In today’s episode, we join Dr. Martin Uwah, a skilled colorectal surgeon, and Dr. Edwin McDonald and Dr. Ross McMillan, expert gastroenterologists, as they discuss gastrointestinal health, including colorectal surgery and colorectal cancer. Some of the questions they answer include: what are some risk factors for colon cancer, and what can you do to decrease your risk? What does a colonoscopy really involve, and who should get one? Why are there disparities in colon cancer rates and deaths, by race/ethnicity and between neighborhoods in Chicago? And what is happening here at UChicago to address these disparities?

In this episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, Dr. Ross Milner and Kathy Kaluhiokalani on what patients can expect before, during, and after surgery. We’ll also explore new ways technology may be able to support patients when it comes to accessing necessary surgeries. Our executive producer is Tony Liu. Our senior producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our production team includes Megan Teramoto, Ria Sood, Ishaan Kumar, and Daniel Correa Buccio. Our senior editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our editorial team also includes Beryl Zhou. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Leia Chen.

In this episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, Dr. Carmelle Romain and Dr. Kylie Callier provide an overview of the field of pediatric surgery. We cover key aspects of pediatric surgery, from common pediatric conditions to the factors that attract surgeons to the subspecialty. We also examine which populations of children lack access to surgery, and the reasons behind these barriers. Finally, we highlight what the University of Chicago is doing to improve access for children and parents in Chicago’s South Side. Dr. Carmelle Romain is a pediatric surgeon and Assistant Professor in the Department of General Surgery. She attended medical school at Brown University and completed her residency and fellowship training at Vanderbilt University and Miami Children’s Hospital. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Romain is an active researcher examining how telehealth can expand access for pediatric patients. Dr. Kylie Callier is a 3rd-year surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and a fellow at the Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is an aspiring pediatric surgeon and attended medical school at Texas Tech University. Her research interests include pediatric trauma and pediatric ECMO, a life-supporting treatment for critically ill children with heart and/or lung failure. Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago, which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our executive producer is Tony Liu. Our senior producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our production team includes Megan Teramoto, Ria Sood, Ishaan Kumar, and Daniel Correa Buccio. Our senior editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our editorial team also includes Beryl Zhou. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Leia Chen. A special thanks this week to Dr. Jeffrey Matthews — for his leadership, vision, and commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities. Let us know — what have you most enjoyed about our podcast. Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

In today’s episode, Dr. Mitchell Posner, Dr. Sarah Shubeck, and Dr. Jelani Williams discuss the University of Chicago Medicine’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center. Scheduled to open in 2027, the new center is a seven-floor, 575,000-square-foot building planned to have 80 private beds and 90 consultation and outpatient rooms. At the moment, the center is anticipated to see 200,000 outpatient visits and 5000 inpatient admissions annually. This would be the city of Chicago’s first freestanding cancer pavilion. How will we ensure that this new center prioritizes the community’s needs? In Chicago’s South Side, cancer death rates are twice the national average, and cancer is also the second-leading cause of death on the South Side behind heart disease. In this conversation, you’ll hear about the center’s development, what patients can expect, and most importantly, the Department of Surgery’s commitment to ensure the cancer center supports those who are most vulnerable.

On today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Yalini Vigneswaran and Dr. Kayla (Polcari) Councell about bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery. We discussed the impact of these surgeries on patient health, as well as some of the barriers our patients face in accessing these surgeries. We delve into some of the new weight loss medications on the market, and how patients can figure out what is best for them.

In this episode, Dr. Chelsea Dorsey and Dr. Brandon Baird share their stories as physician trailblazers, including their path to medicine and how they are paving the way for others now. Together, they explore the intersectionality of medicine and the importance of fostering diverse and inclusive healthcare environments that not only enhance physician-patient relationships but also aid in addressing health disparities in Chicago’s Southside. Dr. Chelsea Dorsey is an Associate Professor of Surgery at UChicago Medicine and an Associate Dean at the Pritzker School of Medicine. She runs the Vein Clinic at UChicago Medicine as director. She has a particular interest in complex aortic conditions and limb salvage therapy. As a committed educator and mentor, Dr. Dorsey regularly teaches medical students, residents and fellows about vascular disease management. Dr. Brandon Jackson Baird is a laryngologist at the University of Chicago. He specializes in a wide range of throat diseases with an emphasis on medical and surgical management of voice and swallowing disorders. His expertise includes treating traumatic vocal cord lesions and throat cancer amongst other conditions. He also provides care for performing and professional voice artists while performing as a trained singer himself. “Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago...which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Renaise Kim. A special thanks this week to Beth Gabryszak. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. Additionally, you can find more information at our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/.

