The Team Behind the Surgeon: Efficiency Lessons From Canada

Send us Fan MailDr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde built a same-day anterior hip program inside a Canadian public hospital — not a private surgical center. This conversation covers what it actually takes to change your approach, your team culture, and your system all at once.Sebastian trained in posterior approach at HSS and transitioned to anterior approach early in his independent career. In this episode, he talks honestly about the ego hit of relearning something you were already good at, the anxiety of operating without a safety net, and the decision to go all-in without giving himself the option to retreat. He describes surgery as choreography — a measured cadence where every team member understands the beats of the day.What makes this conversation different is the emphasis on system change. Sebastian didn't just get faster in the OR. He brought his entire team to observe high-efficiency programs run by surgeons like Charlie DeCook and Kristoff Corten, then built a hybrid Canadian model from what everyone learned. He explains how overcoming institutional inertia in a public healthcare system requires patience, proof of concept, and the ability to speak the language of administrators, nurses, and anesthesiologists — not just surgeons. Whether you are early in your career or rethinking how your OR runs, this episode offers a practical blueprint for building something better without burning out.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Introduction and guest background01:39 Why surgery is like choreography05:58 Why team rhythm matters more than surgeon speed08:03 Real constraints of a Canadian public hospital system10:37 Overcoming institutional inertia to drive change14:11 Post-fellowship growth and learning to lead system change16:27 How measuring every surgical step changes your practice18:41 Switching from posterior to anterior approach mid-career23:19 Going all-in and what it teaches you about ego26:00 Why the whole team needs to see high-efficiency surgery30:09 Mistakes surgeons make building rapid discharge programs32:04 Three non-negotiables for a high-efficiency OR36:50 Evaluating new technology when every dollar matters43:18 Career advice and the five percent growth ruleListen to the AHF Podcast on your preferred platform:Buzzsprout: https://ahfpodcast.buzzsprout.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ahf-podcast/id1749521487Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CrGJyvRiQFTCU3FFFVvHcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ahf-podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@anteriorhipfoundationHomepage: https://anteriorhipfoundation.comThis podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only.The content discussed does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional judgment. Clinicians should rely on their own training, experience, and clinical decision-making when applying information from this discussion.#AnteriorHipFoundation #AHFPodcast #TotalHipReplacement #AnteriorApproach #SameDayHipReplacement #SurgicalEfficiency #RapidDischarge #ORTeamwork #HipArthroplasty #THA #SurgicalEducation #PublicHealthcare #RoboticsInSurgery #SebastianRodriguezElizalde