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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast, Quality Improvement Executive Leadership Consultant, Margie Nelson, MS, MT, EMT, CPXP.

Margie has spent the past 20 years as a hospital quality and safety specialist handling risk, quality improvement, and communication enhancement. 

Margie has recognized that quality of care is directly related to how well a patient understands what the physician is telling them. Many physicians don’t always have time to develop the relationship that the patient requires to build that trust and desire to take care of themselves. 

Effective communication between physicians and their teams is foundational. Physicians need strong communication skills with peers and leadership, as well as with their patients. Often strong communication in one area will positively impact the others.

What steps does Margie suggest to improve communication between physician leaders, physician reports, and ultimately, patients?

• Step 1 - Set the expectation that colleagues can always come to you with questions, challenges, or suggestions. 
• Step 2 -  Exhibit the characteristics that you want to see in others.
• Step 3 - Acknowledge existing challenges and ask for partnership in solving those challenges.

Most importantly, PRACTICE improving how you communicate!

BIO

Margie Nelson, MS, MT, EMT, CPXP,  is a Quality Improvement Executive Leadership Consultant with a demonstrated history of working with hospital and healthcare systems on quality, safety and patient experience of care.  Most recently, she added Physician Wellness to her skills, administering a Physician Coaching program at Envision Healthcare, which made a significant impact on physician wellness and improvement of quality and safety scores. Margie’s education and training include a BS and MS from the George Washington University in Medical Technology and Healthcare Quality and Safety. She has worked on both sides of the care and regulatory aspects of Healthcare and continues to bring value to physician relationships with patients, leaders and colleagues.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes ENT surgeon and professional coach Dr. Mel Thacker to the podcast.

Each of us carries two inner selves — the essential self and the social self. When these two are in harmony, we’re capable of extraordinary things. But when they’re out of alignment, it can lead to dissatisfaction, stress, or burnout.

The essential self is our true nature — who we are at our core, from birth. The social self is the identity we build over time to meet the expectations of others. As infants, we cry when we’re upset — pure essential self. As adults, we may feel like crying but force a smile to keep others comfortable — the social self at work.

So how do we bring these two selves into balance? Dr. Thacker offers three key steps:

• Step 1 - Recognize that most of us are living unconsciously. We tell ourselves we’ll be happy after we attain the next milestone. This is the arrival fallacy. Instead, we need to live consciously.
• Step 2 - Explore your earliest memories and consider why they stand out. These moments can offer valuable insights into your essential self — the version of you that existed before external expectations took over.
• Step 3 - Consider working with a coach to explore, identify, and integrate your essential and social selves. A coach can help you uncover unconscious patterns and align your path with who you truly are..

Most importantly, PRACTICE being your essential self!

BIO

Mel Thacker, MD, PCC, DipABLM is a fellowship-trained rhinologist/otolaryngologist, professional certified coach, and lifestyle medicine specialist.

After two years in academics, she realized how much she valued autonomy and pivoted to private practice, serving a Massachusetts community for nearly a decade. But when panic attacks and insomnia took hold, she turned to coaching—transforming the most emotionally painful year of her life into her greatest teacher. She emerged on the other side as a better human, clinician, surgeon, wife, mother, and friend. After that experience, her work evolved from taking care of patients to resourcing her fellow surgeons.

• Watch her TEDx talk, "How to Save Lives with Two Minutes of Listening," here.
• Her second TEDx talk, "Seeing Beyond the Red Swans," will be available in Spring 2025.

She is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast, Surgeons with Purpose, and the Founder of Empowered Surgeons Group, a program that will teach you everything you didn't learn in surgical training.

Social Media:

Follow her on Instagram here
Connect on LinkedIn here

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast pediatrician, startup founder, and people connector, Dr. Zhen Chan.

In addition to earning his medical degree, Zhen earned an MBA during the middle of his residency, which offered a unique perspective.

Zhen is most passionate about solving large pain points for the healthcare industry. One of the main ways he pursues this goal is through networking with people in healthcare - not just those in the clinical sphere, but those behind the scenes as well. 

As physicians, we go through med school and residency and the education and training process is primarily focused on the clinical aspects of medicine. But practicing medicine in the modern day system requires at least a baseline knowledge of many other things (operations, informatics, management, insurance, etc.) That’s not standardized in our medical training so we need to find ways to fill those gaps in our training. One of the best ways to do that is through making connections.

What steps does Zhen suggest we take to make better connections?

• Step 1 - Reach out to one other physician. Many physicians are hesitant to do this, but quite often, the person you’re reaching out to wants to provide advice or mentorship.
• Step 2 -  Make networking a part of your life. That way, the world gets a lot smaller and you’ll have better options when you’re looking for new opportunities.
• Step 3 - Reach out to another physician with similar interests and continue this process to make networking a regular part of your life. 

Most importantly, PRACTICE building connections through networking!

BIO: Zhen Chan, MD MBA FAAP

Healthcare Management | Pediatrics | Physician

Dr. Zhen is a pediatrician in Washington, DC with an MD and an MBA in Health Management and Policy. He is actively developing a career that integrates his interests in healthcare strategy and emerging health technology that can make a scalable impact on patient care outcomes, access, equity, and physician well-being.

He worked for one year in a healthcare venture capital company focused on pediatric health innovation as a Venture Fellow and later a Senior Associate. During residency, he was a Co-Chair of the Housestaff Quality Council at Weill Cornell Medicine, QI Captain for the primary care center where he had his pediatric continuity clinic, and an Advocacy Co-Chair for the pediatric department. He has extensive experience leading quality improvement initiatives and advocacy projects focusing on childhood obesity, HPV vaccinations, and food insecurity.

Currently, Dr. Zhen is the founder and CEO of Grapevyne, a pioneering physician job search platform that leverages physician peer-to-peer referrals to address the physician shortage crisis and issues around physician burnout by improving how physicians choose jobs and match to communities that need them. 

Certifications: Board Certification in Pediatrics, Licensed in DC, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, IHI 

Open School Basic Certification in Quality & Patient Safety

Awards: Distinguished Housestaff Award, Gold Humanism Honor Society, VC University Scholarship Recipient, MD MBA Scholarship Recipient

Social Media:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and Chief Medical Officer at Connecticut Orthopaedics, Dr. Alan Reznik.

There’s an old saying - “hire slow, fire fast” - which essentially means to take your time hiring the right candidate for the job and, if you have a bad employee, get rid of them quickly so that a single bad apple doesn’t spoil the bunch. Sometimes making a good hire can boost everyone's morale, while making a bad hire can destroy the office culture you’ve built. 