In today’s episode, we hear Dr. Russell Reid, a plastic surgeon at the University of Chicago, and Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld, a family medicine physician, talk about their experiences caring for the migrants who have come to Chicago over the past year. They share challenges they’ve seen and improvements they hope for, as well as the importance of collaborations between primary care physicians, specialists, and other providers in offering comprehensive care. Our guests also discuss the importance of listening to patients, approaching people without assumptions and with a willingness to learn. Dr. Russell Reid is a pediatric plastic surgeon at the University of Chicago. An accomplished author, Dr. Reid has published book chapters and several peer-reviewed journal articles on a variety of topics, from craniofacial surgery techniques to wound healing. Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld is a compassionate family medicine physician dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages in Chicago, IL. With a focus on preventive medicine and health promotion, she emphasizes building long-term relationships with patients and their families to address their healthcare needs over time. “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our guest host for this episode was Tony Liu. Our regular host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Renaise Kim. A special thanks this week to our guests, Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld and Dr. Russell Reid. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. Additionally, you can find more information at our website, deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. To learn more about Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, you can visit their website: https://www.freshstart.org/.

On this episode of Deep Cuts, one of our most powerful and personal episodes yet, our guest is Dr. Abdullah Pratt, Assistant Professor and Emergency Medicine Physician at the University of Chicago Medical Center and Faculty Director of Community Engagement at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Pratt shares how his experiences as a lifelong resident of the South Side of Chicago have shaped his career as a physician at the University of Chicago’s level one trauma center. He discusses the systemic roots of violence and the inequities in how solutions to violence are funded. He also describes the grassroots community violence prevention initiatives he leads, working to inspire more youth to become leaders as well. Known as “Dee,” Dr. Pratt’s goal has always been to have a career advocating for underserved communities and addressing systemic healthcare disparities. As an Emergency Medicine physician, he continues to vigorously work to improve health literacy and emergency preparedness through teaching South-Side residents how to properly respond to cardiac arrests, penetrating traumas (gunshot victims), and strokes prior to the arrival of medical assistance. To learn more about and support MEDCEEP, you can visit their website at medceep.com. “Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. A special thanks this week to our guest, Dr. Abdullah Pratt. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. You can also learn more about our podcast and team at our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/.

In this episode of Deep Cuts, Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers on how to understand and begin to tackle gun violence in the United States. We’ll discuss the factors that perpetuate gun violence, which individuals are at highest risk, and what interventions might look like to curb gun violence. We’ll also discuss the ways Dr. Rogers finds meaning amidst this challenging work. Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers Jr.is a widely respected surgeon and public health expert. He is the founding director of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center, and has built an interdisciplinary team of specialists to treat patients who suffer injury from life-threatening events, such as car crashes, serious falls and gun violence. His team works with leaders in the city's trauma network to expand trauma care on the South Side of Chicago. Dr. Rogers has also served in leadership capacities at health centers across the country, including most recently as vice president and chief medical officer for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, as the chair of surgery at Temple University School of Medicine, and as the division chief of trauma, burns and surgical critical care at Harvard Medical School. If you have questions or topics you’d like to hear us discuss, please reach out to us via Instagram or X @deepcutssurgery. You can also learn more about our podcast and team at our website, deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. “Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Special thanks this week to all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery.

