SAGES Stories

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 35 which should have been episode 34 if the webmaster had learned how to count properly, our bodacious hosts talk the coolest bourbon lover (and hernia surgeon) on the planet. Dr. Todd Heniford joins us to discuss bourbon, charities, math, football (the American kind, not the good kind), the value of learning from failures, being the best mentor one can be, and why Jenny was his favorite fellow of all time. Show notes: Barrel Aged Charities – Fighting Prostate Cancer W.L. Weller Antique – Buffalo Trace Distillery Nashville Barrel Company George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey 2017 Old Carter Whiskey Company

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 34, our most excellent hosts talk to TWO! TWO! guests (ah ah ah). Drs. Grace Kim and Linda Zhang join us to discuss the SAGES Go Global program and the experience of volunteering in low resource environments. This is one of the more consequential programs that SAGES sponsors and this is a good listen as we begin a new year. SAGES Go Global Go Global Accomplishments GLAP Program

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 33, our intrepid hosts talk to surgeon, educator, international man of mystery, possible MI6 operative, and Third Culture Kid Adrian Park, MD, FRCS (C) FACS. As a man from nowhere and everywhere, Dr. Park talks about his peripatetic upbringing, bringing advanced laparoscopy into the developing world, and how SAGES affected his career path during the early years of MIS. Dr. Park has one of the more interesting stories of any SAGES Member. This episode is well worth your time! Third Culture Kid SAGES Go Global Initiative SAGES Guidelines Fellow Job Description

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this continuation of President Episodes™, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao chat with the current president of the EAES, Nicole Bouvy, MD, PhD. Our intrepid podcasters cover lots of topics with Dr. Bouvy including the difference in training between the US and Europe, how surgery impacts the environment and why we need to pay attention to sustainability efforts, changes in roles of women in surgical leadership positions, and sheep. Yes, sheep. European Association for Endoscopic Surgery SAGES Sustainability in Surgical Practice

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao chat with Brent D. Matthews, MD, the 2025–2026 President of SAGES. We trace how he first got involved with the society and how SAGES has quietly but steadily helped shape his surgical career from fellowship(s) to his presidency!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Dr. Jenny Shao talk to the one and only, the man, the myth, the legend: Manabu Yamamoto, MD. The founder of SAGES Far East and co-writer of “We Are The World, We Are The SAGES” joins us and talks about, well, just about everything. We cover early language acquisition, SAGES in the 80s, being one of the first Japanese SAGES members, how song bridged a gap and helped launch a career, and much, much more. This is an episode you will want to bookmark and save. Dr. Yamamoto is a singular personality within SAGES and has one of the best stories we’ve heard to date. Editor’s Note: We apologize for the audio quality on this one. We were recording live at the 2025 SAGES Meeting and the microphone was not the best. The quality improves about three minutes in but because of the directional nature, when two people talked at once or when there was laughter (which was often), the sound faded out a bit.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Dr. Jenny Shao talk to the one and only doyenne of SAGES – Executive Director Sallie Matthews. Sallie shares stories about how she got into the Executive Directoring business, how SAGES has transformed over the years, and what it means to be a successful woman in the field of surgery. This is not our typical podcast but it’s interesting, heartfelt, and inspiring. LISTEN! Links from the pod: SAGES 2025 Meeting A Conversation With Sallie Matthews, Director of SAGES for 25 Years

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Dr. Jenny Shao talk to one of the most fascinating surgeons around: James “Butch” Rosser, MD. Butch is a surgeon, a patient, a top-notch educator, the originator of the Top Gun contest, the catalyst behind the SAGES Mini Med School, and so much more. We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as we enjoyed recording it. Links from the pod: SAGES 2025 Meeting Mini Med School

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! This. Is. Huge. The biggest episode we’ve tried to do. The biggest episode we’ve ever done! Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR, FOUR PAST PRESIDENTS on one podcast. (ah ah ah) In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and new co-host Dr. Jenny Shao talk to Past SAGES Presidents Drs. Hoarcio Asbun, Liane Feldman, John Mellinger, and Pat Sylla all about SAGES, their respective paths to the presidency and the impact of the Society on surgery. Links from the pod: Episode 1 – Horacio Asbun, MD Episode 2 – Liane Feldman, MD Episode 5 – John Mellinger, MD Episode 9 – Patricia Sylla, MD

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 26, we experience something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Let’s see if you can figure out to who/what each of the above applies! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Archana Ramaswamy talk to Dr. Jenny Shao about podcasting in general, finding one’s path in surgery, and much more plus a HUGE announcement. There’s also a special gift for Dr. Ramaswamy at the very end of the episode… Links from the pod: SAGES 2025 Annual Meeting SAGES Stories Episode 7

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 25, we talk to researcher and dad extraordinaire, Chris DuCoin, MD and get his thoughts on surgeon scientists, SAGES Research efforts, and our intrepid hosts show us the worst possible way to get a grant accepted. Links from the pod: SAGES Research Grants SAGES Research Data Network 2025 Abstract Submissions