That all sounds good, but how do you hire a good employee? 

When hiring for a position, there are certain protocols you can follow to make sure you’re doing everything within your power to make a good hire.

What steps does Alan suggest we take to hire good people?

• Step 1 - Vision - Have a well-defined job description and know what you’re looking for in the role to properly evaluate a candidate’s skill set.
• Step 2 - Evaluation - Meet with the prospective employee and get a sense of what they think the job entails to see if that matches your vision for the position. 
• Step 3 - Fit - Finally, the prospective employee must be a good fit for the organization. How will they fit with the rest of the team? 

Most importantly, PRACTICE a system for hiring good people!

BIO: Alan Reznik, MD, MBA 

Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up" on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast anesthesiologist and physician coach, Scott Markowitz, MD.

There’s always the potential for things to spiral out of control in the OR. When that happens, it can be helpful to be pulled back from the situation by a trusted colleague who can help you view the situation objectively and bump you back into being your best self. Sometimes it’s not feasible to do that in the OR itself. If that’s the case, there will likely be opportunities throughout the rest of the day to connect with a trusted colleague. Doing this consistently over time can help you build stronger professional relationships and make you less likely to derail when things get hectic.

In medicine, there are a lot of “villain” or “victim” narratives that we’re exposed to throughout our education and training. It’s important to recognize and move past those and move from a problem mindset to an outcome mindset. Nurturing a professional relationship with your colleagues goes a long way in recognizing the shared outcomes that we’re all striving towards.

Remember that it’s difficult to build a relationship when one or both people are activated. It’s so easy to destroy trust. In order to build trust you need to recognize when the time is right and wrong to approach a complex conversation. Address these important issues when both parties are not activated for optimal outcomes. 

What steps does Scott suggest we take to build trust?

• Step 1 - Develop Professional Relationships with Colleagues. This can make you less likely to derail and more likely to “re-rail” when things go poorly.
• Step 2 - Avoid Villain and Victim Narratives. These only work to divide us and prevent us from achieving our shared goals.
• Step 3 - Explicitly State Shared Goals. This can be extremely helpful in resetting us from villain or victim stories and recognizing that we’re all pushing the same rock up the hill.

Most importantly, practice an outcome mindset!

BIO:

Scott D. Markowitz, MD, MSOL, FAAP, BCC (he, him, his) is the Chief Executive Officer of Physician Leadership, LLC, and serves as a Leadership Coach with the Chimera Leadership Group. In his clinical career, Dr. Markowitz held the position of Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice-Chair for Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. There, he spearheaded the establishment of an office dedicated to measuring departmental culture, engagement, and wellbeing. Dr. Markowitz has been instrumental in producing and sponsoring programs aimed at fostering engagement, resilience, professional development, and a more diverse and inclusive leadership environment. He co-chairs the subcommittee on harassment, incivility, and disrespect for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and serves on the advisory board for the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. In this role, he co-developed their leadership curriculum and chairs the curriculum committee.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast physician and physician coach, Scott Markowitz, MD.

When working in the OR, situations sometimes arise that activate the people in the room (whether it be surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, or others). That activation can be caused by a variety of issues from inefficiencies, to scheduling conflicts. Once activated, people often carry that with them into the next experience. 

The same thing happens on the other side of the drape which can cause situations to become increasingly tense. When that happens it’s important to take a step back and realize that everyone ultimately has the same goal - to provide excellent care to the patient.

What steps does Scott suggest we take to improve the environment in the operating room when it feels like parties are at odds with one another?

• Step 1 - Take a Moment. Step back from the situation and try to evaluate it objectively. Recognize if you or the other party is being negatively impacted by outside forces (perhaps you didn’t sleep well the night before), and understand that you both ultimately want what’s best for the patient.
• Step 2 - Build Relationships. This doesn’t happen overnight, but if you build up  good professional relationships with your team, there will likely be less friction in the room. When you have a long-standing rapport, you can recognize when your colleague is being sarcastic or when they’re having a bad day.
• Step 3 - Communicate Openly & Effectively. Honest communication among colleagues is also key inside and outside the OR. If something happens that activates you, don’t let it fester. Communicate your concerns in a professional manner.

Most importantly, PRACTICE understanding the other side of the drape!

BIO:

Scott D. Markowitz, MD, MSOL, FAAP, BCC (he, him, his) is the Chief Executive Officer of Physician Leadership, LLC, and serves as a Leadership Coach with the Chimera Leadership Group. In his clinical career, Dr. Markowitz held the position of Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice-Chair for Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. There, he spearheaded the establishment of an office dedicated to measuring departmental culture, engagement, and wellbeing. Dr. Markowitz has been instrumental in producing and sponsoring programs aimed at fostering engagement, resilience, professional development, and a more diverse and inclusive leadership  environment. He co-chairs the subcommittee on harassment, incivility, and disrespect for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and serves on the advisory board for the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. In this role, he co-developed their leadership curriculum and chairs the curriculum Committee.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer at Connecticut Orthopedics, Dr. Alan Reznik.

In the field of surgery, introverts and extroverts behave differently in situations where communication is important. Introverts tend to need more time to formulate answers and might agree with an extrovert who has taken the lead in a situation. Extroverts, on the other hand, tend to formulate answers more quickly and jump in with ideas. 

If you want a good opinion from an introvert, you may need to tip them off ahead of time that a question will come up in a meeting. This gives them some lead time to process and hopefully share their opinions before the meeting. Conversely, it’s often good to couch their answers with a perspective and agree with them that they’re providing valuable information when dealing with an extrovert.

In the operating room, the surgeon is likely extroverted, even if they don’t know it. This can deters others in the room from speaking up. It’s important to know that you are open to hearing ideas from everyone in the operating room - especially the introverts.

What steps does Alan suggest we take to manage introverts and extroverts inside and outside the OR?

• Step 1 - Understand the power you hold in the room as a surgeon.
• Step 2 - Foster an environment where introverts and extroverts feel comfortable speaking up.

Most importantly, PRACTICE awareness of personality types!

Guest Bio: Alan Reznik, MD, MBA

Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up"on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

"It is with the understanding of differing perspectives, combining disciplines, constant collaboration, and an open mind that one achieves the best path forward." Dr. Alan Reznik 

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, executive coach, and advocate for those affected by Long Covid, Dr. Zeest Khan.

In 2020, Dr. Khan contracted Covid and her health deteriorated to such an extent that she was no longer able to work. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Long Covid and on the long road to recovery. As a result of this experience, Dr. Khan has pivoted her career to helping others with complex illnesses safely navigate the healthcare system.

