The House of Surgery

In The House of Surgery™ podcast series, surgeons in all specialties, practice configurations, career stages, and locations describe their success stories, advice, challenges they’ve overcome, and words of inspiration. Some of the content was previously released in other formats; some is original for this podcast series.

The House of Surgery will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Episode 47: 2024 Gibbon Lecture–Lung Cancer Revolution

This episode features Jessica S. Donington, MD, MSCR, FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from The University of Chicago, who delivered the John H. Gibbon Junior Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In her lecture, “Lung Cancer Revolution,” Dr. Donington talks about the negative stigma that is sometimes associated with a lung cancer diagnosis, which can lead to unintended consequences such as disease-related distress and poor outcomes.

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Episode 46: 2024 Martin Memorial Lecture – Lessons Learned and Future Challenges for Surgery

This episode features Lester Martinez-Lopez, MD, MPH, a retired family medicine physician from Falls Church, Virginia, who gave the Martin Memorial Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. Dr. Martinez-Lopez most recently worked as the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs at the US Department of Defense. His lecture is titled “Lessons Learned and Future Challenges for Surgery.”

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Episode 45: 2024 Presidential Address – Excelling Together

This episode features Beth H. Sutton, MD, FACS, who was installed during Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco as the American College of Surgeons 105th President. Shortly afterward, she delivered her Presidential Address, “Excelling Together.”

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Episode 44: Colorectal Cancer Is on the Rise in Younger Adults

This episode offers a deep dive into an alarming trend—a rising incidence of colorectal cancer cases in young adults, not only in the US but also in other countries around the world. Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD (Hon), FACS, a colorectal surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic in Florida talks with Matthew F. Kalady, MD, FACS, a widely recognized expert in colorectal cancer and its hereditary syndromes from The Ohio State University in Columbus. They discuss incidence, treatment options, and the importance of awareness and outreach.

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Episode 43: Fireside Chat with Dr. L.D. Britt 

This episode features a fireside chat with L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, FACS, a world-renowned, highly decorated, and innovative surgeon known for introducing the term “acute care surgery” and molding that emerging surgical discipline. Dr. Britt was a long-time leader in the American College of Surgeons, serving on numerous committees and making a profound and positive impact, not only on the ACS, but also on the entire profession. Dr. Britt reflects on his career, his numerous and impressive accomplishments, and offers advice for both seasoned and early career surgeons. The program host is Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 42: 2023 Commission on Cancer Lecture

This episode features Jennifer A. Wargo, MD, MMSc, a surgical oncologist from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center who is renowned for her understanding of melanoma treatment response and groundbreaking discoveries related to how the gut microbiome influences response to immunotherapy. Dr. Wargo gave the Commission on Cancer Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023, “Breaking the Mold: Chartering a New Roadmap to Impact Care through Science,” where she also emphasized the importance of eating fiber to improve health.

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Episode 41: Surgeon Leadership and Advocacy for the Specialty

This episode provides an overview of the recent ACS Leadership & Advocacy Conference and offers advice to surgeons in all career stages about how they can enhance their leadership skills and then use those skills to advocate for the profession. 

Host

Michael J. Sutherland, MD, MBA, FACS; Director, ACS Division of Member Services, Chicago, Illinois

Guests

• Timothy J. Babineau, MD, MBA, FACS; general surgeon and former president and CEO of Lifespan Health System and a professor emeritus at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island
• Brian H. Williams, MD, FACS, trauma surgeon, best-selling author, and recent candidate for US Congress from Dallas, Texas

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Episode 40: 2023 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Lecture

This episode features Henry Buchwald, MD, PhD, FACS, a pioneering metabolic surgeon and educator from the University of Minnesota, who gave the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “Metabolic Surgery: Bariatrics and Beyond,” Dr. Buchwald reviews the evolution of metabolic surgery and how it is being used to ameliorate obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and even depression.

