The WISER Podcast

In this episode, we are honored to have Dr. Jennifer Kawwass with us on the podcast. Dr. Kawwass is joined by President and OBGYN hopeful Megan Wasson and Vice-President Rachel Holstein. Dr. Kawwass speaks with our team about the field of REI, the influence of social media on her patients, and her work in advocating for patients and residents. Among her numerous roles and responsibilities, she serves as the division director of Reproductive Endocrinology at Emory University and director of the Emory Reproductive Center. Dr. Kawwass obtained her undergraduate degree at Davidson College where she split her time between studies and a division I sport. She went on to medical school in her home state of Virginia at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and found her way to Atlanta for residency and fellowship training. She has received many accolades along the way including her role as Chief Resident and guest researcher for the CDC as well as her current engagements at the national level with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Hosts: Megan Wasson and Rachel HolsteinEditors: Grace Nguyen and Megan WassonProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions The post On Family Building & Wearing Hats with Dr. Kawwass first appeared on WISER Podcast.

On this episode, president Shannon Su and president emeritus Elizabeth Rieger are honored to host Dr. Betsy Grunch on the WISER podcast. Dr. Grunch is a neurosurgeon, mom, and “medfluencer” who speaks with us about her insane balancing act of being a mom and a physician, working social media, and what it’s like to be a physician in the spotlight. Dr. Grunch is an esteemed Neurosurgeon and physician shareholder at the Longstreet Clinic, in Gainesville, Georgia, where she operates at both the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and the Gainesville Surgical Center. She is a Georgia Native and attended the University of Georgia for her undergraduate degree, and the Medical College of Georgia for medical school. She then attended Duke University for her residency in Neurosurgery, and then spine fellowship. Dr. Grunch is also known as “Lady Spine Doc” on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, where she has almost 2 million followers! Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Hosts: Shannon Su and Elizabeth RiegerEditors: Julia ByrnesProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions Hosts: Shannon Su and Elizabeth RiegerEditors: Julia ByrnesProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot SessionsThe post S6E4: @ladyspinedoc on The WISER Podcast! first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Welcome to episode 3 of season 6! In this episode, presidents Shannon and Megan speak with Dr. Jennifer Gross about her journey to becoming a head and neck surgeon and the intrigue of head and neck surgery. Dr. Jennifer Gross is an Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology in the division of Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University. She is an Emory University School of Medicine graduate! Before attending medical school, she was awarded a national research scholarship to work at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She also interned as a public health inspector at the Beijing Centers for Disease Control, China. Dr. Gross completed her otolaryngology residency at Washington University in St. Louis and her fellowship in head and neck oncologic surgery at the University of Miami. She has authored multiple research publications and book chapters. Hosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon SuEditors: Grace NguyenProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions Hosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon SuEditors: Grace NguyenProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions Stay tuned for our next episode!The post S6E3:On Head & Neck Surgery and Work-Life Balance with Dr. Jennifer Gross first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, our chief editor extraordinaire, Grace, hosts Dr. McKenzie Hollon on the WISER podcast. After many seasons of speaking with surgeons at the table, we figured it was about time to go beyond the drape, and there is no better person than Dr. Hollon to do that with us. She provides a peek into the wonderful world behind the drape, what it’s like to work and train as a cardiac anesthesiologist at a level one trauma center, and her foray into the realm of anesthesia education. Dr. Hollon is an esteemed faculty member in the Department of Anesthesiology at Emory University Hospital who specializes in Cardiac Anesthesia. She is also the vice chair for education in the department of anesthesiology. Dr. Hollon obtained her undergraduate degree at Auburn University, and her medical degree from Louisiana State University. She completed both her residency and cardiac fellowship at Emory, and she currently serves as the Vice Chair of Education of Emory’s Anesthesia department. Hosts: Grace NguyenEditors: Grace Nguyen, Megan WassonProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Harleen KaurMusic: Bluedot Sessions Hosts: Grace NguyenEditors: Grace Nguyen, Megan WassonProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Harleen KaurMusic: Bluedot Sessions Stay tuned for our next episode! The post S6E2: Behind the Drape with Dr. Hollon first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Welcome to season 6! In this episode, newly minted presidents Shannon Su and Megan Wasson interview Dr. Angela Cheng, a Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon at Emory. Dr. Cheng provides insight into her experience as a woman in largely male-dominated fields, the significance of mentorship, and the importance of standing up for yourself and asking for what you deserve. Dr. Cheng is an esteemed faculty in the Plastic Surgery Department at Emory University who specializes in breast reconstruction, microsurgery, lymphedema surgery, and body contouring. She is also Chief of Plastic Surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and Assistant Program Director for the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at Emory. Dr. Cheng obtained both her undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Florida. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Texas-Houston, followed by plastic surgery residency at the University of Virginia and a fellowship in breast and microsurgery at UT Southwestern. Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Hosts: Shannon Su, Megan WassonEditors: Grace Nguyen, Jennifer Wang, Julia Byrnes, Shannon SuProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions Hosts: Shannon Su, Megan WassonEditors: Grace Nguyen, Jennifer Wang, Julia Byrnes, Shannon SuProducers: Shannon Su and Megan WassonArtwork: Shannon SuMusic: Bluedot Sessions Stay tuned for our next episode!The post S6E1: Dr. Angela Cheng, on Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (and Asking for What You Deserve) first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, WISER president Lara Schwieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary interview Dr. Kirsten Freeman, a cardiovascular surgeon at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman discusses her experiences training in hospitals around the country, touches on the pros and cons of integrated vs traditional residency pathways to CT surgery, and describes the transition from surgical trainee to attending.  