As surgeons, we deal with crises all the time. In training, we learn skills to get us through scary and dangerous situations. We’re not just on salvage missions. Rather, we’re trying to optimize for good outcomes for our patients. These crisis management skills can be used to deal with situations in both our professional and personal lives.

What steps does Dr. Khan suggest we do to manage crises and optimize outcomes?

• Step 1 - Use reliable processes. When presented with a stressful situation, even as physicians our senses and executive functioning can fail us. Approaching an emergency with a reliable process that you’ve used before is a great way to handle a crisis.
• Step 2 -  Use reliable procedures. Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t need to. When you’re in a difficult situation, ask yourself - “what works for you?” Focus on these approaches that have worked in the past.
• Step 3 - Use your team and available resources. In operating rooms specifically, it’s essential that everyone in the room is helping in a specific way. Each one of us can’t do everything, so it’s important to rely on our team and available resources.

Most importantly, prepare and PRACTICE crisis management!

BIO:

Dr. Zeest Khan is a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, executive coach, and advocate for those affected by Long Covid. Disabled by the disease herself, Dr. Khan uses her unique perspective to bridge the divide between medical and patient communities. She is the creator and host of *LongCovidMD*, a podcast where she shares her journey, delves into the medical science behind Long Covid, and offers an inside look at the healthcare system. Through her work, Dr. Khan offers valuable insights and support for those navigating complex health challenges. Find her work at LongCovidMD.substack.com

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopaedic surgeon and educator, Alan Reznik, MD.

It’s a simple fact in the medical industry that everything works better when goals are aligned. Aligning your goals with the goals of your team members is a great way to better optimize your practice. Goals can vary widely between different employees - from improving patient outcomes, to simply going home at a certain time of day. 

When goals are at odds with each other, things can get out of balance pretty quickly and lead to poor outcomes for both patients and medical staff. 

What steps does Alan suggest we do to align our goals?

• Step 1 - Think about what makes you happy and why you’re doing the things you’re doing during your daily work routine. 
• Step 2 - Check to see if those around you are thinking and acting the same way you are, making sure goals are aligned.
• Step 3 - If they’re not, try to realign things (financially, emotionally, mentally, etc.) so that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same ultimate goals.

Most importantly, PRACTICE goal alignment to experience professional wellness!

BIO - Alan Reznik, MD, MBA

Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up" on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

"It is with the understanding of differing perspectives, combining disciplines, constant collaboration, and an open mind that one achieves the best path forward." Dr. Alan Reznik 

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Chief Medical Officer of the Lorna Breen Foundation, Emergency Medicine Physician, and physician coach, Stefanie Simmons.

On this episode, Jeff and Stefanie discuss the need for better support for physician mental health in the healthcare system. In training, residents and fellows are often in vulnerable situations, as they do everything they can to succeed while dealing with stress and other factors like medical school debt. Faced with these challenges and more, many residents simply put their heads down and grind it out, rather than getting the help they need to succeed. 

Then in practice, many physicians are hesitant to seek mental health services for themselves because they’re afraid it may impact their ability to get licensed, credentialed, or employed. Almost everywhere, simply having therapy is not going to require disclosure if there isn’t an impairing diagnosis. We need to make it easier and less taboo for physicians in all stages of their careers to seek mental health when necessary.  

What steps does Stefanie suggest we take to address mental health concerns?

• Step 1 - Seek Counseling when you need it. Don’t assume that it’s not safe to receive mental healthcare if you need it. Check with your specific hospital or system to see what their practices are and don’t sacrifice your mental health.
• Step 2 - Consider Coaching. Speaking with a like-minded colleague in a coaching capacity is another excellent option for dealing with stressors.

Most importantly, PRACTICE seeking mental health resources to experience well-being!


Guest Bio: Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP

Stefanie is the Chief Medical Officer at the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and a board-certified emergency medicine physician. She was the primary advisor to NIOSH for the Impact WellbeingTM guide for healthcare leaders, leads multi-state programs to improve the operational environment of care and remove barriers to mental health care, and serves as a national thought leader in healthcare worker well-being. Stefanie served as the Vice President of Patient and Clinician Experience for Envision over 7 years, serving 26,000 physicians and advanced practice providers with a focus on professional well-being, including translational research and programs designed to bring well-being best practices to clinical environments. She served as lead clinical faculty for the Clinician Experience Project Wellbeing program.

Stefanie earned her Bachelor of Science and Medical Doctor degrees from University of Michigan and completed residency training at the University of Michigan/St. Joseph Mercy emergency medicine residency. She has completed additional training in medical education, research methods, coaching, and positive organizational psychology.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast CEO of Vital WorkLife, Mitch Best.

Burnout in the healthcare industry is prevalent among physicians and healthcare executives, driven by an inefficient system where critical decisions are made daily. These decisions often carry an immense emotional toll, including grief.

For the system to function at its best, everyone involved must experience wellness. Achieving this requires two key steps: 1) changing the system, and 2) cultivating healthy wellness habits. Reaching this goal will take a collective effort. It’s essential to continue identifying meaningful support resources to help physicians and healthcare executives mitigate burnout and stress.

What steps does Mitch suggest we take to mitigate burnout and stress among healthcare leaders?

• Step 1 - Talk About It. Speaking with a peer about the things that are causing burnout and stress can go a long way towards mitigation.
• Step 2 - Create a Culture of Optimism. This is one of the key components of combating burnout among leaders and their medical staff.
• Step 3 - Seek Help When Needed. Holding a healthcare leadership role can be quite isolating. Building relationships (whether formal or informal) with like-minded professionals can go a long way in alleviating burnout.

Most importantly, practice techniques to mitigate burnout!

About Mitch Best

As the CEO of VITAL WorkLife for over a decade, Mitch guides the company's vision, directs the senior leadership team, and works towards achieving organizational objectives. His focus extends to empowering hundreds of thousands of physicians and APPs, enabling them to reach their full potential, all while fostering a vibrant and celebrated company culture.

He began with the company in 2001 as Director of Business Development, moved up to Vice President in 2004, became COO in 2008, and eventually acquired the company in 2013. 

With a background in behavioral health consulting and diverse industry expertise, Mitch infuses his work with passion and enthusiasm, offering a quick start nature, servant leadership and diligent oversight. He has also been actively engaged in executive and mental health & well-being industry groups for more than 15 years.

Mitch, a Minnesota native, resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children, emphasizing work-life balance through family time and an active lifestyle. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast, hip & knee arthroplasty surgeon, Dr. Peter Gold.

Out of all surgical subspecialties, orthopedic surgeons have the highest rate of suicide. Rates of burnout and depression are similarly bad among orthopedic surgeons. Too often, we get caught up in these numbers and can’t see the forest for the trees.

