Exploration Program which aims to help students make informed, confident career choices in medicine. In this episode, we dissect the surgery–anesthesia relationship and try to think of ways to improve it. We also talk about career counselling for medical students and Dr. Davis’s role as the new program director for the Calgary anesthesia program. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 39: Dr. Janice Pasieka was the driving force behind the development of a multidisciplinary clinic for neuroendocrine tumours and hereditary endocrine clinic. She was also responsible for the development of the only Canadian American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES)-accredited fellowship program in endocrine surgery. In 2010 she became the first Canadian and second woman to become president of the AAES. In 2007, the Women’s Executive Network named her as one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women. In this episode, we ask Dr. Pasieka about conferences, gender equity and her approach to surgical education and training. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 38: In this episode, we do a practice mock oral examination with Drs. Caitlin Cahill and Greg Knapp. We hope that this can help candidates to get a sense of the Royal College oral examinations. Although there are no oral exams this year, we hope to help next year's examinees get in the mindset for studying and practising for the oral exam. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 37: Dr. Andrew Furey (twitter.com/FureyAndrew) is a passionate orthopedic trauma surgeon and educator at Memorial University’s School of Medicine. He also holds a diploma in organizational leadership from Oxford University. His strong work ethic has earned him many local, provincial and national awards and honours. He was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Canadian Red Cross and earned the Governor General of Canada’s Meritorious Service Cross. In 2010, Dr. Furey helped create Team Broken Earth to provide medical relief after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Today, more than 1500 volunteers from across Canada, the US and UK have participated in medical missions to Haiti as well as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Dr. Furey is also the new premier-elect of Newfoundland and Labrador after winning the Liberal Party nomination on August 4, 2020. In this episode, we hear about how Dr. Furey started Team Broken Earth, his work in Haiti and his thoughts on leadership and physician advocacy. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 36: Dr. Todd McMullen is a scientist and endocrine surgeon at the University of Alberta with specialized training in thyroid ultrasound techniques. In this episode we talk to Dr. McMullen about a topic that is sometimes a pain in the neck for trainees: thyroid nodules. Dr. McMullen gives us his approach to nodules, how he works them up, a brief overview of how he does his thyroidectomies, and postoperative calcium management. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 35: Since joining the Division of Thoracic Surgery at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in 2010, Dr. Christian Finley has been awarded more than $600 000 in research funding for his active research program in thoracic surgery quality improvement. He has put considerable effort toward developing the collaborative clinical research program with his thoracic surgery colleagues. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Finely about his work with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) in demonstrating disparities in surgical cancer care across Canada. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 34: Dr. Prism Schneider is an orthopedic trauma surgeon and assistant professor at the University Calgary. Dr. Schneider is well known for her research on many topics, particularly on the use of thromboelastography in postoperative and hospitalized patients. In this episode, we delve into Dr. Schneider’s research on intimate partner violence, and how surgeons might do a better job of recognizing it. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 33: Dr. Charles Vollmer is the Director of Pancreatic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, we delve into why Dr. Vollmer is so passionate about the pancreas and why he has done over a thousand peer reviews for surgical journals. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 32: Dr. Omar Farooq is a general surgeon at Fort Saskatchewan Hospital in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. He did his MBBS in Punjab Medical College in Faisalabad, Pakistan. He then went on to do his internship at Case Western in Cleveland, general surgery resident at the University of Saskatchewan, and MIS fellowship at McMaster. In this episode, we hear about his experiences as an international medical graduate. Dr. Farooq shares his advice for IMG's on navigating the system, as well as how we could potentially make the system better. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 31:  In this episode we speak with Dr. Grace Rozycki, a professor of surgery who practices primarily at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She specializes in trauma surgery and surgical critical care, and her research focuses on quality as it relates to emergent general surgery and injury. We asked her about her pioneering work in trauma ultrasonography and her thoughts about gender equity and mentorship in surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 30: Dr. Alex Poole is a general surgeon in Whitehorse, Yukon, but his practice is not a typical general surgery practice. In this episode we talk to Dr. Poole about what it's like to be a remote surgeon, his advice for those interested in a career in remote and rural surgery, and his work on frostbite injuries. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 29: Dr. Sean Gregg is a general surgeon in Red Deer, Alberta. He has a special focus on hepatobiliary surgery but practises a full range of general surgical operations. Dr. Gregg completed medical school, residency and HPB training at the University of Calgary. In this episode we hear about Dr. Gregg's fascinating life story and how his experiences with a Thai street artist shaped his approach to surgical training. He also shares his thoughts on how entrepreneurship and advocacy can unlock creativity in a surgical career. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 28: In light of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, there has been a renewed international desire to confront the racial inequities that plague our society today. This applies to health care and in particular to surgery. To talk about this we have three phenomenal guests: Dr. Julius Ebinu, a neurosurgeon in Sacramento at UC Davis; Dr. Shahzeer Karmali, a minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon at the University of Alberta; and Dr. Morad Hameed, a trauma and critical care surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital and section head at UBC. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 27: It’s not an understatement to say that Dr. David Feliciano is a true giant in trauma surgery. He received his medical degree in 1970 from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., completed his general surgery training at Mayo Clinic, in trauma at Wayne State University, and in vascular surgery at Baylor College of Medicine (where he trained under Dr. DeBakey). He was Professor of Surgery at Emory University and Surgeon-in-Chief at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia from 1991 to 2011. He is now a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Maryland and an attending surgeon at Shock Trauma. We discuss with him how he recruited such amazing faculty, developing one’s technical skills, research, and the future of trauma. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 26: Tim Pawlik (@twitter.com/timpawlik) is an academic surgeon focused on hepatobiliary diseases. He serves as the surgeon-in-chief of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Chair of the Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine. He has an MPH, PhD, and a Masters of Theology from Harvard Divinity School. We talk to him about his unique training pathway, academic productivity and surgical “regret.” He shares his thoughts on passion and leadership, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 25: The transition from surgical residency to fellowship is a landmark step. Two fantastic surgery fellows offer us their advice on everything fellowship: Salila Hashmi (hepato-pancreato-biliary) and Greg Knapp (surgical oncology). We talk about applying to a fellowship, obtaining personal letters, the importance of resident electives for setting up fellowship opportunities, and how to get the most out of your time as a fellow. Good luck to all fellows starting this July 1!! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 24: In this episode we take a deep dive into competency-based medical education with Dr. Richard Reznick, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University and chief executive officer of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). Dr. Reznick’s passion for medical education contributed to the founding of the Wilson Centre, a renowned health profession education research institute based in Toronto. In addition to ushering in competency-based medical education at Queen’s University, Dr. Reznick pioneered the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) that is used each year to assess thousands of medical licensure applicants in Canada. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 23: Dr. Rebecca Auer (@auer_r) is a surgical oncologist and translational researcher studying the impact of surgery on the immune system and subsequent cancer recurrence. In her laboratory the focus is to develop innovative cancer therapeutics that can be administered during the perioperative period and to translate these therapies to the clinic. With three active clinical studies of perioperative cancer therapies, Dr. Auer aims to improve cancer outcomes for all patients who undergo invasive cancer surgeries. Dr. Auer talks about her training pathway, being a surgeon-scientist, developing a COVID-19 vaccine, her work on vaccines and cancer, and her tips for "work-life harmony." Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 22: Dr. David Notrica (@surgery4kids) developed and continues to direct the Level 1 Trauma Center for Phoenix Children's Hospital. He is one of the founding members of the ATOMAC pediatric research network, and co-founder/co-chair of the Western Pediatric Trauma Conference, the Southwest Trauma and Acute Care Symposium, and Trauma Conference International. We discuss all things pediatric surgery with Dr. Notrica, not only on a clinical level, but also on a systems-level. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 21: Dr. Keith Lillemoe, Surgeon-in-Chief and Chief of the Department of Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital, W. Gerald Austen Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School, and Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Surgery, talks about his training, equity and diversity in surgery, bile duct injuries, and being the Editor-in-Chief at one of the biggest journals in the world. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 20: Dr. Mohit Bhandari is a orthopedic surgeon and trialist at McMaster University. To say he is productive is an understatement; he is in the top 10 most cited orthopedic surgeons in the world. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Order of Canada. In our conversation, we discuss everything from his career track to productivity to social media to the characteristics of "hyper-performers." Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 19: Dr. Jane Lemaire in an internist at the University of Calgary and is a national expert on the topic of physician wellness. We talked about physician burnout, resiliency and some strategies to help us cope during these incredibly challenging times. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 18: We talk with Dr. Matt Kaminsky, a trauma and critical care surgeon at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He tells us what it’s like to work at a high-volume trauma centre like Cook County and shares with us his pathway to getting there. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 17: We sat down with Dr. David Urbach, a bariatric surgeon and health services researcher at the Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, to talk about checklists, the impact of the word "cancer" on patient decision-making, wait times in Canada in the face of COVID-19, and medical devices in surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 16: We had a unique discussion with Dr. Mary Brindle, a pediatric surgeon at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, about the relationship between art and surgery and how those two disciplines interact with each other. We also heard from Dr. Brindle about her work on updating the safe surgery checklist and her work on enhanced recovery after surgery in pediatrics. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 15: We had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Shahzeer Karmali, a minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon in Edmonton, Alberta. He gave us a masterclass on the common types of bariatric operations, postoperative care and bariatric complications. We also discussed his fascinating research of the impact of bariatric surgery on intracranial hypertension, and how to navigate a relationship with industry. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 14: We are joined by repeat guests Dr. Morad Hameed (@moradhameed) and Dr. Neil Parry to talk about how surgeons across the country have adapted to COVID-19. We also talk about the impact COVID-19 has had on final-year residents across the country and the basics of COVID-19 management. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 13: Dr. Emilie Joos (@EmilieJoos) is a Canadian leader in global surgery. We interview her about the global response to the Haiti earthquake and challenges in global surgery, and ask her what advice she has for trainees interested in global surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 12: Dr. Philip Dawe is a trauma surgeon at the Vancouver General Hospital. He has a truly unique perspective, having been both a military and civilian trauma surgeon. We talk to him about leadership, what we can learn from the military, and his path to becoming a trauma surgeon. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 11: We connect with Neil Parry, a practicing trauma surgeon in London, Ontario, who breaks down trauma resuscitation, whole blood in Canada, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, and pelvic packing. We even delve into duodenal and pancreatic trauma! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 10: In this episode, we talk about a really important topic to trainees: exams! Dr. Tony MacLean is a colorectal surgeon at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. He is also the new head of the Royal College’s general surgery exam committee. He explains how to prepare for oral examinations, become a competitive applicant for fellowship programs, and get the most out of residency. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 9: Dr. Frances Wright, a surgical oncologist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, dissects the topic of nodal management of melanoma and talks about her groundbreaking work in IL-2 injections for in-transit disease, her research on the patient-experience in cancer, as well as how to get involved in large, multicentre trials. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 8: Dr. Sav Brar gives a masterclass on gastric cancer. Dr. Brar is a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, specializing in gastric cancer and sarcoma. He is also the new program director for the general surgery residency program in Toronto. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 7: We interview Dr. Paul Grieg — a true legend of transplant surgery. Dr. Greig recently retired from the University of Toronto. He is renowned for developing the transplant program in Toronto and for his teaching of residents and fellows. We talked to him about setting up a transplant program, his thoughts on Competency By Design (CBD) and about how to make a graceful transition to retirement. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 6: We had the pleasure of talking to Dr. Andy Kirkpatrick, a trauma surgeon at the University of Calgary and frequent contributor to CJS. Our discussion focused on some of Dr. Kirpatrick's unique research interests: telementored ultrasound and space medicine. Buckle up! Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 5: We had a blast talking with Dr. Scott Gmora, a minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon in Hamilton, Ontario, about the challenges of surgical training in an era of restricted work hours, and strategies on how to get the most out of surgical training. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 4: We sit down at the Canadian Surgery Forum with Dr. Kelly Vogt, a trauma and acute care surgeon practising in London, Ontario, to discuss the complete caseload of patients for an acute care surgery service and what that means for the evolution of ACS in the future. She also has some advice for starting out in academic surgery. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 3: We interview Dr. Tony Gomes, a community general surgeon in Lethbridge, Alberta, on the CAGS consensus statement on the dissemination of advanced laparoscopic techniques in Canada, professionalism in surgery and "surgical satisfaction." Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 2: We interview Dr. Morad Hameed on process-mapping in acute care surgery. We also get his thoughts on what inspired him to pursue surgery, his reflections on diversity in surgery, and why public health approaches should be adopted by surgeons. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript

Episode 1: We interview Dr. Robin McLeod, Toronto, Ontario, about her work on Evidence-Based Reviews in Surgery (first published in CJS) as well as about her life, career and advice for trainees. Listen to this Podcast | Read Transcript