Dr. Freeman completed medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, then went on to do general surgery residency at the University of Colorado Denver and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman is currently an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Florida, and the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Integrated and Traditional Residency Training Programs. Hosts: Lara Schwieger & Helen O’LearyEditors: Grace Nguyen, Lucy Avant, Julia ByrnesProducers: Lizzie Rieger & Lara SchwiegerMusic: Blue Dot Sessions Hosts: Lara Schwieger, Helen O’Leary Editors: Grace Nguyen, Julia Byrnes, Lucy Avant Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger Artwork: Victoria Mau Music: Bluedot SessionsThe post S5E8: Dr. Kirsten Freeman, on Cardiovascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode we interview Dr. Megan Tracci, vascular and endovascular surgeon at the University of Virginia, as well as the founder and co-medical director of the UVA Northridge Vein Clinic. Dr. Tracci is our first surgeon with a JD to be featured on the podcast! WISER president, Lizzie Rieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary team up to ask Dr. Tracci about being a dual MD-JD, health policy including her time as a fellow in the US senate, and vascular surgery. Dr. Tracci graduated from the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with both a JD and MD, with an emphasis on health policy and patient safety. She went on to complete a residency in general surgery followed by a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Virgina. During her research years as a resident she worked as a legislative fellow for the United States senate.  https://wiserpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/S5E7-Megan-Tracci-MD-JD-on-Health-Policy.m4a Hosts: Lizzie Rieger, Helen O’LearyEditors: Grace Nguyen and Julia ByrnesProducers: Lizzie Rieger, Lara SchwiegerMusic: Bluedot Sessions   Hosts: Lizzie Rieger, Helen O’Leary Editors: Grace Nguyen and Julia Byrnes Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger Artwork: Victoria Mau Music: Bluedot Sessions The post S5E7: Dr. Megan Tracci, JD, MD, on Health Policy and Vascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode we interview Dr. Laura Ramirez-Caban, a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University Hospital. WISER third year medical students Shannon and Megan team up to ask Dr. Ramirez about minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), a relatively new subspecialty in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Later, Dr. Ramirez discusses her passion for working with underserved populations and her experience as a new mom and surgeon. Dr. Ramirez obtained her undergraduate degree from Drexel University, and her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine. She completed residency at Emory University and a MIGS fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Hosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon Su Editors: Megan Wasson, Shannon Su, Grace Nguyen Producers: Lizzie Rieger, Lara Schwieger Music: Bluedot Sessions Hosts: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson Editors: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson, Grace Nguyen Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger Artwork: Victoria Mau Music: Bluedot Sessions The post S5E6: Dr. Laura Ramirez-Caban, on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Olamide Alabi, an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Jessica Keilson, general surgery PGY4, and Dr. Emma Rooney, vascular surgery fellow, teamed up to discuss Dr. Alabi’s experiences in medical school, residency, and as a vascular surgery attending. Later, we discuss Dr. Alabi’s role as a mentor in surgery and her insights into being an effective mentor. Dr. Alabi attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine for medical school and Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California for her general surgery residency. She went on to complete a fellowship in vascular surgery at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Her current interests and research involve the disparities in vascular surgery within the veteran community. Listen Below: Hosts: Dr. Emma Rooney, Dr. Jessica Keilson Editors: Cynthia Ramazani, Grace Nguyen Producers: Lara Schwieger, Lizzie Rieger Hosts: Dr. Emma Rooney & Dr. Jessica Keilson Editors: Cynthia Ramazani & Grace Nguyen Producers: Lara Schwieger & Lizzie Rieger Music: Blue Dot SessionsThe post S5E5: Dr. Olamide Alabi, on Vascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Allison Linden, an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Katya Van Anderlecht and Sophia Stylianos (M4s) teamed up to discuss Dr. Linden’s experiences as a researcher and global surgeon in Rwanda and Uganda. Later, we talk about her many roles as ECMO director, pediatric surgeon, former critical care fellow, and public health scholar.  Dr. Linden attended Georgetown University for medical school and general surgery residency. During her residency sabbatical, she went on to Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health where she was a Paul Farmer Global Surgery Research Fellow and received her MPH degree with a concentration in global health and population. Dr. Linden has completed 3 fellowships, the first being a Pediatric Surgery critical care fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the second, a Pediatric Surgery ECMO fellowship at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, and finally a Pediatric Surgery fellowship at Thomas Jefferson Dupont Hospital for Children. Dr. Linden is now a pediatric surgeon here at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Listen below: Dr. Linden with her husband at Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Dr. Linden with her daughter during fellowship. Hosts: Katya Van Anderlecht & Sophia Stylianos Editor: Lizzie Rieger & Cameron Blount Producers: Jessica Keilson, Katya Van Anderlecht, Sophia Stylianos, Cameron Blount, Julia Byrnes, and Francesca Giraudo Music: Blue Dot Sessions Citations: Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services: Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services, Geneva, 24–28 April 2017, International Labour Office, Sectoral Policies Department, Geneva, ILO, 2017. LeBrun DG, Chackungal S, Chao TE, Knowlton LM, Linden AF, Notrica MR, Solis CV, McQueen KA. Prioritizing essential surgery and safe anesthesia for the Post-2015 Development Agenda: operative capacities of 78 district hospitals in 7 low- and middle-income countries. Surgery. 2014 Mar;155(3):365-73. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.10.008. Epub 2013 Oct 11. PMID: 24439745. Leider JP, Plepys CM, Castrucci BC, Burke EM, Blakely CH. Trends in the Conferral of Graduate Public Health Degrees: A Triangulated Approach. Public Health Reports. 2018;133(6):729-737. doi:10.1177/0033354918791542 Linden AF, Maine R, Hedt-Gauthier BL, Kamanzi E, Mody G, Ntakiyiruta G, Kansayisa G, Ntaganda E, Niyonkuru F, Mubiligi J, Mpunga T, Meara JG, Riviello R. Validation of a community-based survey assessing non-obstetric surgical conditions in Burera District, Rwanda. Lancet. 