The qualities required to become a great surgeon set us up for both success and failure. In general, we have stressful jobs; we’re perfectionists; and we have bad self-care habits. Additionally, we like quick fixes. But taking care of yourself is not a quick fix. 

What steps does Peter suggest we do to practice better self-care as surgeons?

• Step 1 - Forget the numbers. It’s easy to get wrapped up in statistics surrounding burnout, depression, and suicide. We need to look past these numbers and accept that these issues impact surgeons.
• Step 2 - Recognize the effects. Once you accept the fact that burnout and depression are prevalent in our profession, the next step is to start recognizing their effects. Start to notice when these things impact you and how.
• Step 3 - Return to your source of joy. Think about the things that bring you joy in life. Maybe you love playing golf or cooking food for your family. Whatever your source of joy, return to it when you’re feeling stressed out.

Most importantly, PRACTICE self care for improved well-being!

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast Bradley Block, otolaryngologist and host of the podcast, the Physician’s Guide to Doctoring.

Brad started his podcast because he was looking for resources to help him communicate better with his patients. He covers a variety of topics that are geared towards assisting physicians to be the best version of themselves in and out of the exam room.

In any doctor-patient encounter, both parties want the same thing: to move in the direction of better health. To make this happen during the encounter, there’s what the physician needs and what the patient wants. The physician needs to acquire the information to arrive at a diagnosis, and the patient wants to be heard. 

How can we accomplish both?

What steps does Brad suggest we take to meet the needs of the doctor and the patient more effectively and efficiently?

• Step 1 - Look the patient in the eye long enough to note the color of their eyes. Often when we enter the exam room, we are reviewing notes or charts and may not proactively address the patient. This only takes a few extra seconds, but goes a long way to making the patient feel seen. 
• Step 2 - Notice something about the patient. This can be something as trivial as what the patient is wearing, or asking if they have any upcoming plans. This makes it obvious that you are recognizing the patient as more than just the sum of their symptoms.
• Step 3 - Ask the patient what worries them about their symptoms. This is called asking the question behind the question. It’s one thing to ask a patient about their symptoms, but asking them what worries them about those symptoms takes things to another level.

Most importantly, practice improving patient interactions!

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon, patient and peer advocate, Dr. Peter Gold.

Physicians can gain valuable insights by seeing things from the patient's perspective. Dr. Gold tragically gained this perspective in 2015 when he was shot in the stomach while trying to stop a robbery. Thankfully, he made a full recovery and is now thriving as a practicing surgeon. Experiencing trauma surgery as a patient was an eye-opening experience for him.

Physicians have a lot to manage in patient care, but there are times when we should slow down to recognize that patients might be scared, worried, or nervous, and often don't know what's going on. Knowing that probability can help us become better physicians and connect more easily with patients. 

Slow down. Pause. 

If you ensure your patient understands what you're saying, you will likely assuage their fears. That’s when we should display confidence and impart knowledge as physicians. 

What steps does Peter suggest we take to see things from a patient’s perspective?

• Step 1 - Remember that patients are likely scared, stressed, or experiencing other negative emotions. This might be just another Tuesday for you, but for your patient, this is a new or difficult experience.
• Step 2 -  Slow down. Taking a moment to slow yourself down when talking to a patient can make a huge difference. It shows that you care about their situation.
• Step 3 - Convey and boost confidence by imparting knowledge. Tell your patient what you know, what you don’t know, and what you’re going to do about their situation. Knowledge breeds confidence in both the patient and the physician.

Most importantly, practice having a patient’s perspective!

Guest BIO

Peter Gold, MD is a hip and knee arthroplasty surgeon at Panorama Orthopedic & Spine Center in Denver Colorado. He completed his residency at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a joints fellowship at The Rothman Orthopedic Institute. He is active in AAHKS as the secretary of the Young Arthroplasty Group and a previous health policy fellow. He also runs a nonprofit organization in New Orleans, Strong City, which aims to support the future of underserved youth.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopedic surgeon and educator, Dr. Alan Reznik.

In essence, there are two types of employees. Employee A is happy in their work, puts their nose to the grindstone, and does their job to the best of their abilities. They’re also very loyal, enjoy socializing with their colleagues, and content with where they are in their careers. Employee B is also qualified and does a good job, but maybe isn’t as sociable with their colleagues and isn’t as “settled in their chair.” This employee is more likely to revise their resume and search for new jobs or promotions regularly.

As a person who manages employees, which employee would you rather have on your team? Of course, you’re always going to have a mix of both types of employees (and not every employee will fall perfectly into each category), but it’s a productive thought experiment. Many managers assume that having all Employee As on their team is the best-case scenario, there’s value in considering why Employee B might be preferred. 

Because they’re so entrenched in their job, Employee A may be more cautious in their work and reticent to take risks and bring new ideas to the table that might cost them their job. Employee B, on the other hand, challenges the employer to make the workplace continually better.

What steps does Alan suggest we do to incorporate this information into our professional lives?

• Step 1 - Take a look at your colleagues and try to recognize those who fall into the Employee A and Employee B categories. 
• Step 2 -  Now look inward and try to identify these traits in yourself. Are you more of an Employee A or an Employee B? Recognizing where you fall on this spectrum can help you make better decisions about your career. 

Most importantly, practice supporting employee satisfaction!

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• Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC, orthopaedic trauma surgeon and SurgeonMasters CEO.
• Dr. Jim Naples, a Harvard ENT at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Jim Doorley, PhD, CMPC, Clinical and Sports Psychologist for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Research Fellow in Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School

In this episode of the SurgeonMasters Podcast, Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC interviews a Harvard ENT specialist James Naples, MD, and clinical sports psychologist, Jim Doorley. They discuss integrating psychological strategies from sports performance into surgical training, emphasizing the importance of mental fitness, emotional regulation, and resilience in enhancing surgical performance and how it relates to addressing physician burnout.

The discussion underscored the importance of mental resilience and psychological skills for surgical success, paralleling their significance in sports. James Naples, MD, and Jim Doorley highlighted techniques for immediate recovery from intraoperative mistakes and long-term well-being strategies. Efforts are underway to develop a customized curriculum for surgical trainees to address their specific performance mindset needs and challenges. The conversation also addressed balancing emotional detachment and empathy in medicine and how the process relates to physician burnout. Additionally, there was a light-hearted debate on the pros and cons of listening to music in the OR, reflecting diverse preferences among surgeons. Finally, the team addressed the need for institutional support in providing resources and training to enhance surgeons' mental fitness and overall performance.

