Where is the line between what a surgeon needs to know and what technology can look up for them? On this episode of BackTable Industry, host Anish Parikh interviews Dr. Satyan Sreenath, rhinologist and skull base surgeon at Indiana University, about building operative comfort, lifelong learning, and the new role of artificial intelligence in clinical education. They discuss how surgical autonomy develops during residency, the resources that fill the gap after training, and the practical realities of staying current as technology and patient expectations evolve.
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00:00 - Introduction
05:48 - Graduating During the COVID-19 Pandemic
08:18 - Building Operative Comfort in Residency
12:14 - Competency Benchmarks and Board Readiness
15:27 - Educational Resources and Surgical Autonomy
19:21 - Continuing Education Routine
22:41 - Society Curricula and Hands-On Courses
27:52 - Artificial Intelligence in Practice
33:20 - Staying Current with New Technology
36:08 - Balloon Sinuplasty and Patient Expectations
38:22 - Societies, Meetings, and Closing Remarks
Dr. Sreenath shares how he sets up a routine for continuing education, what he looks for in society curricula, podcasts, and hands-on courses, and why repetition and autonomy matter more than simply gathering information. The conversation covers the rise of AI in the exam room, the credibility gap when patients bring in their own research, and the value of in-person meetings and peer networks. The episode closes with practical advice on navigating new technologies, building confidence, and why surgical comfort is earned, not downloaded.
FLEX, the Focused Lifelong Education Xperience, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
https://www.entnet.org/education/flex/
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
https://www.entnet.org/
American Rhinologic Society
https://www.american-rhinologic.org/
Rhinology Roundtable, the American Rhinologic Society podcast series
https://www.american-rhinologic.org/rhinology-roundtable-podcast
BackTable Industry Episode 96, Navigating Revenue Cycle Management Challenges in Healthcare, named on air by the guest
https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/96/navigating-revenue-cycle-management-challenges-in-healthcare
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, Peter Attia, referenced on air by title-less mention
https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/
Backtable Industry is the go-to podcast for healthcare leaders, business-minded providers, and innovators that are shaping the future of healthcare.
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