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Episode 39: 2023 J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture

This episode features Travis N. Rieder, PhD, a well-regarded bioethicist and former opioid therapy patient from Baltimore, Maryland, who delivered the J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. His lecture, “America’s Opioid Dilemma: Ethical Prescribing during an Overdose Epidemic,” explores the multifaceted nature of ethical prescribing and emphasizes his own poignant struggles with opioids following a traumatic motorcycle accident.

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Episode 38: Fireside Chat with Dr. Michelassi

This episode features a fireside chat with Fabrizio Michelassi, MD, FACS, the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. He’s also the surgeon-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine Center, Vice-Chair of the ACS Board of Regents, and Chair of the ACS Clinical Congress Program Committee. Dr. Michelassi reflects on his early career in his native Italy, his decision to move to the United States, and his impressive accomplishments as a gastrointestinal surgeon, researcher, teacher, and leader. The program host is Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 37: 2023 Scudder Oration on Trauma

This episode features Edward E. Cornwell, MD, FACS, a trauma surgeon from Washington, DC, who delivered the Scudder Oration on Trauma at Clinical Congress 2023.

In his lecture, “Trauma Care: The Vehicle, the Barometer, the Original Yardstick for Equal Care in America,” Dr. Cornwell uses some historically significant cases to describe how trauma surgery has the unique power to transcend barriers.

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Episode 36: ACS Cancer Programs - 2024 Conference Recap and a Look Ahead

In this episode, the Medical Director for ACS Cancer Programs, Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, talks with three of his colleagues—Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, Laurie J. Kirstein, MD, FACS, Timothy W. Mullett, MD, FACS—about the recent successful ACS Cancer Conference in Austin, Texas. In addition to the key insights and lessons learned from the conference, they also discuss new opportunities for clinical practice and what to expect this year and beyond from ACS Cancer Programs.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 35: 2023 Herand Abcarian Lecture

This episode features Tracy L. Hull, MD, FACS, a colorectal surgeon from Cleveland, Ohio, who gave the Abcarian Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In her lecture, “Things I wish I Had Known at the Start of My Journey,” Dr. Hull shares 10 important career lessons, including publishing early, getting the right mentor, putting family first, and finding your niche.

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Episode 34: 2023 Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery

This episode features Ewen M. Harrison, OBE, MB, ChB, MSc, PhD, a hepatobiliary and transplant surgeon from Edinburgh, Scotland, who gave the Distinguished Lecture of the International Society of Surgery at Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Global Surgery,” Dr. Harrison talks about using AI to enhance precision care through prediction and democratize surgical expertise, all while keeping in mind the ethical implications.

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Episode 33: Why a Career as a Military Surgeon Is Rewarding

In this episode, two retired Navy captains reflect on the benefits and challenges of careers as military surgeons. They also provide considerations for transitioning from a military to a civilian surgical career.

Capt. (Ret.) Richard Sharpe, MD, FACS, MC, USN, is a general surgeon specializing in trauma and surgical critical care. He is the chief of surgery at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ.

Capt. (Ret.) Gordon Wisbach, MD, MBA, FACS, MC, USN, is a general surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive metabolic/bariatric and robotic surgery at the Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command San Diego, CA, where he also was the founding director of the ACS-accredited Surgical Simulation/Education fellowship and inaugural telesurgical director of the Virtual Medical Operations Center.

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Episode 32: Charles G. Drake History of Surgery Lecture

This episode features Frederick G. Barker II, MD, FACS, a neurosurgeon from Boston, Massachusetts, who delivered the Charles G. Drake History of Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. His lecture, “Pathologies of the Surgical Image in Modern American Popular Culture,” begins with a sensational neuroscience case from the 19th century and pivots to sensational portrayals of surgeons in the literature, film, and other media.

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Episode 31: Fireside Chat with Dr. Anton Sidawy

This episode features a fireside chat with Anton Sidawy, MD, MPH, FACS, past Chair of the ACS Board of Regents and current Lewis B. Saltz Chair and Professor of Surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Sidawy reflects on his career as a vascular surgeon, researcher, teacher, and leader. The program host is Dr. Mohsen Shabahang for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 30: Trauma Quality Improvement Program: 2023 Accomplishments and a Look Ahead

In this episode, the Medical Director of ACS Trauma Quality Programs—Avery B. Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS—talks with two of his trauma colleagues—Anne G. Rizzo, MD, FACS, and Bryce Robinson, MD, MS, FACS—about the recent successful Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the key insights and lessons learned from TQIP, they also discuss a new guidance document on traumatic brain injury and what to expect from the ACS Trauma Programs in 2024.