Here are 10 highlights from the podcast:

1. Surgical Mindset vs. Performance Mindset:
2. Challenges in Surgical Training
3. Initial Collaboration and Goals
4. Curriculum Development
5. Key Skills and Topics
6. Experiential Learning
7. Broader Mental Fitness Concepts
8. Performance and Resilience
9. Burnout and Emotional Management
10. Institutional Support

Overall, the podcast underscores the critical role of psychological training in enhancing surgical performance and the need for a comprehensive approach to integrating these skills into surgical education.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast executive coach and former healthcare system leader, Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE.

In this episode, Theresa broaches the neuroscience of coaching – a fascinating and extensive topic that can’t be fully covered in one podcast –  to address how the coaching relationship benefits physicians.

She tells us that certain parts of the brain light up when we hold people in what’s called a naturally creative, resourceful, and whole state. In other words, professionals will usually rise to the occasion when given the chance. As a coach, this is a great way to approach conversations with clients, as it makes them much more open to learning and creating long-lasting change. 

What steps does Theresa suggest we take to implement neuroscience concepts into coaching sessions?

• Step 1 - Be Curious Rather than Trying to Solve a Problem. It’s all about the coach asking open-ended questions and being curious, as opposed to making assumptions and giving instructions to try and solve a problem. On the receiving end of coaching, know that your curiosity is also critical to growing and achieving your best self.
• Step 2 - Help People Work from a Position of Strength. Focus on a person’s strengths and help them determine how they can use those strengths to accomplish their goals. As a coaching client and probably performance-driven self-critic, first shifting your thinking towards your strengths creates a more open mind for constructive feedback. 
• Step 3 - Ask Disruptive Questions. New learning and growth come from the ability to challenge assumptions, limiting beliefs, or current thinking. Give people space to think about a different way of doing something. We don’t need to change beliefs or values.

 Most importantly, PRACTICE positivity, curiosity, and developing new neuro pathways in coaching sessions! 

Bio: Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE

Certified Executive Coach – Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business

Theresa “Terri” Hamilton has spent more than 30 years in executive leadership positions, including fifteen years as Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of a regional healthcare system; five years as a Chief Executive and Vice President of a for-profit hospital; and twelve years in high-tech publishing as a Publisher and Vice President.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Emmanuel College, Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master of Science in Health Administration from Simmons University, Boston. Terri is also a Board Certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast ophthalmology specialist and physician coach for introverts, Dr. Charity Hix.

Introverts have many traits that make for great physicians. They’re inquisitive, introspective, constantly researching, and thinking things through from multiple angles. While those traits are great for being a physician, the way the healthcare system is organized can make the job of a physician very draining for everyone, but especially introverts. 

Introverts tend to regain their energy through solitude, but many specialties in medicine necessitate being around other people often and for long periods. There’s a misconception that introverts don’t like people. That’s not usually true - they just need time alone to recharge and function optimally. As a practicing physician, there isn’t a lot of alone time baked into your day so you have to be proactive in carving out space for yourself to recharge. (Note: Even if we are an extrovert or land somewhere in the middle, recharging to be our best is critical!). 

What does Charity suggest we do to recharge?

• Create Self-Awareness. In order to get anywhere, you need to first understand where you currently stand. Whenever you’re doing a specific activity during your workday, take stock of how you feel. Are you engaged, bored, stressed, etc.?
• Take Baby Steps to Adjust. Small changes can create a big impact. Based on how you react to certain situations, be proactive about making incremental changes to your daily routine.
• Communicate Your Needs. Let other people know about your energy needs. Many people will be happy to accommodate you.

Most importantly, PRACTICE recharging to create sustainability!

Guest Bio: Charity Hix, MD

Charity is a physician burnout coach helping introverts in healthcare escape feelings of apathy, irritability, and resentment brought on by the increasing demands and decreasing rewards of medicine.

She uses her 20 years of experience in clinical medicine combined with coaching to help introverts discover ways to be diligent, thoughtful clinicians while prioritizing their needs and protecting their energy. She wants you to know you don’t have to feel guilty for wanting a thriving life inside and outside of medicine.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopaedic surgeon and educator, Alan Reznik, MD.

As surgeon leaders, sometimes it can feel like our employees or members of our team are getting in our way or, even worse, trying to sabotage us. But it’s important to step back and realize that in the vast majority of cases, people are showing up to work intending to do a good job, even if there are barriers in the way that are preventing that from happening.

In general, people work for some combination of three reasons: 1) they love their job, 2) they’re loved by their job, or 3) they have an opportunity to improve themselves. Most people need at least two of these three in order to feel satisfied. To that end, there are actions we as surgeons can take to help our employees feel more satisfied with their jobs.

What steps does Alan suggest we do to help our team members feel satisfied at work?

• 1 - Provide Love. Offer encouragement and cultivate a healthy work environment that employees look forward to participating in.
• 2 - Provide Opportunity. Where able, provide opportunities to your employees. This is especially important if a team member lacks an essential ability or skill.
• 3 - Provide Money. If and when possible, offer your employees a raise. When people are paid well they feel appreciated.

Most importantly, PRACTICE supporting your team with love, opportunity, and money!

Guest Bio:
Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up"on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

"It is with the understanding of differing perspectives, combining disciplines, constant collaboration, and an open mind that one achieves the best path forward." Dr. Alan Reznik 

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast Richard A. Schaefer, MD, MPH, an orthopaedic surgeon and human at Johns Hopkins University.

As surgeons, creating understanding and make strong connections with our patients can lead to better oucomes. Often, our patients want to better understand us too. When we have communication with mutual understanding, everyone benefits. 

Knowng our patients beyond their medical condition can be an effective tool to ease any nervousness on the patient's part and ultimately help us provide better care. 

So what does Richard suggest we do to make better connections with our patients?

Most importantly, practice humanizing patients to offer the best care!

Guest Bio:

Richard A. Schaefer, MD, MPH is an orthopaedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He grew up in Buffalo, NY, after which he went to West Point followed by medical school at Tulane. He did his orthopaedic residency at the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado, and orthopaedic oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Schaefer served for over 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of colonel. He had a number of stateside and overseas assignments at military medical facilities, including two tours in Afghanistan. He received several military decorations and awards for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge.  

In addition to his clinical practice at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Schaefer is a medical student advisor, providing longitudinal school and career advising to a cohort of students from their first day and throughout the 4 years until they graduate.   He has a variety of outside interests including travel, art, and sports, and is a lifelong die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast CEO of VITAL WorkLife, Mitch Best, a mental health and well-being expert for healthcare organizations and their workforces with a niche in physician-focused behavioral health solutions.