2015 Apr 27;385 Suppl 2:S8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60803-0. Epub 2015 Apr 26. PMID: 26313110. Linden AF, Sekidde FS, Galukande M, Knowlton LM, Chackungal S, McQueen KA. Challenges of surgery in developing countries: a survey of surgical and anesthesia capacity in Uganda’s public hospitals. World J Surg. 2012 May;36(5):1056-65. doi: 10.1007/s00268-012-1482-7. PMID: 22402968. Maine RG, Linden AF, Riviello R, Kamanzi E, Mody GN, Ntakiyiruta G, Kansayisa G, Ntaganda E, Niyonkuru F, Mubiligi JM, Mpunga T, Meara JG, Hedt-Gauthier BL. Prevalence of Untreated Surgical Conditions in Rural Rwanda: A Population-Based Cross-sectional Study in Burera District. JAMA Surg. 2017 Dec 20;152(12):e174013. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4013. Epub 2017 Dec 20. PMID: 29071335; PMCID: PMC5831432. Shrime MG, Sekidde S, Linden A, Cohen JL, Weinstein MC, Salomon JA. Sustainable Development in Surgery: The Health, Poverty, and Equity Impacts of Charitable Surgery in Uganda. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 30;11(12):e0168867. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168867. PMID: 28036357; PMCID: PMC5201287. The post S5E4: Dr. Allison Linden, on Pediatric & Global Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Priscilla Strom, the first female graduate of the general surgery residency program at Emory University. She completed medical school at Emory in 1976, general surgery residency at Emory in 1981, and a trauma surgery fellowship at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in 1982. She also holds master’s degrees in both theological studies and bioethics. She is currently the interim Program Director at the general surgery program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and practices in Gainesville, Georgia.  Lara and Cameron teamed up for this interview to ask about Dr. Strom’s missionary work in India, being the first female trainee at the Emory general surgery residency program, the ACGME implementation of the 80-hour work week, as well as asking advice for residents and fellows going through training now (from a program director!). Hosts: Cameron Blount & Lara SchwiegerEditor: Cameron Blount Producers: Jessica Keilson, Cameron Blount, & Lara SchwiegerMusic: Blue Dot Sessions The post S5E3: On Being the First with Dr. Priscilla Strom first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, Cameron Blount (M4) and Lara Schwieger (M3) interview Dr. Frances (Francie) Jenkins! This episode focuses on advice for 4th-year medical students navigating application season, including ERAS tips, navigating virtual interviews, and formulating rank lists. Dr. Jenkins reflects on her intern year experiences and shares where she imagines herself and her career in the future. Finally, we ask about the best music for the OR, bonding with co-residents, and losing your car in the parking garage! Dr. Frances Jenkins is a current PGY2 in the General Surgery Residency Program at Emory University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and completed medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hosts: Cameron Blount & Lara SchwiegerEditors: Cynthia RamazaniProducer: Cameron Blount & Lara SchwiegerMusic: Blue Dot SessionsThe post S5E2: Resident Reflections – Dr. Frances Jenkins first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, we take a step back in time and focus on women throughout history that have gone against the grain and pursued their passions for surgery despite obstacles and opposition. These stories highlight how far we’ve come, and remind us that there is still more work to be done. Dr. Wang and Patience discuss Major Barbara Stimson, Dr. Nina Braunwald, and Dr. Margaret Ann Bulkley, among others. Major Barbara Stimson Dr. Nina Braunwald James Barry aka Dr. Margaret Ann Bulkley Hosted & Produced by: Dr. Vivian Wang & Patience Timi Edited by: Samridhi Banskota & Cameron Blount Music by: Blue Dot Sessions The post S5E1: History of Women in Surgery: A Step Back in Time first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Castater followed a unique path to becoming a trauma surgeon. From fine artist, to business school, to an unexpected trauma experience of her own that led her to medical school, Dr. Castater walks us through her journey. This episode offers perspectives on medicine as a second career, family transitions and balance, and how Dr. Castater seeks to find the good in all experiences. Hosts: Jessica Liu & Katya Van AnderlechtEditors: Katya Van AnderlechtProducers: Alex Speak and Patience TimiArt: Erika Ni The post S4E5: Dr. Christine Castater – From Trauma Patient to Trauma Surgeon first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In this episode, co-hosted with Audible Bleeding, Dr. Rockman, the Program Director of vascular surgery residency and fellowship and a professor of surgical research at NYU, walks us through her impressive research career, touching upon finding ways to fit research into a busy surgical lifestyle, her passion for trying to bridge the gap for underrepresented/marginalized populations in clinical trials, and the importance of establishing trust between physicians and patients. As Program Director, she also offers sage advice on the recruitment and application process for medical school and residency. Hosts: Amanda Fobare Jessica Liu and Alex Speak Editor: Katya Van Anderlecht Producer: Alex Speak Artwork: Erika Ni Music: The Zeppelin and Steadfast by Blue Dot Sessions & Ships VIII by Martin FowlerThe post S4E4: Dr. Caron Rockman – On Doing it All, from Research and Leadership, to Motherhood first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Caprice Greenberg is a renowned surgeon scientist and a true visionary in the world of health services research. In this episode, we make reference to two powerful talks of hers that made waves in the world of surgery. The first talk, called “Sticky Floors and Glass Ceilings”, was her 2017 Association for Academic Surgery Presidential Address. Her 2018 follow-up talk, which she gave at the Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery as part of a DEI Lecture Series, is called “Stop Fixing Women”. Both of these talks are available for viewing on YouTube. We cannot recommend them enough and they provide important context for the interview you’re about to listen to. Enjoy! Hosts: Jessica Liu and Alex Speak Editor: Alex Speak Producer: Alex Speak Artwork: Erika Ni Music: Greyleaf Willow, Stately Shadows and Tarte Tatin bye Blue Dot Sessions & Ships VIII by Martin Fowler The post S4E3: Dr. Caprice Greenberg, on Sticky Floors and Glass Ceilings first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we are excited to be joined by Dr. Stephanie Drew, an incredible Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon and breast cancer survivor. Dr. Drew shares her cancer journey, the coincidence that led to her diagnosis, insights gained from being a physician-patient, and her experience living as a cancer survivor. We also talk about the gender inequality in OMFS and the incredible work she is doing to advance women in OMFS. She also shares her love of art and the role of art and humanity in medicine. Overall, an exciting conversation with Dr. Drew: a surgeon, cancer survivor, artists, leader, and advocate! Hosts: Jessica Liu, Samridhi Banskota & Alex SpeakEditors: Samridhi BanskotaProducer: Alex SpeakArt: Erika NiThe post S4E2: Staying Strong with Dr. Stephanie Drew first appeared on WISER Podcast.