In this episode of “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery”, Dr. Jana Richards and Dr. Lateia Taylor discuss racial disparities in maternal mortality and the different ways we can change this picture. We’ll get into the reasons why disparities exist when it comes to race and matters of maternal life or death. We’ll also talk about how medical schools can help and what work is being done at the University of Chicago to improve outcomes. Dr. Richards and Dr. Taylor also discuss what these disparities mean to them personally. Dr. Jana Richards is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago with over 15 years of obstetrics and gynecology experience. She delivers comprehensive women’s care that includes annual exams, preventive care, pregnancy and childbirth medicine, and more. She also works with her patients to create personalized treatment plans that meet each patient’s individual healthcare goals. Dr. Lateia Taylor is a 4th year Obstretrics & Gynecology resident at the University of Chicago. She is originally from Jackson, Mississippi and completed medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Her research explores how we can fill gaps in medical provider knowledge about infertility among Black women. If you have questions or topics you’d like to hear us discuss, reach us at zoom-colo-gen@bsd.uchicago.edu. “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago, which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. His new album is Diagnosis. A special thanks this week to Dr. Mathews, Dr. Posner, Shane Semmens, and Beth Gabryszak for supporting us in the work we do. You can find more about our podcast at our website https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/ or or on Instagram and X @deepcutssurgery. Note: During the podcast, Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric otolaryngologist, was accidentally referred to as a pediatrician. We apologize for the error.

In today’s episode, Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, Deanna Bassette, Maureen Wilson, and Dr. Chase Corvin discuss the Bloodless Heart Surgery Program at the University of Chicago Medicine. We hear about the individualized, comprehensive cardiac surgical care they provide to Jehovah’s Witnesses and other patients who cannot or choose not to receive blood products. The Bloodless Heart Surgery team also shares what they’ve learned about caring for Jehovah’s Witnesses, combining respect for people’s religious beliefs with surgical expertise. Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam specializes in the surgical management of heart failure, and is an expert in high-risk cardiac surgery. He  has received national attention for his skill in performing bloodless cardiac surgery, which requires the use of precise surgical techniques to minimize blood loss during the procedure — sparing the need for a blood transfusion. Deanna Bassette is the Bloodless Advanced Practice Nurse Coordinator for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Deanna started as a registered nurse on the Cardiothoracic Surgical Floor in 2016 and transitioned to her role as Bloodless APN Coordinator in 2021. In this role, she serves a provider whose patient population consists of patients who are unable to take blood transfusions, even in life-or-death situations. Maureen Wilson has over 25 years in healthcare, starting off as a paramedic then nursing.  Her nursing experience includes working as an RN in multiple level one trauma centers as well as case management and currently as a Bloodless Coordinator at the university of Chicago hospital. Dr. Chase Corvin is the chief resident of General Surgery at the University of Chicago. Next year, he will begin his training in heart and lung surgery. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Corvin has degrees in economics and business administration. “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers and editors include Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, Nihar Rama, and Chuka Onuh. Our podcast cover art comes to you from Pombie Silverman, episode art from Sam Higgins, and music from Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. A special thanks this week to our guests, Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, Deanna Bassette, Maureen Wilson, and Dr. Chase Corvin. To send us questions or comments or find out more about our work, visit our website, deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. You can also follow us on Instagram and X at @deepcutssurgery. To learn more about the Bloodless Heart Surgery Program at the University of Chicago Medicine, visit their website: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/heart-vascular/heart-surgery/bloodless-heart-surgery

Today, we discuss community health advocacy on the southside of Chicago, including what work is being done in and around UChicago Medicine to promote community health and how people can get involved. We also discuss some of the barriers to achieving the goals of more equitable care for all. Our guest today is Doriane Miller, MD. Dr. Miller has been providing care to under-served minority populations for more than 20 years. In addition to her role as a primary care physician, she has a special interest in behavioral health. Under her leadership, physicians, educators and community members work to improve population health outcomes for residents on the South Side of Chicago through community-engaged research, demonstration and service models. Dr. Miller's research focuses on the intersection of health disparities and race. She has served as the project director for several studies designed to augment care by promoting collaboration among physicians, patients and families. Dr. Miller's work in the area of improving asthma outcomes through school and community interventions was noted by the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology with a 2006 Special Recognition Award. Prior to joining the University of Chicago in January 2009, Dr. Miller served as national program director of New Health Partnerships, a demonstration project funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation on collaborative self-management support. “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine. Our hosts are Dr. Jen Vigneswaran and Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers and editors include Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, Chuka Onuh, and Nihar Rama. Our podcast cover art comes to you from Pombie Silverman, episode art from Sam Higgins, and music from Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. A special thanks this week to Dr. Doriane Miller. Find more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. You can also follow us on Instagram and X at @deepcutssurgery.

