Best of: What makes a surgeon great?

We’re taking you into our archive of over 250 episodes to re-share an interview Russ Altman did in 2022 with Stanford Medicine Professor of Surgery, Carla Pugh.  Performing surgery is profoundly complex and requires precision, dexterity and lots of practice. Dr. Pugh shares about how she’s studying the movements of skilled surgeons to better understand what makes them successful, which can in turn help to improve training for new surgeons.Episode Reference Links:Technology Enabled Clinical Improvement CenterDr. Pugh’s Research: Use of sensors to quantify procedural idle time Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionHost Russ Altman introduces the episode with Dr. Carla Pugh discussing her research studying the movements of surgeons to improve surgical training.(00:02:27) Dr. Carla Pugh's Research and GoalsIntroduction of Dr. Carla Pugh and her research utilizing sensor technology to quantify physician performance and the long-term goals of her research.(00:04:32) Wearable Sensors in Surgical TrainingHow wearable sensors are being used, and the reaction of surgeons to being monitored.(00:06:21)  Expertise Identification & Universality of MovementHow idle time and motion tracking can distinguish between novice and expert surgeons  & how expert surgeons exhibit similar motion patterns.(00:10:10) Expert vs. Novice Surgeon BehaviorsObserved differences in speed and precision between expert and novice surgeons, & working volume.(00:12:48) Ethical ConsiderationsThe ethical considerations of measuring surgeon performance, with a focus onmanaging the careers of aging surgeons through data-driven decisions.(00:16:03) The Role of Robotics in SurgeryThe current and future roles of robots in surgery, debunking myths, setting realistic expectations & how this research can be applied.(00:20:29) Demand for Robotic Surgery and Tech TrustPatients' trust in technology and robots for surgery and the pitfalls of relying too much on the technology, using orthopedic surgery as a specific example.(00:23:07) Preserving Human Skills in MedicineDr. Pugh elaborates the importance of capturing human surgical skills amidst the rise of automation in order to maintain a record of traditional practices.(00:24:49) Evolution of Surgical Procedures and TechniquesThe evolution of surgical procedures due to technological advancements, and how surgeons transition between different surgical technologies.(00:27:17) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.