Over the past several years, many healthcare organizations have started recognizing the critical importance of prioritizing the well-being of their care teams, not only for the good of the individual but also for the bottom line. While it is important organizations are starting to offer resources that make a real difference, the environment must be a safe space for physicians to take advantage of these resources.

To that end, Mitch is calling for physicians and surgeons to become well-being advocates - physicians who are trained proactively to be spokespeople for their well-being and their colleagues' well-being, and offer proactive solutions in non-crisis situations.

The goal is to weave the importance of well-being into the fabric of healthcare organizations nationwide.

What steps does Mitch suggest we take to pursue self-advocacy?

• Step 1 - Educate Yourself. One of the easiest ways to be an advocate for yourself is to educate yourself on the importance of well-being. 
• Step 2 - Seek Our Resources. See what well-being resources are offered by the organizations or associations you are a part of.

Most importantly, PRACTICE self-advocacy for the good of yourself and your community!


About Mitchel Best

As the CEO of VITAL WorkLife for over a decade, Mitch guides the company's vision, directs the senior leadership team, and works towards achieving organizational objectives. His focus extends to empowering hundreds of thousands of physicians and APPs, enabling them to reach their full potential, all while fostering a vibrant and celebrated company culture.

He began with the company in 2001 as Director of Business Development, moved up to Vice President in 2004, became COO in 2008, and eventually acquired the company in 2013. 

With a background in behavioral health consulting and diverse industry expertise, Mitch infuses his work with passion and enthusiasm, offering a quick start nature, servant leadership and diligent oversight. He has also been actively engaged in executive and mental health & well-being industry groups for more than 15 years.

Mitch, a Minnesota native, resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children, emphasizing work-life balance through family time and an active lifestyle. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast clinical psychologist and certified mental performance consultant, James Doorley, PhD, CMPC.

Dr. Dorley explains that performance psychology can teach us a lot as surgeons. Through his collaborative work with Dr. Naples he has learned that the mental side of surgery is not emphasized as much as it could be in many surgical training programs. Many surgeons have a casual understanding of these mental aspects, but it’s not built into our training or emphasized during our careers. 

Performance psychology is different from talking about feelings or emotions with a therapist; it’s akin to a quarterback working with a mindset coach to play their best under duress. 

What steps does Jim suggest we take to implement performance psychology skills into our daily routines?

What steps does Jim suggest we take to implement performance psychology skills into our daily routines?

• Step 1 - Raise Awareness. Become aware of performance psychology and its benefits to the medical community. The best sports teams in the US are now employing performance psychologists to help elite athletes perform their best. Surgeons can and should be doing the same. 
• Step 2 - Incorporate Performance Psychology. Use performance psychology skills like visualization, bolstered by decades of science, to support your best practice. 

Most importantly, PRACTICE performance psychology to improve performance!

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Otolaryngology surgeon, James Naples, MD.

In this podcast, we discuss the surgical mindset. If you’re a performance-driven surgeon, it can be difficult at times to manage the challenges of the perfectionist mindset. We expect our best every time and the best out of those around us.

There are times when we struggle in ways that appear technical but are more psychological, how our hands function is simply a manifestation of what our mind is doing. As a result, it’s important to address the performance mindset so that we can improve efficacy across the board.

What steps does Jim suggest we take to improve our mindset as surgeons?

• Step 1 - Rehearse & Visualize. Surgery is 1% perspiration and 99% preparation. Rehearse and visualize important events before they happen so you’re better prepared.
• Step 2 - Script All Possible Outcomes. If you think through every possible outcome and how to react to each, you will be fully prepared for the procedure.
• Step 3 - Limit Distractions. This may be controversial, but it’s important to remove all distractions (including music) from the operating room to clear your mind and find readiness. [Jim and I may have some different opinions on this, which we will share in a future podcast.]

Most importantly, PRACTICE your surgical mindset to attain the best outcome!

BIO:

Dr. James Naples is the Residency Program Director of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a Clinical Advisor at Harvard Medical School. He has mentored residents and students through various stages of their training, and focuses on ways to improve their performance. Clinically, he is interested in cochlear implant, Acoustic Neuroma and vestibular disorders. Dr. Naples earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and stayed there to complete his residency training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. He then completed his fellowship training in neurotology at the Perelman School of Medical at the University of Pennsylvania.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast physician scientist, Rachel Draelos, MD, PhD.

The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is probably one of the leading causes of physician frustration. EMRs are “broken” in a few different ways. First, the user interface is poor and confusing. Second, the underlying data is messy and fragmented. This limits what you can do in the interface. Rachel’s company is working on creating a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) that’s easy to use and crafts the data specifically to unleash the power of AI in medicine to help with all kinds of different administrative tasks. 

AI is a contentious topic in medicine. Some are excited about its potential, while others are nervous about its implications. 

What steps does Rachel suggest we do to better leverage AI in medicine?

• Step 1 - Understand the different types of AI. Artificial intelligence comes in a variety of different forms. Machine learning and neural networks are forms of AI that can be extremely beneficial in the field of medicine. 
• Step 2 - Identify key areas of administrative burden. These could include prior authorizations, billing, coding, etc.
• Step 3 - Spend some time on Google searching for AI tools that can automate those tasks. 

Most importantly, practice leveraging tech to mitigate administrative burdens!

BIO: Rachel Draelos, MD, PhD

Rachel is a physician scientist, and the first person to graduate from Duke University with an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Her research focuses on novel artificial intelligence methods development for medical applications. She has published across multiple areas of artificial intelligence, including computer vision, natural language processing, explainable AI, and expert systems. Her machine learning models have been applied to medical images, medical notes, EHR data, and genetic data. Dr. Draelos is the Founder & CEO of Cydoc, a health AI company. The Cydoc Smart Patient Intake Form generates medical notes from patient intake forms, saving 10 minutes per patient visit. Dr. Draelos is also the author of the popular AI and medicine blog Glass Box, and the Founding Consultant of Vismedica AI, a firm that offers healthcare and AI consulting services.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast pediatric physician and coach, Stacia Dearmin.

The unfortunate truth is that most surgeons in the United States will be named in a malpractice lawsuit at some point in their careers. Despite that, it’s a topic we don’t often discuss.

Most compassionate surgeons are hit hard when a patient has an unforeseen negative outcome. Adding a malpractice lawsuit on top of a negative outcome can be overwhelming and injurious to a surgeon physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

What steps does Stacia suggest we do to become better equipped to deal with malpractice litigation?