In this episode, we discuss obstetrics care — care for women giving birth — and abortion care at the University of Chicago Medicine. WIth Drs. Neha Bhardwaj and Hillary McLaren, we discuss the wide range of care they offer, how their practices have changed since the Supreme Court Dobbs decision, and how they see obstetrics care changing in the next 5 to 10 years. We also get into the disparities they’ve seen in obstetrics and abortion care, as well as efforts both within and outside the University of Chicago to decrease those disparities.

This episode, we are joined by Sharnae Phagan, Drs. Priya Prakash, Annie Polcari, Lea Hoefer, and William McKinley. We touch on what sort of scenarios the police might be involved in, and the challenges surgeons face when interacting with the police. We also discuss ways to best support our patients in high-intensity situations such as these. Alongside our discussion of police interactions in the hospital, our guests talk about the challenging impacts of gun violence on our community and how they can provide the best patient care in the face of such complex issues.

Welcome back to Deep Cuts! We’ve got a packed season ahead in 2023. In this short trailer, current host Dr. Jen Vigneswaran and incoming host Dr. Anthony Douglas will be discussing some of the episodes they’re looking forward to, including episodes on police interactions in the trauma center and care for Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as their overall goals for the season. A special thanks this week to Shane Semmens, Chad Selmik, Shawnique Watts, Dr. Chelsea Dorsey, and our chair, Dr. Jeffrey Matthews. We couldn't pull this off without their support. Follow us on instagram at deepcutssugery. Find more about our work or send us questions or comments at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

Today, Dr. Sarah Shubeck and Dr. Kyra Nicholson, two surgeons on breast cancer and how we might begin to correct the disparities that exist between black and white patients when it comes to breast cancer. They’ll get into the different kinds of breast cancer and treatments that exist, and why it’s so challenging to decrease one’s risk for the disease. You’ll also hear what inspired them to pursue careers in breast cancer surgery, and their own personal wisdom on patient care. Dr. Sarah Shubeck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Surgery. She is a Breast Surgical Onocologist specializing in breast surgery, cancer, and benign disease treatment. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Shubeck is also a passionate researcher. She’s examined how to improve the value and quality of surgical care as well as exploring treatment effectiveness of patients with breast cancer. Her research has been published in many journals including Cancer, JAMA Surgery, and Annals of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Kyra Nicholson is a general surgery resident at UChicago Medicine. She is currently conducting research on clinical outcomes of breast surgery. Dr. Nicholson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Southern Illinois University for medical school prior to her residency. Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

Today, we’re talking all things RCT — that’s randomized control trials. The idea sounds complicated, but at their essence, RCTs are studies we do to make sure any new medical treatment actually works better than the existing treatments we have. With doctors Jessica Donington, Elizabeth Tung, and Tanvi Subramanian, we’ll get into everything from what different kinds of RCTs exist, what it looks like to make them more representative of our diverse populations, and how we protect patients in these trials. Dr. Jessica Donington is a Professor of Surgery at UChicago Medicine and the Chief of the Section of Thoracic Surgery. She treats the full spectrum of lung, esophageal and mediastinal conditions including lung cancer. She is also an avid researcher and respected leader in her field. She is a past president of Women in Thoracic Surgery and the New York Society for Thoracic Surgery and serves on the editorial boards for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Dr. Elizabeth Tung is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of General Internal Medicine at UChicago Medicine. Her research focuses on disparities in chronic disease management, with a special interest in race, place, and poverty. She has participated in community-based strategies to improve chronic disease management in East St. Louis, Chinatown New York, and West Providence, in addition to her work on the South Side of Chicago. Dr. Tanvi Subramanian is a general surgery resident who graduated from the Washington University School of Medicine. She is interested in thoracic or vascular surgery and is currently conducting vascular, basic science research on mice. Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