Episode 29: 2023 Jonasson Lecture

This episode features Susan E. Mackinnon, MD, FACS, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from St. Louis, Missouri, who gave the Olga M. Jonasson Lecture at Clinical Congress 2023. In her lecture, “Phoenix Rising: The Culture of Surgery—A Paradigm Shift,” Dr. Mackinnon discusses the concept of energy leadership, a seven-level strategy that can transform how an individual interacts with—and ultimately—leads teams.

Episode 28: John H. Gibbon Jr. Lecture

This episode features Bartley P. Griffith, MD, FACS, FRCS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Baltimore, Maryland, who delivered the John H. Gibbon Jr. Lecture at ACS Clinical Congress 2023. In his lecture, “What’s New May Be Old: Xenotransplantation,” Dr. Griffith shares details about the more than 50-year history of xenotransplantation, including his recent experiences with two human xenotransplants of genetically modified pig hearts.  

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Episode 27: Martin Memorial

This episode features Gordon L. Telford, MD, FACS, a general surgeon from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who gave the Martin Memorial Lecture at ACS Clinical Congress 2023. Dr. Telford examines the life of ACS Founder Franklin H. Martin, MD, FACS, for whom the lecture was named.  

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Episode 26: Fireside Chat with Dr. Julie Freischlag

This episode features a fireside chat with ACS Past President Julie Freischlag, MD, FACS, who is the chief executive officer of Advocate Health and executive vice president for health affairs at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Freischlag talks about her career progression, lessons learned, work-life integration, and more. The program host is Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 25: 2023 Excelsior Surgical Society/Churchill Lecture

This episode features M. Margaret “Peggy” Knudson, MD, FACS, a trauma surgeon from San Francisco, California, who delivered the Excelsior Surgical Society/Edward D. Churchill Lecture at ACS Clinical Congress 2023. Her lecture, “Service, Synergy, and Surgical Mythology,” describes her experiences with the military, the synergy between military and civilian surgeons, and some myths about treatment of the injured. Dr. Knudson cedes some of her lecture time so that the audience could hear the personal story of a special guest—television journalist Bob Woodruff, who was severely injured in 2006 while reporting on the war in Iraq. 

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Episode 24: Henri Ford Presidential Address

This episode features Henri R. Ford, MD, MHA, FACS, who was installed during Clinical Congress 2023 in Boston as the American College of Surgeons 104th President. Shortly afterward, he delivered his Presidential Address, Achieving Our Best Together: #InclusiveExcellence.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 23: Fireside Chat with Dr. Chris Ellison

This episode features a fireside chat with ACS President E. Christopher Ellison, MD, FACS, about his career and life lessons. Dr. Ellison is the Robert M. Zollinger Professor of Surgery Emeritus at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus. He previously served as chair of the Department of Surgery, interim dean at the OSU College of Medicine, and president and CEO of the OSU Physicians Practice Plan.

The program host is Mohsen Shabahang, MD, PhD, FACS, for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.

Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery.

Episode 22: What's New with the Commission on Cancer

In this episode, Dr. Steven Wexner talks with Dr. Tim Mullett, Chair of the ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC), about recent activities and accomplishments of the CoC, how everyone can get involved in cancer prevention and cancer care initiatives, upcoming changes to the National Cancer Database, and cancer program content that will be presented at the upcoming ACS Clinical Congress in Boston this October.

Episode 21: Fireside Chat with Dr. Timothy Eberlein

This episode features a fireside chat with Dr. Timothy Eberlein about his career and life lessons. Dr. Eberlein is the director of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Olin Distinguished Professor, and Senior Associate Dean of the Cancer Programs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the University of Washington Medical Center in Saint Louis. He also is Chair of the ACS Board of Regents. The episode host is Dr. Mohsen Shabahang for the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. 