• Step 1 - Connect with someone about your personal experience in a protected space. The isolation that stems from a malpractice lawsuit exacerbates suffering. We need other people to lean on when we’re suffering. 
• Step 2 - Educate yourself about malpractice litigation. Recognize that, as doctors and not attorneys, we are not experts in litigation. However, learning the basics of the process can help us better prepare.

Most importantly, practice preparation for potential malpractice litigation!

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast, leadership and health coach, Becky Wolfe.

During her career as a Physician Assistant, Becky noticed that the healthcare system was treating a lot of chronic diseases but not doing as much to help patients get well. That disconnect and frustration resulted in Becky pursuing a career in health coaching.

Now Becky’s primary coaching focus is helping teams function optimally. You need to have high levels of trust in order for teams to function well. Every member of any healthcare team has the same ultimate goal in mind – the patient outcome. It’s important for each member to have a clear role and identity in attaining that goal. If everyone has a solid understanding of their role, communication will improve drastically. 

What steps does Becky suggest to help teams function optimally?

• Step 1 - Double Down on Communication. It’s the building block of any successful team. You need more communication, not less. Schedule regular meetings to get everyone on the same page efficiently.
• Step 2 - Build Deeper Layers of Trust. Get to know the members of your team on a more personal level. Even if it may feel a bit awkward or too personal, ask them about their hobbies and interests outside of work. This will create a much deeper bond that will help improve communication and teamwork.

Most importantly, PRACTICE people development to build stronger teams!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast physician coach Joseph Kaczmarczyk, DO, MPH, MBA.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a cascade of seemingly endless changes. While everyone’s experience of the pandemic has been unique, there is one aspect that’s shared between physicians and patients alike: No one is immune to change. But the change brought on by the advent of COVID-19 was unlike anything we’d seen before.

The new normal for change is “3-D change” - which is defined by three dimensions: (1) it’s perpetual; (2) it’s pervasive; (3) it’s exponential. With this new 3-D change, we need to adapt our leadership styles accordingly. Sapient leadership invokes humanism and refers to the quality of wisdom and to being human. 

What steps does Joe suggest we do to practice sapient leadership?

• Step 1 - Think of a change you’ve experienced. How would you characterize that change? Was it pervasive, perpetual, or exponential?
• Step 2 -  Consider how the experience of that change impacted you. How did it alter your thinking?
• Step 3 -  Ponder what you are going to do differently in the future as a result of that change?

Most importantly, practice sapient leadership!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast author, international speaker, and consultant in performance and sport psychology, Dr. Haley Perlus.

The principles of sport / performance psychology have many applications for surgeons, who are always striving for peak performance. There is a lot that we, as surgeons, can learn from professional athletes. 

Professional athletes don’t recover when they have the time. They recover as a mandatory part of their performance program. Surgeons can do the same. You can’t be resilient or clear of mind if you don’t give yourself time to recover.

What steps does Haley suggest we do to incorporate recovery into our practices?

• Step 1 - Recognize that recovery is non-negotiable. It is a mandatory component of our performance programs.
• Step 2 - Focus on short recovery bouts consistently throughout the day.

Most importantly, practice recovery!

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• Component 1 - Issues Management. This consists of performing an environmental scan to identify any issues with the potential to become crises, generating a risk image, obtaining stakeholders’ views of these threats, and to ascertain the probable consequences.
• Component 2 -  Planning & Prevention. This consists of establishing a proactive policy to respond to potential crises and preparing contingency plans.
• Component 3 - The Crisis. This consists of evaluating your response to the crisis, targeting your message to the appropriate audiences, and minimizing harm to your stakeholders.
• Component 4 - The Post-Crisis. This consists of monitoring the crisis, informing stakeholders of your actions, evaluating how the crisis management plan worked.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Carla welcomes orthopaedic surgeon and coach, Jeffrey M Smith, MD, FACS, PCC to the 100th episode of the SurgeonMasters podcast!

A huge part of the SurgeonMasters podcast has been inspiring others by highlighting issues specific to physicians and surgeons. These important conversations have been a refuge and a resource for medical professionals to discuss topics that typically don’t get much focus. 

This podcast was born from Jeff’s interest in coaching and how it can improve the lives of physicians and surgeons at every level. Coaching is something that can help anyone in the medical profession.

Thank you for making the SurgeonMasters Podcast a success for 100 episodes. Look forward to more high-level conversations on the mini-podcast in the future!

Most importantly, PRACTICE Inspiring Passion in yourself and others!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast physician leader and coach, Joseph M. Kaczmarczyk, DO, MPH, MBA.

Although crisis leadership and crisis management are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between the two. Crisis leadership is knowing the right things to do, while crisis management is knowing how to do things right. 

All physicians are leaders. There are six critical aspects of crisis leadership:

1. Sense Making
2. Decision Making and Coordinating
3. Meaning Making
4. Accounting
5. Learning
6. Preparing

What should a physician know about crisis leadership for crises you can’t predict? After a crisis appears to be “over” it’s not actually over until an AAR (After Action Review) is completed. This review dives into what was expected to happen; what actually happened; what went well; and what can be improved. 

What does Joseph suggest we do to practice good leadership in response to a crisis?

• Step 1 - Recall the Crisis. In the crisis, were you the crisis leader, crisis manager, or both? Did you perform any of the six crisis leadership tasks?
• Step 2 -  Ask Yourself the 4 AAR Questions. What was expected to happen? What actually happened? What went well? What can be improved?

Most importantly, PRACTICE crisis leadership!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Carla Smith, MD. Carla is an orthopaedic surgeon, educator, and coach.

As physicians, we talk a lot about having compassion for our patients but we don’t really talk about compassion for ourselves. It’s essential that we call attention to this compassion gap so we can improve our practices and our lives.

Carla has been through the SurgeonMasters Physician Coach Training program and is now working as a physician coach. The SurgeonMasters approach to coaching provides the opportunity to identify skills that we want to obtain or improve, with the ultimate goal of helping ourselves or others. 

What steps does Carla suggest we do to have more compassion for ourselves?

• Step 1 - Recognize how you’re reacting to things. This can be something as simple as failing to wake up early to exercise. Are you beating yourself up for small things like this?
• Step 2 - Take a beat. Don’t immediately jump into a negative headspace and beat yourself up. Take a moment to think about how you’re going to react.
• Step 3 - Show compassion to yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself! Give yourself grace.

 Most importantly, start to PRACTICE self-compassion! 

Guest: Carla Smith, MD
Carla is a fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeon. She is also a surgeon educator and surgeon coach. As former chair of the department of surgery at a very large urban hospital, she saw firsthand how adverse events and lack of collegiality impact physicians, which steered her toward peer support and coaching. She views physician empowerment as a way to give back to her community and foster physician longevity. Balancing work with her passion for humanitarian service – both domestic and abroad – has been one of her most rewarding accomplishments. In her free time, Carla values spending time outdoors with her family. 