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 23, we talk to our resident expert on hippies, shag carpeting, beaded entryways, pattern-recognition, grants, research, and all things surgical: Carla Pugh, MD, PhD. Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting Recordings SAGES SINC Investment Fund SAGES Ingenuity

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 24, we talk to two past presidents, Aurora Pryor, MD and Steve Schwaitzberg, MD, and the now-current president Christopher Schlachta, MD all about the new SAGES for-profit company SAGES Ingenuity and the SAGES Investment Network Collaboration (SINC). Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Drs. Pryor, Schwaitzberg, and Schlachta about the SAGES Investment Network and SAGES Ingenuity. Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting SAGES SINC Investment Fund SAGES Ingenuity

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 22, we talk to the current President-Elect of SAGES, hard name to spell correctly, hockey fan and Canadian (but we repeat ourselves), and one of the cool kids: Christopher Schlachta, MD! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schlachta about innovation in surgery, getting involved in laparoscopy, the SAGES Investment Network and SAGES Ingenuity. There’s also hockey, family, dogs, more hockey, and the occasional “aboot” thrown in for good measure! Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting SAGES SINC Investment Fund SAGES Ingenuity

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 21, we talk to the tiniest overachiever ever, Dana Telem, MD, current Vice President of SAGES, Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan, and a great friend to many of us. Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Telem about Fall weather (we might be posting this slightly out of order), evolutionary biology as a gateway to surgery, developing skin by being from Philadelphia, and why lipomas are important (they are). Oh, and we talk about creating an academic surgical career for oneself and the importance of finding your people. Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 20, we talk to Steve Schwaitzberg, MD, Past President of SAGES and a man who has led a most interesting life. It is safe to say that SAGES would not look like what it does today without Dr. Schwaitzberg’s influence. Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schwaitzberg about socks, bingo, innovation, bad strategies for applying to med school, Club Med(?), plus current investment and innovation opportunities offered by SAGES Links from the pod: SAGES 2012 Presidential Address SINC Opportunity Fund (Investment) SAGES Ingenuity – Opportunities for Innovation

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 19, we talk to KMarie King, MD. MS, MBA, FACS Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. King about learning to lead, the Glass Cliff, The Wallflowers (for some reason), belonging, advocacy, and implementing technology. Links from the pod: SAGES 2022 Gerald Marks Lecture

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 18, we talk to former child actor, former child, former SAGES Advocacy and Health Policy committee chair, Neil Simon survivor, Lego expert, and triple laptop screen monitor user Ross F. Goldberg, MD Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Goldberg about his early years as a stage thespian, later years as a surgeon, Cleveland (of course), and much more.  We promise you, this pod will simply fly by! Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Abstract Submission SAGES 2021 Medical-Legal Session on Malpractice

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 17, we talk to SAGES Past (waaaaaaaaaaay past) President, Chair, Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona, laparoscopy trailblazer, dog lover, and all around good human Nathaniel Soper, MD Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Soper about the wild-west early days of MIS, surgeons with frickin laser beams, and why SAGES is the best society ever. Links from the pod: SAGES 2024 Abstract Submission

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 16, we talk to an amazing surgeon and human, Associate Professor of Surgery, Chief of Minimally Invasive, Robotic, and Bariatric Surgery, and Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Grady Memorial Hospital: Dr. Shaneeta Johnson! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Johnson about Cleveland (why?), global surgery volunteerism, how to implement DEI correctly, offsetting surgery’s carbon footprint, and more. Links from the pod: SAGES Speaker Log SAGES Committee Sign Up

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 14, we talk to surgeon extraordinaire, Chair of Surgery at Stanford, Director of the ABS, and amazing person: Dr. Mary Hawn! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Hawn about all things Board related, issues facing surgeons today, the challenges of being a two doctor household, and who in surgery has Vizslas. Stanford Department of Surgery American Board of Surgery SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 14, we talk to surgical educator extraordinaire, SAGES past president from 2002-2003, and one of the best human beings on the planet: Dr. Bruce Schirmer! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schirmer about HPB and the early partnerships between SAGES and the AHPBA, the early days of laparoscopy and endoscopy as he experienced them, and one of the most unfortunate/infamous SAGES Stories of all time. SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 13, we talk to surgical educator extraordinaire and potentially the nicest human being in the entire world, Gerry Fried, MD Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Fried about life, family, Cleveland (again), Canada, and Montréal restaurant recommendations. Also, shout outs to Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery! SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 12, we learn why rockstardom’s loss created a surgical rockstar in Caitlin Halbert, DO! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Halbert navigating a surgical career, Delaware, getting a mentor and getting involved with SAGES and much more. Also, shout outs to community surgeons and the SAGES Speaker Catalog: SAGES White Paper on Community Surgeons: DOI: 10.1007/s00464-022-09204-y SAGES Speaker’s Catalog