Episode 20: 2022 ACS CoC Oncology Lecture

This episode features Dr. Edward Partridge, a professor emeritus from the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama Birmingham and Chief Medical Office of Guideway Care. Dr. Partridge delivered the ACS Commission on Cancer Oncology Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022, reflecting on the 100-year anniversary of the C-o-C and addressing ways to decrease healthcare disparities in cancer care.

Episode 19: 2022 ACS Inaugural Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Lecture

This episode features Dr. Bruce Schirmer, a bariatric surgeon from Charlottesville, Virginia, who delivered the inaugural Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022. In his talk, “Don’t Stop Now,” Dr. Schirmer discusses the progress of bariatric surgery over the past 40 years and encourages more work to understand the disease of obesity.

Episode 18: Cognitive Impairment Screening

This episode features a multidisciplinary panel of experts discussing the importance of preoperative detection of cognitive impairment and dementia in the geriatric population. The host is Dr. Xane Peters, from Loyola University Medical Center who’s a clinical scholar working with the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. His guests are Dr. Julia Berian, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison; Dr. Kellie Flood, a professor in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, as well as the associate chief quality officer for geriatrics and care transitions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Dr. Elizabeth Whitlock, an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Care at the University of California, San Francisco.

Episode 17: 2022 ACS Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture

This episode features Dr. Mary Brandt, a professor of pediatric surgery at Tulane University in New Orleans, who delivered the John J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022. Dr. Brandt focused on “The Ethics of Belonging,” – what it means to belong, why belonging is professionally and ethically important, and how we can all become fierce guardians of belonging.

View the 2022 Clinical Congress Named Lecture videos on the ACS website.

Episode 16: Emergency GI Surgery Webinar

This episode is from a recent ACS webinar that offered information on the burden of emergency gastrointestinal surgery in resource-constrained settings, its effect on patient outcomes, and evidence-based solutions that surgeons can implement to improve surgical access and quality in similar settings.

Episode 15: 2023 ACS Cancer Conference Keynote

This episode features Dr. Arif Kamal, the chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society, who gave the keynote address at the recent ACS Cancer Programs Conference in Atlanta. Dr. Kamal reflects on how multiple disciplines can come together to care for patients across the continuum of care, from prevention through survivorship.

Episode 14: 2023 ACS Leadership & Advocacy Conference Wrap-Up

This episode takes a look at the recent ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit, the leadership lessons learned, and advice for surgeons in all career stages who want to improve their leadership skills. Dr. Michael Sutherland, director of the ACS Division of Member Services, talks to two high-powered surgeon-leaders—Dr. Bob Higgins, a cardiothoracic surgeon who is president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and executive vice president of Mass General Brigham in Boston and Dr. Max Langham, a pediatric surgeon who is a professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, a consulting surgeon at St. Jude’s Research Hospital, both in Memphis, and CEO of Tio Companies, which seeks to digitize reproductive toxicology.

Episode 13: 2022 ACS Scudder Oration on Trauma

This episode features acclaimed trauma surgeon Dr. Ronald Stewart, the Dr. Witten B. Russ Chair of Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Stewart delivered the Scudder Oration on Trauma during Clinical Congress 2022, reflecting on the ACS Committee on Trauma’s Century of Commitment to Optimal Trauma Care—Lessons Learned and Opportunities for the Future.

Episode 12: Power of Quality

This episode features the audio from a press conference that the ACS held in Washington, DC, on April 14 to officially kick off the Power of Quality Campaign. Following opening remarks from ACS Executive Director and CEO Dr. Patricia Turner, panelists discuss the importance of quality care for all surgical patients and expanding the reach of ACS Quality Programs into more hospitals.

Episode 11: 2022 ACS Edward D. Churchill Lecture

This episode features Dr. David Feliciano, a leader in trauma and acute care surgery who currently is a clinical professor of surgery at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Dr. Feliciano gave the Churchill Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022 on the “Extraordinary Evolution of Surgery for Abdominal Trauma.”