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopaedic surgeon, Wendell Cole MD. Dr. Cole is also the host of the popular orthopaedic podcast, Nailed It Ortho. 

The Nailed It podcast grew from Dr. Cole's desire to learn more about various orthopeadic topics while in medical school. It has since grown into covering a wide range of issues that surgeons face - many of which are not explicitly taught in medical school.

Podcasting has become a great creative outlet for Dr. Cole. It has also helped him realize the importance of creative outlets. In the medical field, we're often fixated on the technical aspects of our work so much that we tend to ignore creativity.

What steps does Wendell suggest we do to nurture our creative outlets?

• Step 1 - Think back to what you enjoyed doing as a kid. For example, maybe you loved to draw.
• Step 2 -  Figure out a way to incorporate that into your life and career. If you loved to draw, think about how you can bring that into your work. 

Most importantly, start to practice your creative outlets!

Guest: Wendell "Cody" Cole MD

Wendell is a current Orthopaedic Surgery chief resident at Tulane University SOM. He started college at the age of 16 and started medical school when he was 20 years old. He graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2018. He is also a best--selling author, having written "The Med School Survival Kit- How to Breeze Through Medical School WHile Crushing Your Exams", which currently has over 120 reviews and 5 stars on Amazon. He also is the co-host of Nailed It Ortho, a 5-star orthopaedic surgery podcast covering high-yield topics with more than 200 episodes published featuring experts from the field of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has also published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, has written multiple textbook chapters, and has presented his research at a national level. He is set to start a sports medicine fellowship in 2023 at NYU- Hospital for Joint Disease.

Find Dr. Cole at Nailed It Ortho. 

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified pediatrician and founder of Doctoring Differently®, Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid.

Doctoring Differently® is focused on teaching physicians that they can create the lives and careers that they deserve. Many physicians are unaware of the plethora of professional options available to them. We’re often taught that there are only a few career paths to choose from. But there are so many alternative options that can lead to better, more fulfilling careers.

What steps does Naomi suggest we do to build the careers of our dreams?

• Step 1 - Understand that there are no rules for a career in medicine! The traditional career paths are not the only ones available. 
• Step 2 -  Survey your career options. This can include opportunities inside and outside of medicine. Explore what others have done and even what no one has done before.
• Step 3 - Begin the process that will create the career that you want. Take action and pursue the career of your dreams.

Most importantly, begin to PRACTICE doctoring differently!

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid, M.D. is a board-certified pediatrician and founder of Doctoring Differently®, a company uniquely centered around educating and supporting physicians in their pursuit of unconventional clinical and non-clinical career paths. Dr. Lawrence-Reid created this platform after personally exploring many of the flexible and lucrative job opportunities that physicians are not taught at any point in medical education. She now utilizes her unique methodology to educate physicians on creating careers that prioritize their individual interests while promoting lifelong curiosity, creativity, and satisfaction in medicine.

Dr. Lawrence-Reid is a proud Boston-area native now warmly based in San Diego, California. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and she completed pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore/Einstein in Bronx, New York. She has served as a staff physician at Rady Children’s Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, and various other southern California hospitals. In addition to Doctoring Differently®, Dr. Lawrence-Reid is owner and medical director of NLR Med Aesthetics and she remains a vocal advocate for health and safety policies that protect the children of San Diego county.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast Retired US Navy Captain and New York Times Bestselling author, David Marquet.

David was a nuclear submarine commander who came up through an organizational structure that rewarded knowing the right answer and following orders. In many organizational structures, people are often biased towards doing what they’re told, even if they sense it may not be the best course of action. 

The best way to get out of this organizational mindset is for the leader to not make any decisions, but instead let their team come to them with solutions. 

What steps does David suggest we do to improve organizational design?

• Step 1 - Invite dissenting opinions. Even after a decision has been made, ask your team if it was the right call and how things could have been handled differently.
• Step 2 - Stop requiring permission. Instead have team members actively verbalize actions before they take them. This allows the leader to stop any actions, while empowering team members to take ownership of their actions.
• Step 3 - Lean back and let your team come to you. This will make your team feel more valued and lead to better decision making and organizational design. 

Most importantly, practice organizational leadership!

Guest: David Marquet

Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author David Marquet was assigned to command the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, then ranked last in retention and operational standing. He “turned the ship around” by treating the crew as leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This revolutionary approach not only took the Santa Fe from “worst to first” in the rankings, but also created more subsequent leaders than any other submarine. Captain Marquet is the author of Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. Fortune magazine named it the #1 must-read business book of the year, and USA Today listed it as one of the top 12 business books of all time. Next came the newly acclaimed book, Leadership is Language. It is time to ditch the Industrial Age playbooks and learn that choosing the right words can improve team decision-making and execution. Leadership is

Language is featured in The Wall Street Journal’s Top 10 Best-Selling Business Book List, and was named the Book of the Month for the Financial Times. David Marquet is here today to deliver the powerful message that in highly effective organizations, leadership is not for the select few at the top. 

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopaedic trauma surgeon and founder of SIGN Fracture Care, Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle.

SIGN is a humanitarian organization that builds sustainable orthopaedic capacity in developing countries by providing relevant education to surgeons, then manufacturing and donating the instruments and implants needed to treat fractures. Dr. Zirkle was inspired to create SIGN after treating Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam war.

Throughout his long career in medicine, Dr. Zirkle has learned the value in looking at things through new eyes. Often in orthopaedics, we just do what has been done before. But looking at things with new eyes is important because you can develop instruments and find new discoveries because you’re not hampered by the established way.
Dr. Zirkle consulting with SIGN Surgeons.

What steps does Lew suggest we do to look at situations through new eyes?

• Step 1 – Don’t just accept that the established method is the only way to do things.
• Step 2 – Seek out different perspectives.
• Step 3 – Try new things and see if there is a better way to approach a particular process.

Most importantly, PRACTICE  looking at your situation through new eyes!

Guest: Lewis G. Zirkle, MD, President and Founder, SIGN Fracture Care International

Dr. Zirkle founded SIGN in order to bring healing to the injured poor in developing countries. Today, he gives mentorship to SIGN Surgeons at each hospital, reviews patient cases, and inspires new, innovative design ideas. 

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better… Jeff welcomes to the podcast SurgeonMasters collaborator and physician coach, Dr. Errin Weisman. Burnout is a common topic in the medical community. It’s been a topic of discussion for so long that some physicians […]

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us a text

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!