SGS Scalpel Sessions

Season 2 of Scalpel Sessions kicks off with SGS’s immediate Past President, Dr. Kris Strohbehn! A fellowship-trained OB/GYN and Division Director of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Dartmouth Medical Center, Dr. Strohbehn has brought years of leadership experience and insight to both our Society and this conversation. Together with Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, he provides an inside look into his year as President and reflects on both the current state - and future - of our field.

Even as healthcare systems continue to confront their environmental impact, the operating room remains one of the most resource-intensive areas in medicine. Leading the push towards sustainability and mindful practice in the OR is Dr. Kelly Wright. She joins Dr. Christine Foley to discuss how to implement more "green" methods in medicine and how the changing global environment affects the health of our patients. Dr. Wright is the Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Integrating major medical databases and large language models can feel overwhelming in today's evolving healthcare landscape. To help make sense of this new reality of modern medicine, Dr. Jasmine Tibon is joined by Dr. Douglas Luchristt to explore how clinicians can more effectively use technology in their practice. Together, they discuss how data powers meaningful medical research, the strengths and limitations of large databases, and why not everything labeled as “AI” is truly what it seems.

Curious what private practice looks like for a gynecologic surgeon? So were we! To answer our questions, we invited Dr. Lindsey Jackson to sit down with Dr. Jasmine Tibon to discuss the benefits, challenges and unique opportunities available at her current practice in San Antonio.

With the AUA’s newly released clinical guidelines on diagnosing, counseling, and treating patients with GSM, we knew we had to invite Dr. Gina Northington, a panel member directly involved in developing these guidelines, onto the podcast for a special pop-up episode!In this roundtable conversation, Dr. Northington joins Drs. Jasmine Tibon, Christine Vaccaro, and Jocelyn Fitzgerald to discuss the guideline development process, their publication, and the broader impact these recommendations will have on clinical care. They also explore how this work contributed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to remove the black box warning from hormone-replacement therapies.

Technological innovation has transformed nearly every part of our lives, and the operating room is no exception. In this episode, Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald sits down with fellow UPMC clinician Dr. Michael Bonidie to explore the history, impact, and future potential of robotics in surgical practice. They delve into Dr. Bonidie’s experiences at the forefront of these advances, how robotics has reshaped his surgical approach over the course of his career, and what may be on the horizon for the field.

We welcome both a new host and a new guest in this episode of Scalpel Sessions! Dr. Christine Foley is joined by Dr. Sarah Allen for an in-depth discussion on the complex surgical management of endometriosis. Together, they explore the challenges of diagnosis, the range of surgical approaches available, and the evolving strategies for improving outcomes. They also reflect on how their work continues to make a huge difference in the lives of women seeking effective, compassionate care for this condition.

In this episode, Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald sits down with Dr. Karen Noblett, Chief Medical Officer at Axonics, for a peek into the fascinating world of sacral neuromodulation. Together, they unpack how neurostimulators have evolved across competitors, explore the real-world efficacy of these technologies, and discuss the groundbreaking ways innovation is reshaping the field. Along the way, Dr. Noblett offers candid insights into the role industry plays in our daily practices and why it’s vital for physician leaders to have a seat at the table. You won’t want to miss this conversation! Dr. Noblett is board certified in OB/GYN and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Before joining Axonics, she served as the founding Chair and Professor of the Department of OB/GYN in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside. Prior to that, she was a professor in the OB/GYN Department and Fellowship and Division Director for Urogynecology at the University of California, Irvine, as well as the Interim Chief Medical officer.

In this episode of Scalpel Sessions, Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald sits down with two of the cornerstones of the SGS Pelvic Anatomy Group, Drs. Annetta Madsen and Caroline Cox! This trio unpacks the monumental task of standardizing and categorizing the terms and images we use every day in the field of gynecologic surgery.

In this episode of Scalpel Sessions, Dr. Jasmine Tibon is joined by one of the pillars of the GYN surgery field, Dr. John DeLancey! Dr. DeLancey has published over 320 original scientific publications and been a keynote lecturer in over 34 countries on 6 continents. He has previously received the Distinguished Surgeon Award from SGS in recognition of the great work he continues to do in the field. Dr. DeLancey has also been instrumental in the development of the PAG Digital Library, one of the best collections of anatomical videos available. We're thrilled to have him join us to talk anatomy, how he built his career around it, and how we can all work to grow our field!

In this episode of Scalpel Sessions, Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald is joined by one of the the most prominent women's sexual health advocates around, Dr. Christine Vaccaro!Dr. Vaccaro is a double board-certified urogynecologist and an expert in sexual medicine, which makes her the perfect person to help us explore the myths, challenges, and breakthroughs in the field. From navigating hormonal changes to advocating for better communication and care, Dr. Vaccaro offers insights that empower women to take control of their sexual wellness at every stage of life.

In this episode, Dr. Jasmine Tibon is joined by SGS President Dr. Star Hampton to discuss all things SGS! Dr. Hampton opens up about her unexpected journey toward becoming president of a society, the tough decisions that come with trying new things, and how her experience informs the mentorship she provides for others. She also dives into the history of SGS and how much the society has grown, and how she is grappling with that legacy as she tries to keep the momentum going! If you're interested or involved with SGS, this episode is one you can't afford to miss!

In this powerful episode, we dive into the world of gyneconomics—the intersection of gender, health, and economics—with urogynecologist and women's health advocate Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald. Together, we unpack the hidden costs of neglecting female health, from delayed diagnoses to underfunded research, and explore how economic systems have historically undervalued the female body. Dr. Fitzgerald brings data, passion, and a call to action to reframe the way we invest in women’s health. This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about equity, healthcare, and the future of medicine.