It’s that time of year when newly minted graduates of surgical training programs start their first attending jobs! It’s an exciting time, but do you really know what to expect? And how do you go from years of pre-scripted training to finding the right first job?  Left to right: Drs. Maggie Diller, Vivian Wang, and Priya Rajdev So, for our first episode of season 4, we decided to reunite with some of our recent grads who have now completed their first year of their first jobs. Drs. Maggie Diller, Adekemi Egunsola, Priya Rajdev, and Vivian Wang graduated together in the Class of 2019 from the Emory general surgery program. They went on to do one-year fellowships across the country, found a variety of jobs, and transitioned to attendings. Not to mention interviewing and building practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these similarities, they have all started on different career paths: academic, community, and hybrid jobs, venturing out versus returning to their home institution, and more.  Here, they eagerly share what went well, what surprised them, and what they would do if they were to do it all over again. And because recording remotely across time zones with busy surgeons doesn’t always go to plan, our intended “reunion recap” ended up being recorded over a couple different conversations. Our editors Samridhi Banskota and Cameron Blount did fantastic (extra) work splicing them together.  Dr. Adekemi Egunsola & WISER Co-Founder Dr. Vivian Wang We hope this helps the next class of new surgeons navigate the job search and transition to attending life! Hosts: Vivian Wang & Samridhi BanskotaEditors: Samridhi Banskota & Cameron BlountProducer: Alex SpeakArt: Erika NiThe post S4E1: An Emory Grad Reunion – The Transition from Resident to Attending first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This mother-daughter special features Dr. Patricia Bortoluzzi, a craniofacial plastic surgeon in Montreal, and her daughter, Alex Speak, who just so happens to be our Producer here at WISER. In this episode, they discuss their roots in surgery, their mother-daughter dynamic, and the struggles in their respective journeys. Dr. Bortoluzzi, a first-generation Canadian of Italian descent, is past-Program Director of Plastic Surgery at the University of Montreal, past-president of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, and current Director of the Craniofacial Clinic at the University of Montreal. She is candid in telling her experiences with culture shock, courage, and grief.  While the topic of motherhood is familiar to the WISER Podcast, Alex’s perspective fills a much-needed gap in the discussion, by delving into what it’s like to be the child of a surgeon: “I think it takes understanding on both perspectives, and I think a lot of that understanding comes in hindsight. She followed her dreams, and that – especially in my 20’s – has given me permission to follow mine.”   Dr. Bortoluzzi’s story is imbued with both humor and lessons learned, the former of which is apparent in the telling of how her “Uncle Guido” captured the attention of her Plastics interviewers. She leaves listeners with the following guidance: “Enjoy the journey. And whatever you do – do it well. If you do it well, doors open and you’ll be gratified.” Host: Jessica Liu Editor/Producer: Alex SpeakArtwork: Virginia Wang Music: “Magic Scout Cottages” and “Sheep May Safely Graze” by Kevin MacLeodThe post S3E8: Dr. Patricia Bortoluzzi, on Raising a Surgeon – A Mother-Daughter Special first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Before COVID times, one of our #beWISER events was on pregnancy and parenthood during surgical residency. Dr. Rima Rindler (Emory neurosurgery resident) and Dr. Emily Barrow (then Emory ENT resident, now faculty), came up with the idea of sharing their experiences and the many things they both wished they knew about having kids during residency. With Mother’s Day this month, and the inability to gather together for our usual #beWISER events, we dug up the recording from this event and listened to it again. This event is impregnated with a lot of valuable, uncommon knowledge about how to navigate starting or expanding your family while in training, so we wanted to share it here for our listeners to hear – again or for the first time. You’ll hear the perspectives from various residents and faculty, and questions being answered by students in the audience. Dr. Beth Willingham (center), Emory ENT faculty, opened her her beautiful home to host this event, led by Dr. Rima Rindler (left) and Dr. Emily Barrow (right). The papers referenced during the event are included here: JAMA pregnancy and motherhood in surgical training, GME parental leave policies 2017 Hosts: Rima Rindler, Emily Barrow Editor, Artwork: Virginia Wang Producer: Alex Speak Photography: Vienna Wang Music: “Wedding” and “Sleepy Cat” by Blue Dot Sessions The post S3E7: #beWISER on pregnancy and parenthood in residency first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Shipra Arya is seriously impressive – she graduated from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, one of the most prestigious medical schools in India (think: 60,000 applicants for 35 spots a year!), and at that time, was the only female student pursuing surgery. Early on, she knew that she wanted to come to the US for residency training and beyond, and she shares insights into the difficult journey many IMGs have to go through to be successful. Her love of vascular surgery shines through this interview, as well as her bond with research. She discusses how she has come to be one of the foremost researchers on frailty in vascular surgery and her current ongoing clinical trial. She is also passionate about mentoring future vascular surgeons, and promoting diversity and leadership within this male-dominated field. Last but not least, we discuss ways for surgeons to balance their family, clinical work, and research work – even in times when your family dynamic is changing. This episode was recorded in partnership with the Audible Bleeding Podcast, sponsored by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Check out their podcast for more resources and interviews in vascular surgery! Hosts: Amanda Fobare, Vivian WangEditor/Producer: Vivian WangArtwork: Virginia WangMusic: “Borough” and “Plate Glass” by Blue Dot Sessions The post S3E6: Dr. Shipra Arya, on frailty in vascular surgery, and international medical graduates first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Today, we are delighted to be presenting an interview with Dr. Leigh Neumayer. She visited Emory University last year to deliver General Surgery grand rounds, and we caught some of her valuable time to talk to her one-on-one. At this time, she was the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she became their first female Chair of Surgery in 2014. Now she is the Chair of Surgery at University of Florida – Jacksonville. Dr. Neumayer is internationally recognized for her research contributions, having published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as for her leadership in surgical education. She has held countless esteemed titles such as President of the Association for Surgical Education, the Association of VA Surgeons, the Association of Women Surgeons, and more. We talk to Dr. Neumayer about how she became a pioneer and mentor for women in surgery and leadership, and how you can pave your own unique path in surgery. Hosts: Jessica Liu, Bernadette WhiteEditor: Patience Timi Producer: Alex Speak Art: Virginia Wang The post S3E5: Dr. Leigh Neumayer, on leadership – lessons from a path less traveled first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Velazquez is the Vascular Fellowship Director and a faculty member at Wake Forest Health. She graduated from Universidad de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, then completed a general surgery residency at Emory University and a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Florida. Throughout her journey to becoming a vascular surgeon, Dr. Velazquez has demonstrated extraordinary resilience as well as tremendous passion for her field and her family.  In this episode, Dr. Velazquez discusses the challenges she faced becoming a vascular surgeon, especially as a woman of color, and subsequently trying to balance her family-life and career. Interviewed by Dr. Amanda Fobare, also a recent Emory graduate and a current Emory vascular fellow, and Jessica Liu, our WISER director and general surgery PGY4, Dr. Velazquez emphasizes the importance of a supportive work environment in regard to improving diversity within vascular surgery as well as starting a family. She also describes how the support of her colleagues was crucial in dealing with a loved ones’ unexpected cancer diagnosis. Hosts: Amanda Fobare, Jessica Liu Editor: Rachel Slappy Producer: Alex Speak Art: Virginia WangThe post S3E4: Dr. Gabriela Velazquez, on vascular surgery + family first appeared on WISER Podcast.

