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In this special live episode of the Lead Change podcast, recorded at the Inspire Women in Orthopaedics Summit 2025 in Philadelphia, Dr. Mary Mulcahey sits down with Drs. Meghan Bishop and Danielle Ponzio, co-founders and co-chairs of the INSPIRE Summit. Both accomplished orthopaedic surgeons at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Bishop and Ponzio share the origins, growth, and vision behind the conference—a space designed to empower, educate, and connect women in orthopaedics. 
They reflect on how INSPIRE evolved from an idea to a nationally recognized event
emphasizing leadership, mentorship, authenticity, and collaboration. This year’s summit incorporated fresh perspectives from orthopedic leaders, executive coaches, and professionals outside of medicine, covering topics such as advocacy, work-life integration, leadership development, and finding one’s “why.”
Throughout the conversation, the guests discuss lessons learned in leadership, the importance of authenticity, and the transformative power of mentorship. They also share their favorite leadership books and quotes—Dr. Ponzio citing Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, and Dr. Bishop highlighting the athletic mindset from Beyond Grit and her lifelong motto: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

Key Takeaways

• Purpose-Driven Leadership: Understanding your “why” helps guide your “what.” Passion and purpose fuel success.
• Authenticity Matters: Being true to yourself allows you to thrive in your role and find the right environment for growth.
• Collaboration Across Fields: Including voices from business, coaching, and advocacy enriches leadership and broadens perspective.
• Mentorship & Representation: Building networks of female leaders strengthens the pipeline and fosters lasting impact.
• Evolving Together: The INSPIRE Summit continues to grow by adding new topics, diverse speakers, and fresh approaches each year.
• Leadership Lessons: Listening, inclusion, and confidence are essential leadership skills—especially for women in male-dominated fields.
• Inspiration in Action: The event embodies the spirit of empowerment and
  community—encouraging women to lead, lift others, and embrace opportunity.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Dr. David Dejour, internationally renowned knee surgeon, past president of ESSKA (European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy), and head of the Lyon Ortho Clinic. Dr. Dejour reflects on his distinguished career, leadership experiences, and the evolution of orthopaedic sports medicine
in Europe.
He shares how ESSKA has grown into a global organization emphasizing education, community, and the “ESSKA spirit,” including the development of cadaver courses, a core curriculum, and European certifications for advanced surgeons. Dr. Dejour highlights his role in launching the Women in ESSKA initiative and mentorship programs, helping diversify leadership in orthopaedics.
The conversation touches on pivotal career moments: building his own reputation alongside his father’s legacy, fellowship training in the U.S., leadership lessons from business school, and shaping the Lyon School of Knee Surgery’s collaborative culture. Dr. Dejour also speaks passionately  about teaching, research, and the joy of mentoring young surgeons, emphasizing curiosity, rigor, and creativity in clinical practice.
He concludes by advising young surgeons to fully commit to their passions, work hard, and embrace leadership opportunities as they arise.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is strategic and long-term: Successful leadership in societies like ESSKA requires multi-year planning, collaboration, and continuity across presidential terms. 
• Education is central to impact: ESSKA’s cadaver courses, curriculum, and
  certifications have set new standards for surgeon education in Europe.
• Diversity and mentorship matter: The Women in ESSKA initiative and mentorship programs have helped open doors for female surgeons and foster inclusive leadership. 
• Pivotal moments shape leaders: Fellowship experiences abroad, stepping outside comfort zones, and personal growth programs were turning points in Dr. Dejour’s career. 
• Know yourself to lead others: His leadership training focused on self-awareness rather than leadership “rules,” emphasizing emotional intelligence and reflection. 
• Mentorship fuels the field: Teaching and challenging young surgeons keeps him inspired and drives innovation. 
• Operational excellence supports vision: Great ideas need strong teams and staff to bring them to life—both in surgical practice and organizational leadership. 
• Commit fully to your passions: Leadership opportunities arise naturally when you’re deeply engaged and hardworking in your chosen field.

In this episode of Lead Change, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Dr. Ellen Casey, attending physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. A former collegiate gymnast, Dr. Casey has built her career around sports medicine, research, and leadership. She shares insights from her journey—ranging from her early days as a gymnast and team captain, to her current role directing research at HSS Physiatry and serving as team physician for USA Gymnastics.

Dr. Casey emphasizes the importance of individualized leadership, collaboration, and adaptability. She discusses her role in reshaping residency leadership structures, her perspective on balancing clinical care with research, and her philosophy of leading with authenticity and vulnerability. She also reflects on challenges of prioritization, the myth of a perfect system, and the need to embrace change throughout a medical career. Influenced by mentors and leadership resources like Deep Work, Simon Sinek, and Brene Brown, Dr. Casey models mission-driven leadership rooted in teamwork, continuous learning, and service.

Key Takeaways

• Individualized Leadership: Lessons from gymnastics and residency leadership show the value of supporting people’s unique strengths rather than forcing uniformity.
• Redefining Systems: Dr. Casey helped restructure residency leadership into a three-chief model, creating lasting positive change.
• Mission-Driven Practice: Clear purpose and “knowing the why” are central to her leadership style.
• Balancing Roles: Time management, deep work, and strict prioritization are essential to balancing clinical, research, and leadership responsibilities.
• Authenticity and Vulnerability: Being open, reflective, and authentic fosters trust, growth, and stronger mentorship.
• Adaptability in Career: Change—whether geographic, institutional, or personal—can lead to unexpected growth and opportunities.
• Team-Based Leadership: Collaboration across disciplines and perspectives strengthens patient care, research, and organizational culture.
• Continuous Learning: Books, podcasts, and mentors fuel ongoing leadership development; even popular culture (e.g., Ted Lasso) can offer leadership lessons.
• Core Values: Service, community, and the courage to “lead change” shape her leadership philosophy.