Episode 10: 2022 ACS Herand Abcarian Lecture

This episode features Dr. David Beck, a renowned colorectal surgeon and US Air Force veteran who currently is a professor of clinical surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Beck delivered the Abcarian Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022 on the benefits of applying critical thinking toward each component of care to help advance workflow efficiencies and improve patient outcomes.

Episode 9: 2022 ACS International Society of Surgery Lecture

This episode features Dr. Eduardo Moreno Paquentin, founder and director of the Surgery Hub in Mexico City, who delivered the International Society of Surgery Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022. Dr. Paquentin describes his experience training surgical residents in Mexico on safe laparoscopic techniques and developing quality surgical training programs around the world.

Episode 8: 2023 ACS Cancer Conference Recap

In this episode, Dr. Steven Wexner talks with three key leaders from the ACS Cancer Programs, which held their first-ever joint conference in early March in Atlanta for members of the cancer care team. The leaders—Drs. Laurie Kirstein, Timothy Mullett, and Katharine Yao—provide insights and highlights from the conference, including the release of new Breast Center standards, exciting results of national quality improvement projects, and how to make good use of the National Cancer Database.

Episode 7: 2022 ACS Jonasson Lecture by Dr. Omaida Velazquez

This episode features Dr. Omaida Velazquez, a vascular surgeon at the University of Miami Health System. During Clinical Congress 2022, Dr. Velazquez delivered the Olga M. Jonasson Lecture, which honors Dr. Jonasson’s trailblazing leadership and significant contributions to surgical practice and surgery education. The lecture highlights Dr. Velazquez’s belief that academic surgery is entering a “second renaissance,” where enlightenment and progress on diversification will be exponential and lead to greatly improved patient care.

Episode 6: 2022 ACS Ravdin Lecture by Dr. Carla Pugh

This episode features Dr. Carla Pugh, vice chair of innovation in the department of surgery at Stanford University in California. Dr. Pugh delivered the I.S. Ravdin Lecture during Clinical Congress 2022 on wearable technology and artificial intelligence—how the medical field has just begun to scratch the surface of their potential and how they can be used to improve patient outcomes.

Episode 5: 2022 ACS Drake Lecture by Dr. James Drake

This episode features Dr. James Drake, a pediatric neurosurgeon from the University of Toronto in Canada, and son of Charles G. Drake for whom the Clinical Congress lecture was named. During the lecture this past October, Dr. James Drake provided a history of his father’s legacy as a pioneer in adult neurological surgery and world expert in vascular malformations of the brain … along the way discovering new things about his father’s career, relationships, and work philosophies.

Episode 4: 2022 ACS Gibbon Lecture by Dr. Gail Darling

This episode features Dr. Gail Darling from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who delivered the Gibbon Lecture at Clinical Congress 2022. In her lecture, Dr. Darling offered her experiences with a new process for Morbidity and Mortality Conferences that provides a safe environment to discuss adverse events and focus on system issues rather than pointing fingers at individuals.

Episode 3: 2022 ACS Martin Memorial Lecture by Dr. David Hoyt

This episode features Dr. David Hoyt, who was Executive Director of the ACS for 12 years until his retirement at the end of 2021. Dr. Hoyt delivered the Martin Memorial Lecture at Clinical Congress 2022, providing an overview of the ACS’s historical commitment to patient care and quality, and describing how science and data are the foundation for how surgeons will treat patients going forward.

Episode 2: Fireside Chat with Dr. Patricia Turner

This episode features a Fireside Chat with ACS Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, a general surgeon with minimally invasive expertise. Dr. Turner shares career advice and explains how has navigated her roles as a surgeon, scientist, academician, and busy executive. She also answers questions from the audience who participated in the program in early November 2022.

Episode 1: Our Professional Journey: Surgeons United

This episode features Dr. Christopher Ellison, who was installed during Clinical Congress 2022 in San Diego as the American College of Surgeons 103rd President. Shortly afterward, he delivered his Presidential Address, Our Professional Journey: Surgeons United.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not necessarily that of the ACS.