The path to become a practicing surgeon is long and arduous. At the same time, it is also fairly regimented: 4+ years in medical school, 5+ years in residency, and then possibly a couple more in fellowship. Each step comes with a standardized process and timeline that we are used to pressing through. After you are finally done with that training, how do you go about obtaining your first job? It’s unscripted, there’s no Match Day, there’s no single application or website to reference, and new graduates place a lot of pressure on themselves to find and negotiate the “perfect job.” Here to shed some light on the process is Dr. Kimberly Hoang, neurosurgeon at Emory University. Not only does she give a helpful road map for planning your future career, she also shares tips for choosing and navigating the right (there’s no such thing as perfect) first job. She also talks about challenges and opportunities with pursuing an academic position in neurosurgery. Rima Rindler, a chief neurosurgery resident at Emory, questions Dr. Hoang as she is about to embark on her own job search. Vivian Wang, who recently started her job at Kaiser Northwest Permanente, and Razan Faraj, a current Emory medical student, also cohost. Hosts: Rima Rindler, Vivian Wang, Razan FarajEditor: Vivian WangProducer: Alex Speak Art: Virginia WangThe post S3E3: Dr. Kimberly Hoang, on finding your first “real” job first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In today’s episode, we hear from some Buckeyes! Our WISER co-founder, Vivian Wang (she/her/hers) is joined by JC Chen (they/them/theirs), a PGY2 from The Ohio State University, as they interview Dr. Courtney Collins (she/her/hers). In our conversation, we start to scratch the surface on the topic of LGBTQ+ in surgery. Dr. Collins is originally from a small town in Washington state. From there, her training took her all the way to the east coast, until finally settling in the Midwest with her partner. She is currently an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, with interests in complex abdominal wall reconstruction and geriatric surgery. Being the oldest of five siblings, family was a major support system for Dr. Collins when she came out at a young age. We explored what it was like to grow up gay in a conservative town, and how being a part of the LGBTQ+ community impacted the way she navigated her career. Diversity and inclusion are often mentioned “buzzwords” in medicine, but active advocacy and allyship from colleagues is often lacking. For those that identify with the experiences in this episode, Dr. Collins gives this advice: “You don’t have to feel ashamed of yourself for not speaking up for everything that you hear… You can’t take on the whole system by yourself and you shouldn’t feel pressured to.” While we celebrate the upwards trajectory with LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusivity in surgery, we still have a ways to go, and we invite you to join us and be an ally. As Dr. Collins aptly notes, “Nobody is perfect, we all have to work together because changing culture takes a long time…but it’s important to have conversations like this..” Hosts: Vivian Wang, JC ChenEditor: Patience TimiProducer: Alex Speak Art: Virginia WangThe post S3E2: Dr. Courtney Collins, on LGBTQ+ in surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

For our first episode of Season 3, we are sharing an insightful conversation with a Burns Boss, Dr. Juvonda Hodge. She is currently the Assistant Medical Director at the Grady Memorial Hospital Burn Center. Dr. Hodge sat down with us to discuss her unexpected path to becoming a burn surgeon, the continued need for mentorship throughout her career, and assimilating versus adapting in academia.  She offers astute words of wisdom and tough love to medical students and interns who wish to reach the high bar they’ve set for themselves. In her own words, “Don’t look for validation from anyone, they’re not going to clap for you because you showed up… Be confident in yourself.” In addition, she always makes sure she’s operating to some good music in the OR. As promised in this episode, we’re sharing some of her favorites in WISER playlist, specially curated by Dr. Hodge herself! Hosts: Jessica Liu and Cameron Blount Editor: Cameron BlountProducer: Alex Speak Art: Virginia WangThe post S3E1: Dr. Juvonda Hodge, a Burns Boss first appeared on WISER Podcast.

For our final episode of Season 2, we are excited to share our conversation with Dr. Maria (Marti) Russell, a surgical oncologist at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital. She delves into her unique (though often challenging) practice, as she operates both at Emory Midtown Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital.  Dr. Russell shares a lot of practical advice in this episode, especially when it comes to advocating for ourselves as women in the field of surgery, such as during contract negotiations and career advancement. She never wanted to be labeled a “female” surgeon (and neither do we!). Initially not thinking that there was any differential treatment towards men and women in surgery, she discusses her realization for the need for structured mentorship programs and advocacy groups like WISER, to equal the playing field between men and women. She highlights the support systems – both at home and at work – that have allowed her to build her career as it stands now. In her words: “None of us do this by ourselves,” and we think that aptly summarizes why we do what we do, here at WISER. Hosts: Vivian Wang and Caroline ColemanEditor/Producer: Alex SpeakThe post S2E10: Dr. Marti Russell, on being in two places at once first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Jane Hallman is an OR scrub tech who has been working at Emory for over two decades. She was born in Carrolton, GA, and initially became interested in the health field through her grandparents, who started a hospital. She ended up following her mother’s path and became a teacher. Jane taught preschool for many years before transitioning to being a scrub tech. She has now been at Emory for 23 years, having witnessed many a student turn into resident turn into attending. She’s seen it all. The birth of laparoscopic surgery and its growing pains, an era where all surgeons were men, and the shift to a surgical residency of >50% women. With that, there has been changes in culture, which have been mostly for the better. Listen here to join in on our conversation with Jane about the evolution of operating room culture, culprits of disruptive behavior, and how to turn that around to foster an efficient, enjoyable, and inclusive workplace environment. Hosts: Vivian Wang, Caroline ColemanEditor: Patience TimiProducer: Alex SpeakThe post S2E9: Jane Hallman – a scrub tech’s perspective on the evolution of OR culture first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Shaneeta Johnson is a leader in all circles that she occupies. She is an Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of the Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Program, and the Residency Associate Program Director at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson’s penchant for leadership is both natural and cultivated. In this episode, she talks about her origins from a family of educators, as well as the more deliberate nurturing of her leadership skills, reflected in part in her decision to pursue an MBA when she noticed a lapse in business knowledge in medical education.  Dr. Johnson delves into her passion for bariatric surgery and offers an exciting glimpse into the world of robotic surgery, where she not only touts its medical benefits, but also emphasizes the importance of humility and open-mindedness in adopting new methodology and technology in the medical field. Overall, she approaches her many responsibilities with care, tenacity, and grace, and remembers to pass it on to her mentees. Hosts: Vivian Wang, Caroline ColemanEditor/Producer: Alex SpeakThe post S2E8: Dr. Johnson on Bariatrics and Robotics – the Art of Adaptability first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Victoria Teodorescu (Dr. T) grew up in New Jersey, but really claims Nebraska as her home. Her summers as a child in Nebraska were spent chasing after cows, swimming in the irrigation ditches, and finding snakes in the backyard. Dr. T’s road to medicine definitely wasn’t straight. She knew she loved science and math, but Dr. T remembers that “the girls in my high school hadn’t been expected to do much of anything and even if you really want to do something with your life, there is no guidance.” She attributes her guidance and determination to the women in her family who had the fortunate opportunity to graduate from college back in the 1920s. After graduating from college at NYU, Dr. T took on different jobs including working on Wall Street and even joining the Fashion Institute, before medicine called her home. Dr. T recounts the people that tried to discourage her on