In this episode of Lead Change, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Clare Coonan, founder and president of Adjacent Consulting and an experienced executive coach who has spent over 20 years helping leaders in healthcare and academic medicine navigate transformation. Clare shares her unconventional journey from teaching high school biology and directing nonprofits to becoming a sought-after coach and facilitator. She explains her approach to coaching, emphasizing clarity, accountability, and authenticity, and discusses the importance of breaking free from self-limiting beliefs.

Clare offers practical insights on fostering healthy team dynamics, using well-crafted questions to unlock creativity, and facilitating strategic planning sessions that harness collective wisdom. She also reflects on lessons learned from working with diverse leaders, the role of creativity in leadership growth, and how diversity of thought leads to innovation. Throughout the conversation, Clare’s passion for helping individuals and teams thrive is evident, inspiring listeners to embrace coaching as a tool for professional and personal development.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Path to Coaching: Clare’s career evolved from teaching and nonprofit leadership to executive coaching, shaped by pivotal setbacks and opportunities.
Four Coaching Pillars:

1. Clarify personal and professional goals.
2. Identify skills, activities, and opportunities to achieve those goals.
3. Provide accountability and ongoing evaluation.
4. Offer on-demand consulting support for emerging challenges.

Strategic Planning Wisdom: Effective plans come from diverse ideas colliding, a structured process, and disciplined follow-through—implementation is 80% of the work.
Leadership Lessons: Leaders must recognize their “default style” (gas pedal vs. brake) and adapt to others’ approaches.
Breaking Self-Limitations: Clare encourages leaders, especially women, to pursue opportunities without self-disqualifying based on incomplete qualifications.
Superpowers: Clare is known for her ability to distill clarity and craft powerful, well-worded questions that shift conversations.
Books to Explore: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, Radical Candor.
Diversity Drives Innovation: True innovation stems from diverse experiences, perspectives, and cognitive styles.

Episode Summary
This episode of the Lead Change podcast features Dr. David Parker, an internationally recognized knee surgeon from Sydney, Australia, and past president of ISAKOS and APKASS. Dr. Parker shares insights from his career in knee surgery, leadership experiences in international orthopedic societies, and his commitment to evidence-based practice. He discusses ISAKOS’s global educational initiatives, including cadaveric labs and programs supporting female surgeons, the importance of mentorship, and lessons learned about diplomacy and consensus-building in leadership. Dr. Parker emphasizes persistence, credibility among peers, and respect as keys to success, while acknowledging the role of self-criticism in driving improvement. He also reflects on how leadership can be both challenging and deeply rewarding, especially when it fosters diversity and inspires the next generation.

Key Takeaways

• Evidence-Driven Care: Building a strong research foundation—over 20,000 patients dataset—allows for data-backed clinical decision-making and advances in patient outcomes.
• Global Collaboration: Exposure to diverse perspectives through organizations like ISAKOS and APKASS fosters innovation and better patient care worldwide.

Leadership Challenges: Leading an international organization requires diplomacy, the ability to synthesize diverse viewpoints, and the skill to maintain unity while making strategic decisions.

Power of Mentorship: Early mentors can inspire confidence and open doors to leadership opportunities that might otherwise seem unattainable.

Diversity Matters: Promoting women in leadership enriches organizations, broadens perspectives, and removes barriers to contribution.

Self-Criticism as a Driver: Being one’s own toughest critic can fuel improvement but requires balance to avoid burnout.

Persistence as a Strength: Endurance—likened to running a marathon—is key to sustaining high performance and achieving long-term goals.

Respect Over Recognition: True career success lies in earning and keeping the respect of one’s peers.

Implementation Over Theory: Leadership principles are most valuable when actively applied, not just understood.

Life Philosophy: Quotes from his swimming coach—"Plenty of time for rest when you’re dead" and "What time is it? It’s the best time of your life, enjoy it"—capture his approach to work and life.

Dr. Mary Killackey, Chair of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, shares her leadership journey from transplant surgeon to department chair. She reflects on pivotal career moments, challenges as a woman in medicine, and the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and culture-building in effective leadership. The conversation highlights her work to develop a strong departmental culture post-Katrina, her transformation through therapy and mentorship, and her deep belief in helping others thrive in medicine. She discusses her participation in the ELAM program, foundational leadership lessons from her early jobs, and the importance of intentional action in leading change.

In this episode, Dr. Antonia Chen, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern, talks about her leadership journey, career pivots, and vision for the future of orthopaedics. Dr. Chen shares insights from her evolution as a clinician, researcher, and leader, including her transition into high-level administrative roles. She discusses her use of robotic technologies in arthroplasty, the power of inclusive leadership, and her mission to elevate women and underrepresented voices in orthopaedics. Her story illustrates how intentional listening, adaptability, and purpose-driven change can shape a meaningful leadership path.

Dr. Liz Matzkin - Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Mass General Brigham and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She has developed a world-class program for female athletes with a robust research program focusing on Women’s Sports Medicine. She is highly regarded for her accomplishments in education, research and patient care. 

In this episode, we discuss leadership style, traits of an effective leader, and how to earn respect and trust from your team!