Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving Episode 22 Navigating Medicine: A Surgeon's Journey of Advocacy and Empowerment with Dr. Carter Lebares

Today, we are joined by Dr. Carter Lebares.Dr. Lebares is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of General Surgery and the Director of the Center for Mindfulness in Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon who specializes in treating gastrointestinal disease, using minimally invasive surgery, such as robotics and surgical endoscopy. Her expertise includes treatments for reflux disease, obesity, early esophageal or gastric cancer, esophageal motility disorders, hernias, gallbladder disease and some kinds of biliary disease.Lebares' research interests include resilience and mindfulness in surgery, mindfulness and nutrition in metabolic syndrome and obesity, the neuroendocrine and cognitive effects of stress on learning and performance. She has developed and studied a customized curriculum specifically designed for surgeons, the Enhanced Stress Resilience Training (ESRT), which has been demonstrated to improve burnout and global executive function.In the conversation, Dr. Lebares shares her journey from biochemistry to academic surgery, driven by a deep commitment to advocacy and empowering others through resilience-building approaches.We also cover:Her early experiences advocating for disadvantaged youth that ultimately led her to medicineThe evolution of surgical training environments and challenges to physician wellbeingDevelopment of the Enhanced Stress Resilience Training (ESRT) specifically designed for surgeonsHer vision for systemic changes in healthcare to preserve medicine as a "pillar of civilization"Dr. Lebares concludes by reflecting on finding joy in the simplicity of everyday life - being outdoors, connecting with people outside medicine, and appreciating ordinary moments that meditation helps bring into focus.Guest: Carter Lebares, MDAssociate Professor of Surgery, Division of General SurgeryDirector, Center for Mindfulness in SurgeryPrincipal Investigator, The Lebares Resilience LabUniversity of California, San FranciscoFaculty webpage: https://generalsurgery.ucsf.edu/faculty/acute-care-surgery/carter-lebares,-md.aspxLebares Resilience Lab Website: https://carterlebares.org/LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carter-lebares-a3970b8/Selected Resources/References:About Ann Masten PhD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_MastenLibby Zion Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby_Zion_LawLuton OW, James OP, Mellor K, Eley C, Hopkins L, Robinson DBT, Barlow E, Lebares CC, Lewis WG, Egan RJ; Welsh Surgical Research Initiative (WSRI) Collaborative. Enhanced Stress Resilience Training for UK Surgical Trainees; Effect and Evolution Evaluated. J Surg Educ. 2023 Oct;80(10):1395-1402. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.07.017. Epub 2023 Aug 9. PMID: 37567800.Luton OW, James OP, Mellor K, Eley C, Hopkins L, Robinson DBT, Lebares CC, Powell AGMT, Lewis WG, Egan RJ. Enhanced stress-resilience training for surgical trainees. BJS Open. 2021 Jul 6;5(4):zrab054. doi: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrab054. PMID: 34323917; PMCID: PMC8320339.Lebares CC, Coaston TN, Delucchi KL, Guvva EV, Shen WT, Staffaroni AM, Kramer JH, Epel ES, Hecht FM, Ascher NL, Harris HW, Cole SW. Enhanced Stress Resilience Training in Surgeons: Iterative Adaptation and Biopsychosocial Effects in 2 Small Randomized Trials. Ann Surg. 2021 Mar 1;273(3):424-432. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004145. PMID: 32773637; PMCID: PMC7863698.Lebares CC, Guvva EV, Ascher NL, O'Sullivan PS, Harris HW, Epel ES. Burnout and Stress Among US Surgery Residents: Psychological Distress and Resilience. J Am Coll Surg. 2018 Jan;226(1):80-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.10.010. Epub 2017 Oct 26. PMID: 29107117.