her road to medicine, including her own program director who had told her that “women with children don’t belong in surgery.” Despite all the obstacles, Dr T was able to become Chief of Vascular Surgery at Bronx VA Medical Center where she instituted a diabetic foot clinic to combat emergency amputations for foot infections. Dr. T joined Emory School of Medicine in 2016 and is currently an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. Hosts: Amanda Fobare, Deema ElcoufiEditor: Patience TimiProducer: Alex Speak The post S2E7: Dr. Teodorescu, from sewing clothes to sewing vessels first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This is the final episode of our mini-series on Ohio State University’s 4th Annual Women in Surgery Symposium! We hope you have enjoyed this series as much as we have – if so, we encourage you to join in person for their 5th Annual Symposium this fall. Dr. Kevin Pei, Director of Surgical Critical Care (Texas A&M), talks about bullying and microaggressions, and asks some difficult questions to a panel of women surgeons about their experiences: Dr. Mary Dillhoff, Associate Professor (OSU, surgical oncology)Dr. Kristin Huntoon, PGY7 neurosurgery resident (OSU)Dr. Clara Lee, Associate Professor (OSU, plastic surgery)Dr. Carmen Quatman, Assistant Professor (OSU, orthopedics) The post OSU WIS Ep5: Bullying and Microaggressions first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This is episode 4 of 5 featuring the Ohio State University’s 4th Annual Women in Surgery Symposium, #HeforShe and #SheforShe: Redefining Surgical Culture. This panel, led by Dr. Anghela Paredes, a PGY2 general surgery resident, addresses obstacles in career transitions, from medical school to residency, to fellowship, and to your first job as junior faculty.  Our panelists sharing stories are: Dr. Lisa Cunningham, Assistant Professor (OSU, colorectal surgery)Dr. Vivian Wang, MIS/bariatric fellow (OSU)Dr. Eliza Beal, admin general surgery chief resident (OSU)Dr. Anahita Jalilvand, PGY3 general surgery resident (OSU)Dr. Ruth Ackah, PGY2 general surgery resident (OSU) The post OSU WIS Ep4: Career Transitions first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This is episode 3 of 5 featuring the Ohio State University’s 4th Annual Women in Surgery Symposium, #HeforShe and #SheforShe: Redefining Surgical Culture. Dr. Andrew Bernard, Chief of Trauma and Acute Surgery at University of Kentucky, speaks about equity, diversity, and inclusion in surgery. Do we still need this? Listen in to hear him give a fantastic summary of current literature, and then pose example cases about equity and diversity to a panel of trainees and faculty. Panelists featured are: Dr. Bradley Needleman, Director of Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Medical Director of Comprehensive Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery (OSU)Dr. Carmen Quatman, Assistant Professor (OSU, orthopedics)Dr. Ekene Onwuka, chief general surgery resident (OSU)Dr. Rita Shelby, PGY3 general surgery resident (OSU)Dr. Dahlia Kenawy, PGY2 general surgery resident (OSU)Dr. Steven Scoville, PGY2 general surgery resident (OSU) The post OSU WIS Ep3: Equity in Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This is episode 2 of 5 in our mini-series on Ohio State University’s 4th Annual Women in Surgery Symposium, #HeforShe and #SheforShe: Redefining Surgical Culture. Led by Dr. Chelsea Horwood, a PGY4 general surgery resident at OSU, this episode features panelists who are surgical leaders in their fields: Dr. Gail Besner, Chief of Pediatric Surgery (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)Dr. Ginny Bumgardner, Director of Surgery Research Training (OSU, transplant)Dr. Geri Hewitt, Chief of OBGYN (OSU)Dr. Susan Moffatt-Bruce, Executive Director of University Hospital (OSU, cardiothoracic surgery)Dr. Laura Pheiffer, Chief of Orthopedic Trauma (OSU) The post OSU WIS Ep2: Leadership in Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.

This episode is part 1 of 5 in a special mini-series featuring the Ohio State University’s 4th Annual Women in Surgery Symposium! Held in the fall of 2019, Dr. Sabrena Noria (OSU), the founder and director of the symposium, chose the theme of “#HeforShe and #SheforShe: Redefining Surgical Culture.” This episode is an overview of the symposium, with highlights from fantastic talks: “HerStory in the Making,” keynote: Dr. Julie Freischlag, CEO (Wake Forest)Chair’s Perspectives:Dr. Tim Pawlik, Chair, Department of Surgery (OSU)Dr. Cheryl Lee, Chair, Urology (OSU)“We Belong Here: the necessary evolution of surgical culture,” Dr. Amalia Cochran, burn surgery, past president of AWS (OSU) Recorded by: Ozzie Leon (OSU)Editor/Producer: Vivian Wang The post OSU WIS Ep1: Redefining Surgical Culture first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Rachel Medbery, MD, and her husband Duane McLain, RN, share their story about flipping gender norms not only in their careers, but also within their marriage. The couple also discusses working relationships between nurses and doctors, and gives insight on how they respond to stereotypes and implicit biases from patients and coworkers. Dr. Medbery is a recent Emory cardiothoracic surgery graduate and is now working in Austin, TX as a thoracic surgeon in a large group of 16 cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgeons. Duane is also working hard and staying safe during these times. Best of all, they are now expecting a baby! This is our first love story on the WISER podcast – and we love it. Hosts: Vivian Wang and Caroline ColemanEditor: Rachel SlappyProducer: Alex Speak The post S2E5: Swapping Gender Roles in CT Surgery and Nursing: A Wife-Husband Duo first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Tune into this episode of the WISER podcast to hear Dr. Amy Chen, otolaryngologist at Emory University, share her journey into medicine and how she juggles being a leader and innovator of the field of ENT while also being a mentor and supporter both inside and outside of the hospital. Residency Match: The 7 most competitive medical specialties: https://www.ama-assn.org/residents-students/specialty-profiles/residency-match-7-most-competitive-medical-specialties The Successful Match: https://www.thesuccessfulmatch.com/otolaryngology Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery: https://www.facs.org/education/resources/residency-search/specialties/oto O’Connell F, Hu A. Women in Otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;157(2):173-174. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28485204 Chen AY, et al. The development and validation of a dysphagia-specific quality-of-life questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer: the M.D. Anderson dysphagia inventory. Arch Otolarngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127(7):870-876. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11448365 The post S2E4: Dr. Amy Chen on ENT and Innovation first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Gabriele Miotto (IG: @drgabrielemiotto) shares her journey through plastic surgery, including an intercontinental move, a masters in education, and a humbling yet rewarding recertification process. She also shares budget-conscious beauty and skin care tips and products–this is an episode that you won’t want to miss! The post S2E3: Dr. Miotto: From Attending to Intern to Attending Again first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Listen in to hear the self-dubbed “Trauma Mama” Dr. Randi Smith discuss the psychiatric impact of retained bullets, how trauma surgeons are at the frontlines of gun violence, and even a love story from Grady’s Trauma Bay One. The post S2E2: The Trauma Mama, Dr. Randi Smith first appeared on WISER Podcast.

For our first episode of Season 2, we are excited to have our first guest from outside of the Emory network, Dr. Rebecca Minter. She is the current Chair of the Dept. of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin and and is renowned in the worlds of HPB surgery and surgical education. We interviewed Dr. Minter when she visited Emory in April 2019 to deliver a Grand Rounds called, “‘Why do I trust you to be my surgeon?’“. Dr. Priya Rajdev, a founding member of WISER and the creative genius behind our WISER logo, is a co-host on this episode. She is also a recent graduate from the Emory General Surgery Residency Program and is now a MIS fellow at Oregon Health and Science University. The post S2E1: The Minterview first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Listen in to hear Dr. Beth Willingham discuss her novel otolaryngology hospitalist service at Emory University Hospital, her transition from private practice back to academics, and a reflection on some of her most memorable patients thus far. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions and is available by Creative Commons licensing. The post Episode 10: ENT and Ethics with Dr. Beth Willingham first appeared on WISER Podcast.