There’s a lot behind organ transplantation. Which organs can we transplant? When does someone need a transplant? How do we choose who gets one? And what are the ethical dilemmas surrounding transplantation? In this episode, we answer all these questions and more, including what patients can do to advocate for themselves if they do find themselves needing a transplant. We also explore UChicago Medicine’s unique role in the history of liver transplantation and debunk common misconceptions about the field, including the myth that doctors will change the quality of care if someone is listed as a organ donor. They don’t! Dr. Michael Millis is a Professor of Surgery and the Vice Chair of Global Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is an expert in adult and pediatric transplant surgery. Dr. Millis is also a pioneer of new techniques for liver operation. His innovations have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver transplants than any other program in the region over the past 15 years. Dr. John Fung is a Professor of Surgery and the Chief of the Section of Transplant Surgery at UChicago Medicine. He is a renowned leader in the field of organ transplantation, including liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestinal transplantation. Dr. Fung has spearheaded the use of new minimally invasive surgical transplant techniques. Dr. Fung was one of the physicians leaders of the transplant care team that made history in December 2018, after performing two triple-organ transplants within 27 hours. Dr. Milda Saunders is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UChicago Medicine and the Interim Associate Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Saunders’ broad research interests include health disparities and quality of care, particularly related to chronic kidney disease. Her work has examined how a person’s residence and site of care are associated with health outcomes. Dr. Kumaran Shanmugarajah is a fourth year surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and the Scientific Director of the Organ Perfusion Lab. He has worked internationally exploring the clinical application of basic science innovation. His interests include transplant immunology, organ engineering, and healthcare delivery models. Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

Today, Dr. Priya Prakash, Dr. Vanessa Buie, and Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our conversation with these 3 acute care surgeons began with an exploration of acute care surgery — an evolving specialty consisting primarily of trauma, critical care, and emergency surgery — which turned toward to topics and places that surprised each of us. You’ll hear not only about acute care surgery but also how doctors and healthcare institutions can earn the trust of the communities they serve. Alongside physician interactions with patients, we explore implicit bias, patient advocacy, as well as the value and necessity of having representative leadership and mentors who look like you in the work of patient care. Dr. Priya Prakash is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at UChicago Medicine specializing in trauma, critical care and emergency surgery. She has received several awards for her work and also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery and the Journal of American College of Surgeons. Dr. Vanessa Buie is the general surgery Chief Resident at UChicago Medicine. She received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In a previous life, Dr. Buie's work ranged from diabetes education to biomedical engineering and even serving as a cheerleader for the Minnesota Vikings, Dr. Anthony Douglas is a first year general surgery resident at UChicago Medicine. He is a graduate of Wabash College and the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Douglas is excited to be a part of a generation of doctors changing the face of medicine. Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.

Today, Dr. Mustafa Hussain & Dr. Harry Wong, 2 bariatric surgeons, discuss the overlaps between food deserts, culture, and bariatric surgery. Food deserts are locations where residents have few to zero convenient options for accessing healthy, affordable food, frequently stemming from a larger history of economic neglect. On the other hand, bariatric surgeries are those which help patients lose weight. Many of our patients on the South Side of Chicago live in food deserts, which can lead to an increased risk for obesity. In this episode, they challenge misconceptions about foods from communities of color which paint them as unhealthy, discuss how healthy foods are often understood through a white, European lens, what happens in the months spent with patients prior to offering them bariatric surgery, and how our evolutionary biology is mismatched with our modern society’s food system. Dr. Mustafa Hussain is an Associate Professor of Surgery and the Director for the Center for the Surgical Treatment of Obesity at UChicago Medicine. He has advanced training in bariatric surgery, expertise in all standard primary weight loss surgeries, and works closely with the surgical oncology team to expand the use of minimally invasive approaches in the surgical treatment of certain cancers. Dr. Hussain has also pioneered the use of robotic surgery to treat abdominal wall, diaphragmatic and paraesophageal hernias. Dr. Harry Wong is a 4th year general surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He has written on topics ranging from simulation-based curriculums for surgical procedures to maintaining safety standards during surgeries. Find more about our work at surgery.uchicago.edu.