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 11, we have extraordinary privilege of listening to one of the funniest smart guys (or smartest funny guys) to ever be a part of SAGES: Dr. Jeff Ponsky! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Ponsky about endoscopy (duh), Cleveland (also duh), not needing good grades nor calculus, and living on a compound.  Plus surgery, SAGES, family, and the importance of not taking oneself too seriously.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 10, this is it.  The big one.  We’re talking to one of the OGs of SAGES, the Godfather of Colorectal Surgery himself: Gerald Marks, MD! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Marks about the history of minimally invasive colorectal surgery, the formation of SAGES and the untold story of the late 70s era, family, and more.  Truly one of our best episodes ever!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! This is a special bonus episode courtesy of our friends at Cold Steel: The Canadian Journal of Surgery podcast! They caught up with her in-person (!) at SAGES 2022 so this is a few months old, but our President Elect deserves all the press! Links: 1. Pat Sylla talk on Truths, Half-Truths, Fake News about taTME www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahWOaKa5WeQ 2. Sylla P, Rattner DW, Delgado S et al. NOTES transanal rectal cancer resection using transanal endoscopic microsurgery and laparoscopic assistance. Surg Endosc 2010;24:1205–10. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20186432/ 3. Urethral Injury and Other Urologic Injuries During Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: An International Collaborative Study. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31567502/ 4. Consensus on structured training curriculum for transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28462478/ 5. SAGES 2022 Presidential Address with Dr. Liane Feldman: vimeo.com/showcase/9362041/video/689727749 6. SAGES 2022 Gerald Mark Lecture by KMarie King: vimeo.com/showcase/9362041/video/689071108 7. SAGES 2022 General Session on Worldwide Variation in TME. Dr. Sylla is one of the panelists: vimeo.com/showcase/9362041/video/689468095

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 9, we get to listen to our President Elect: Patricia Sylla, MD! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Sylla about going from the Ivory Coast to New York, the proper distance a surgeon should be from the anus, potential centenarian matchmaking, and a lot more in this episode!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 8, we get to listen to founding SAGES Member, past-president, and the most recognizable voice in surgery, old Golden Throat himself: Rick Greene, MD! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Greene about the beginnings of SAGES, his career in surgery and how he became the multimedia master of all things vocal in this episode!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 7, we double down on hernia talk (triple down if you count one of the hosts) and talk to Jake Greenberg, MD and Archana Ramaswamy, MD. Oh, yeah, they also happen to be the 2022 Program Chairs for the SAGES meeting so there might be a little more meeting talk than usual. Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Drs. Ramaswamy and Greenberg about getting started on hernia, family, careers, running a large national meeting, the Sing Off and basically anything and everything except HPB surgery (to Dr. El Hayek’s chagrin).

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 6, we listen to a great person tell us great stories about SAGES, the American Board of Surgery, and life.  This month we talk to none other than Jo Buyske, MD who is a past president of SAGES and the CEO and President of the ABS. Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Buyske about being there at the start of the laparoscopic revolution, learning to be a role model, and Catwoman.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 5, we interview someone to whom we would pay to listen to read the phone book. We are happy to present SAGES President Elect for 2022-2023, newly minted Vice President of the American Board of Surgery, and doting grandfather John Mellinger, MD! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Mellinger about servant leadership, being there for one’s family, the weird nexus of surgery that is Cleveland and much more.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 4, we continue to bring you interesting stories from interesting surgeons. We are happy to present one of the founding members of SAGES, Past President, and genius inventor George Berci for your listening pleasure! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Berci about how he survived the Nazi invasion of Hungary, how he came to be a surgeon and helped to invent modern endoscopy, work-life balance and much more. Receive a copy of Dr. George Berci’s autobiography – The Scope of My Life With your minimum $25 donation to the Foundation.” : https://www.sagesfoundation.org/donate-now/one-time-gift/ You can buy Dr. Berci’s most recent book, “No Stones Left Unturned” here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76845-4

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 3, we continue to bring you interesting stories from interesting surgeons. We are happy to present SAGES Past President and 2011 Undisputed Wii Boxing Champion Aurora Pryor, MD for your listening pleasure! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Pryor about how she came to be known as the undisputed Wii Boxing champ, how she met her husband and started her family during her residency, career development, and much more. Watch Dr. Pryor’s Presidential Address from the SAGES 2020 Annual Meeting!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 2, we go big, BIG time and present current SAGES President and proud Canadian Liane Feldman, MD for your listening pleasure! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Feldman about how she started her career in surgery and SAGES and moves into many of the current projects she is spearheading during her presidential year, including FUSE, the 2022 Meeting, and more! There is also a brief discussion of possible podcast infidelity committed with Cold Steel, but (spoiler alert) all’s well that ends well. FUSE Didactics – FREE SAGES 2022 Meeting Information Cold Steel Ep89

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this inaugural episode, we go big time and present SAGES Past-President Horacio Asbun, MD for your listening pleasure! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD kick off SAGES Stories in a wide-ranging interview with Dr. Asbun discussing his mentors, the professional philosophy he shared with his children and some of his most memorable SAGES moments.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! Beginning this month, co-hosts Dr. Shirin Towfigh and Dr. Kevin El-Hayek share their interviews with SAGES leaders and influencers whose contributions have impacted the society. Listeners can look forward to episodes that feature a diverse group of SAGES members talking about a wide range of professional and personal topics. In this introductory episode, you will meet your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD and learn a little bit about what we’ll be doing with the podcast going forward.