The gender gap in urology is one of the most staggering in all of medicine: only 8% of practicing urologists are women. On top of this, a 2017 study in the journal Urology showed that women are also disproportionately underrepresented in both educational and administrative leadership positions within urology–only 3% of department chairs, 8% of residency directors, and 9% of fellowship directors are women. Listen in to this episode to hear Dr. Akanksha Mehta’s thoughts on gender disparities within urology, as well as her path to becoming a urologist and her take on balancing motherhood and medicine. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions and is available by Creative Commons licensing. The post Episode 9: Joining the Old Boys Club: A Journey into Urology first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Virginia Shaffer is a colorectal surgeon at Emory and the scientific director of the Emory Crohn’s and Colitis Center. Listen in to hear Dr. Shaffer discuss the role of managing expectations when fighting burnout, the importance of self-nomination within academic medicine, and her perspective on the future of IBD research. Select quotes below: “[Regarding burnout], I don’t think that there’s one solution that is good for everybody. I think that you, as a person, have to decide what are the things that are important, and then put them on your schedule. Unfortunately, when you’re a resident, you’re on borrowed time… and I think that’s what adds a lot to the difficulty in terms of living your life in a fulfilled way.” “For IBD patients, a lot of quality of life years (QOLYs) get ignored. We focus a lot on mortality – but no one technically dies from IBD, unless there is a severe complication. The QOLYs, though, are so affected, because it is a lot of the time young people. Then they can’t work. Then they’re on pain medications. I think the disease burden of IBD has been severely underestimated. On the other hand, you think of cancer, and everybody is like, “Oh my gosh, you have cancer!” There are then all of these resources… and you never hear of someone who can’t have a cancer operation because they don’t have insurance. Somehow, we figure out a way to take care of them. No one would be refused chemotherapy, yet we have people in their 20s who are refused anti-TNFs and biologics for IBD. Yeah, they’re technically not going to die next year if you don’t give it to them, but if you look at how their quality of life is impacted, especially over their lifespan… I don’t think that aspect [of IBD] has been fully explored.” Links to references in order of mention: Liselotte Dyrbye, et al. Association of Clinical Specialty With Symptoms of Burnout and Career Choice Regret Among US Resident Physicians. JAMA. 2018;320(11):1114-1130. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2702870 The Dead by James Joyce: http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/958/ The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Storey-Mountain-Thomas-Merton/dp/0156010860 The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris: https://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Modern-Library-Paperback/dp/0375756787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546727300&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rise+of+theodore+roosevelt Music in this episode is by Kevin MacLeod and is available under Creative Commons License. The post Episode 8: Dr. Virginia Shaffer on Balance, Burnout, and IBD first appeared on WISER Podcast.

In Episode 7, we continue our conversation with Dr. Diane Payne, an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and the Director of Hand Trauma at Grady Memorial Hospital, as we discuss gun violence in Atlanta. After completing her surgical training in Hawaii, where she treated one gun shot wound after a hunting accident, she began working at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. In 2013, Grady treated 538 gun shot wound victims. “When I first started at Grady, I was astounded by the number of ballistic injuries we took care of on a daily basis. I couldn’t understand why all of these people were getting shot. I would say to my partners, “What is this?” The answer was always the same. “Welcome to Grady. That’s just how it is.” So I started questioning that. Why is this the way it is, and why are we accepting that? It almost feels like we’re numb to it… How can we keep people from falling into the water instead of pulling them out ever time?“ Listen in to hear how Dr. Payne started PIVOT, The Program to Interrupt Violence Through Outreach and Treatment at Grady Memorial Hospital, how the project has grown, and her vision for Atlanta’s future. Make sure and check out her feature on WABE, NPR’s local Atlanta radio station, as well. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)The post Episode 7: Dr. Payne and Gun Violence in Atlanta first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Payne first joined the world of medicine as a physical therapist. After practicing for 5 years, with the support of her family and a constant desire for the next challenge, she decided to return to medical school. With a strong background in rehab medicine and orthopedics she attempted to maintain an open mind but ultimately ended up pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery. “Through my clerkships I tried to really picture whether or not I could see myself doing these different things…and then I did my orthopedic rotation and I was home, I just felt like this is where I belong” Dr. Payne began her medical training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine followed by an orthopedic surgery residency at Duke University and a fellowship in Hand and Microvascular surgery, also at Duke University. Dr. Payne specializes as both an orthopedic trauma surgeon and hand and microvascular surgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital. She is the current director of Hand Trauma for the Grady Health System. When not operating she is involved in multiple research projects, including a focus on gun violence research, and mentoring young women, through programs such as the Perry Initiative. Tune in to part one of this WISER podcast episode to learn about Dr. Payne’s journey and listen to her advice on following the path that is right for you, no matter the obstacles. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it… and there will be a lot of people who tell you that you can’t do it for various reasons. Be it that you have breasts, be it that you’re small in stature or you’re not strong enough, or you don’t have enough willpower… and they don’t know what they’re talking about.” In part two, we will explore the PIVOT trial and Dr. Payne’s involvement in gun violence research in Atlanta, Georgia (recently featured in WABE for her work on this as well). Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).The post Episode 6: Diane Payne, MPT, MD first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan grew up in El Paso, Texas, an arid climate reminiscent of her family’s roots in South India. While her father was an accomplished mathematician, she had no medical influences in her family growing up. She attended Northwestern University for a combined undergraduate/medical degree program, after which she spent two years in as a neurosurgery resident at Emory University before transferring to Emory’s General Surgery Residency Program. Now a general surgery attending at Emory University, Dr. Srinivasan has found several niches within general surgery to excel within. Her clinical interests include complex GI and inflammatory bowel disease, and she is the current Surgical Director of the Emory Crohn’s and Colitis Center. She also takes great interest in laparoscopic technique and residency education and skill training, and has spearheaded the development of a robust simulation program as part of the Emory General Surgery Residency Program. Further, Dr. Srinivasan is involved in global surgery through the Emory Haiti Alliance, an annual Emory initiative that sends surgical teams to offer free medical attention and operations to patients at L’Hôpital Sainte-Thérèse de Hinche. “If you do global or rural work with any consistency, there are probably more lows than highs. If you’re gratified, you’re probably not doing it hard enough or right enough, because there are so many problems that you have to address… But it’s been great in many ways – it has taught me a lot about my colleagues and what they’re capable of. Most of all, it’s made me continuously hopeful for the next generation. I think the medical students that do this are really the best we have to offer. They’re pretty impressive people.” In this episode, Dr. Srinivasan also speaks to a phenomenon that has been borne out in medical and business literature alike, that while self-confidence in high-achieving professionals is gender-neutral, appearing self-confident and auto-promotion translates into influence much differently for men and women. “Everyone gets stereotyped a little bit. I was always the kind of resident that was pretty outspoken, pretty business, didn’t have a hard time standing up for what my opinion was. I think, for women, that’s not always considered a flattering trait, and so I do feel, at times, that I have been delegitimized by people referring to me as being brusque or bristly in ways that they would never refer to a guy who’s similarly opinionated and decisive. In fact, I have several male faculty members who speak pretty similarly to me, but they’ve never been told in the process of advocating for a patient that there was something temperamentally incorrect with them. I have definitely been told that.  In response to being asked how women can be assertive without being labeled: “There’s nothing wrong with being decisive and assertive. The thing that is wrong is the people that judge you for being a woman who is decisive and assertive. It’s really easy to get frustrated, and to think that you need to change something about yourself. You have to be circumspect and introspective enough to realize when you have faults that you can change. But stand strong in the things that you admire in people, men and women alike.” Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue) and Punk Rock Opera (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Punk_Rock_Opera/). The post Episode 5: Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan, Surgical Educator and Global Surgeon first appeared on WISER Podcast.

