Send us a text In this powerful final episode, I sit down with Dr. Robert Montgomery, Chair of Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025. A heart transplant recipient himself, Dr. Montgomery shares how personal loss and major health challenges fueled his drive to push boundaries in medicine. In our conversation, we explore his leadership philosophy, his commitment to expanding acces...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bellal Joseph, Martin Gluck Endowed Professor of Surgery, Chief of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns, and Emergency Surgery, and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona. He shares his remarkable leadership journey, from his early passion for surgery’s human connection to his evolution as a leader on the national stage. We discuss pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy, the evolving expectation...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dean Amy J. Goldberg, a master trauma surgeon, visionary leader in academic medicine, and a tireless advocate for education and community engagement. She currently serves as the Marjorie Joy Katz Dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Prior to this role, she held a succession of leadership positions, including Chief of the Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Division, Director of the General Surgery Residency Program, and ...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Cripps, Section Chief for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Trauma Medical Director at the Anschutz Medical Campus, and Chair of the SAGES Committee on Acute Care Surgery. A nationally recognized leader in trauma and acute care surgery, Dr. Cripps brings a wealth of experience shaped by high-impact leadership roles, a robust academic career, and a deep commitment to education and mentorsh...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Todd Rosengart, Professor and DeBakey-Bard Chair of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Vice President for Hospital Operations and Quality Improvement, and a member of the Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Board of Directors. Dr. Rosengart is the past Chair of the NIH Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section, inaugural Chair of the ACS National Surgeon Scientist Study Section, Chai...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Martin McCarter, Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Surgical Director of the Esophageal & Gastric Cancer Program, and the Gary, Debbie, and Brandon Mandelbaum Endowed Chair in Melanoma Research. Dr. McCarter shares the leadership lessons he’s learned over the course of a career spent at the intersection of surgical oncology, research, and academic medicine. From leading multidisciplinary cancer program...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lars Svensson, Professor of Surgery, Director of the Marfan Syndrome & Connective Tissue Disorder Clinic, and Chairman of the Heart, Vascular, & Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. We discuss his journey from aspiring mechanical engineer to a world-renowned surgeon and leader. Dr. Svensson shares pivotal moments that shaped his career, the impact of his mentors on his path, and the innovations that defined his work in aortic ...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Sutherland, a leader in surgery and trauma systems development and Director of the Division of Member Services at the American College of Surgeons. We explore his journey from military service to surgical leadership, discussing how his experience in the U.S. Air Force shaped his structured approach to leadership and problem-solving. Dr. Sutherland shares insights into the complexities of building and optimizing trauma systems, the im...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dean John H. Sampson, a distinguished neurosurgeon, physician-scientist, and leader in academic medicine. As the Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and Dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, he has played a pivotal role in shaping medical education, research, and patient care. We discuss his journey into neurosurgery, the importance of mentorship, and the intersection of innovation and leadershi...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nancy Ascher, a Distinguished Professor of Surgery and a trailblazer in organ transplantation and surgical leadership. As the first woman to perform a liver transplant and the first female Chair of the UCSF Department of Surgery, she has spent decades shaping the future of transplantation. She has served as President of both The Transplantation Society and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and has also served on the Presidential T...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Charles Putnam, an Emeritus Professor of Surgery, distinguished Transplant Surgeon, Surgeon Scientist, and Molecular & Cellular Biologist. Previously, he was Chief of the Surgical Service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tucson, Chief of the Section of General Surgery, in the Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Program Director of the General Surgery Residency at the University of A...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ashish Shah, Professor of Cardiac Surgery and the Alfred Blalock Endowed Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As a leader in heart transplantation and mechanical support, Dr. Shah has played a pivotal role in transforming Vanderbilt’s heart transplant program into one of the busiest in the country. We explore his journey from growing up in a medical household to becoming a leader in cardiac surg...

Send us a text In this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Dr. Kathryn Anderson, Professor Emerita of Surgery, former Chief of Surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, first woman to hold office in the American College of Surgeons, and the First Female President of the College. She also led as president of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and chaired the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In this conversation, she shares her journey, the challenges s...

Send us a text In the first episode of this season, I sit down with Dr. Jordan Hoffman, Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgical Director of the Heart and Lung Transplantation Programs, and a leader in ECMO and pulmonary hypertension care at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Hoffman shares how his family's legacy in medicine influenced his path, the challenges he faced during training, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. We explore his leadership in organ tr...

Send us a textIn this special episode and the season finale, we are joined by one of the most distinguished figures in surgery, Dr. Andrew Warshaw. As the W. Gerald Austen Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Warshaw’s extraordinary career has shaped surgical practice, education, and leadership on a national and international scale.Dr. Warshaw shares insights into his leadership philosophy and reflects on his extraordinary ach...

Send us a textIn this special episode, and the second-to-last of the season, Dr. John Cameron, the Alfred Blalock Distinguished Service Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, joins us to share the extraordinary story of his career. A trailblazer in pancreatic cancer surgery, Dr. Cameron is renowned for performing over 2,400 Whipple procedures. Additionally, he has mentored more than 41 department chairs across the country! During his 19 years as Chief of Surgery at John...

Send us a textDr. Joseph Coselli, Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Surgery, Professor and Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Program Director of the Aortic Surgery Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, reflects on the profound impact of mentorship on his career, the evolution of surgical techniques in aortic surgery, and the role of instinct in the operating room. He shares his journey of developing surgical skills, the challenges of in...

Send us a textDr. Herbert Chen, Professor of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UAB School of Medicine, reflects on his journey from being inspired by his father, a retired orthopedic surgeon, to becoming a trailblazer in academic surgery. He highlights how mentorship and a pivotal research year shaped his career and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing education and mentorship in surgic...

Send us a textDr. Justin Dimick, Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Surgery in the University of Michigan Health System, shares his journey to becoming a pioneering leader in surgical innovation. In this episode, he reflects on the transformative role of mentorship in shaping his career, the importance of high standards in surgical practice and research, and the evolving culture of surgery, emphasizing inclusivity, humility, an...

Send us a textDr. Oscar Joe Hines, Chair, Executive Director, and Professor of the Department of Surgery at UCLA, shares his remarkable journey in surgery, from early inspirations to becoming a nationally recognized leader in the field. In this episode, Dr. Hines discusses the qualities essential for leadership in surgery, including emotional intelligence, time management, and the ability to balance professional and personal responsibilities. Drawing on his extensive experience, he highlights...