At the age of six, Dr. Mara Schenker began training in the Korean martial art of taekwondo. She continued studying and competing in taekwondo through college, reaching impressive milestones such as becoming a black belt as well as a world champion in the sport, before being sidelined by orthopedic injuries, ultimately requiring three separate hip surgeries. She endorses a longstanding peripheral interest in the sciences and medicine, but it was this exposure to orthopedics that ultimately influenced her to pursue medical school herself — she describes the research behind orthopedic surgery as “the first thing that I ever found that I liked as much as taekwondo.” After completing medical school at the University of Chicago, residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and fellowship at Harborview Medical Center at the University of Washington, Dr. Schenker now focuses on the trauma side of orthopedics. She is the current director of Orthopedic Trauma Research at Grady Memorial Hospital and oversees dozens of current research projects at the level 1 trauma center. Listen in to this WISER podcast episode to hear her insights about surgical proficiency, confidence in the workplace, and the rewards of being an orthopedic surgeon, excerpted below: “I can’t imagine doing anything more satisfying than what I do. There’s such an incremental improvement from somebody who’s flopping around on the bed with a broken femur to coming in two weeks later walking with a cane. It’s about as gratifying in a short-term sense as any career could be.”  Links to publications in order of mention: “The Paradox of Excellence” by Thomas J. DeLong and Sara DeLong, Harvard Business Review, June 2011. The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman.  “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business Review, July-August 2011. HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. (requires Emory login) The post Episode 4: Dr. Mara Schenker, a Black Belt Orthopedic Surgeon first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Carla Haack finished high school at 15, college at 19, and medical school at 23 years old. At an age when most students are just beginning med school, Dr. Haack moved from her home in Puerto Rico to Atlanta, Georgia to begin general surgery residency at Emory University. “My mom is the one who never let it cross my mind that I couldn’t be whatever I wanted to be, that I would achieve whatever it is that I set out to achieve. It didn’t matter that I was a female and a minority and small and brown… it didn’t matter. It wasn’t on my radar. It never occurred to me that it couldn’t happen because she simply never let us entertain the thought.” Following her residency, Dr. Haack remained at Emory and became a faculty member of the Emory Department of Surgery at the remarkable age of 28. Her career thus far has been marked by numerous awards and accolades, as well as multiple clinical appointments and duties, resulting in a demanding schedule that she balances via incorporation of both yoga and meditation into her daily routine. She serves medical volunteer as well: following Hurricane Irma in 2017, she was the 40th medical provider to arrive in her home land of Puerto Rico, and she has returned nearly ever month since the storm to continue providing medical care for those in need. photo: Matt Moyer, M ROCK Productions. http://www.mrockproductions.com/stories/#/health-care/.The post Episode 3: Dr. Haack, Young But Experienced first appeared on WISER Podcast.

The daughter of a general surgeon in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Styblo was no stranger to the world of surgery during childhood. While her father was logging long hours at the hospital, she matched his commitment as an aspiring dancer, practicing classical ballet throughout her youth and young adulthood. However, she turned down a scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City to instead attend Stanford University, where she earned a combined bachelors/masters degree in biochemistry with a research focus on tumor markers. She also spent time studying marine biology, spending a summer at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, before attending her father’s medical school alma mater, St. Louis University School of Medicine.  She continued at St. Louis University as a general surgery resident before completing a Clinical and Research Fellowship in Surgical Oncology in Virginia. Years later, she became a leading surgical oncologist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and joined faculty at Emory University. The family legacy of surgeons was still to continue, though: in 2016, Dr. Styblo’s daughter joined the general surgery residency at Emory University. Listen in to hear Dr. Styblo’s advice to her aspiring surgeon daughter, as well as her reflections on the similarities between surgery and ballet, excerpted below: “I think about the parallels between ballet and surgery a lot. They both require a lot of physical stamina and a lot of discipline. Also, with corps de ballet and pas de deux, you have a partner. Some partners you click with, they anticipate your moves, and you know they’re going to be there when you jump, versus not, which doesn’t work out well.”“In many ways, with the type of surgery I do with immediate breast reconstruction, first with Dr. Bostwick and then with Dr. Losken, it’s the same idea. You work with someone enough that you think alike, you approach problems the same way, and you know that when you’re ready for them, they’re going to be walking in the room because they can anticipate what you’re going to be doing. You’re also on your feet a lot and you have to learn to work with other members of the team… and technically, you’re in a theater for both.” The post Episode 2: Dr. Styblo, Breast Surgeon and Ballerina first appeared on WISER Podcast.

Dr. Barbara Pettitt was the third woman ever to have been accepted as a surgical intern at LA County General Hospital. The first woman to join the program was a Catholic nun in the 1940s, who eventually dropped out of residency mid-way and returned to her convent. The second woman was a current senior resident who had just requested six months leave from the program to take care of her young child. Dr. Pettitt recalls this about her general surgery residency interview as an intern: “…the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Why should I take you into this residency program when every other woman I’ve taken has failed?'” Following this, she did complete her general surgery residency at LA County. Before completing a fellowship in pediatric surgery, she took a year off and attended the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts as a voice major. Dr. Pettitt practiced for many years as a pediatric surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia before transitioning into her current role as Director of Medical Student Education for the Department of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine, where she is beloved by her medical students. The post Episode 1: Dr. Pettitt, Beloved Educator first appeared on WISER Podcast.