BOSS Business of Surgery Series

After a decade in private practice, Dr. Claudia Emami transitioned from pediatric surgeon to Chief Medical Officer—driven by burnout and a deep curiosity about how healthcare systems function.

In this episode, she shares the behind-the-scenes structure of hospital operations that every surgeon should know but rarely learns in training.

We cover:

The difference between medical staff and hospital administration

Why bylaws are your protection

How credentialing and peer review actually work

Who sits in the C-suite—and what they control

Why surgeons should proactively build relationships with their CMO and chief of staff

How committee participation builds influence and opportunity

Healthcare is becoming increasingly complex. Mergers, acquisitions, and system growth mean that physicians who don’t understand governance risk losing their voice.

This episode is a practical roadmap for surgeons who want to protect their autonomy, navigate hospital politics wisely, and possibly even explore leadership beyond the OR.

As surgeons, we are trained to go big or go home.

And when we can’t do it perfectly?
We often do nothing.

In this week’s episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, I sat down with Dr. Sara Ionescu — family physician, movement coach, mother of five (ages 8 and under), and spouse of a general surgeon.

Her question can change how you think about goals:

“Can you find one minute a day to move?”

That simple question helped her patients transform their health — and helped her rebuild her own consistency after residency and multiple pregnancies.

We discuss:
• Why surgeons fall into “all-or-nothing” thinking
• How 5 minutes a day compounds into real results
• Why accountability matters more than motivation
• What surgeon spouses wish you understood
• And how small communication shifts can protect your marriage

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to prioritize your health or your relationship, this episode will challenge that thinking.

You don’t need more time.

You need a realistic starting point that gives compounded results.

Free movement consult: calendly.com/drsaraionescu/30min

Website: drsaraionescu.com

Instagram: @drsaraionescu

YouTube: @DrSaraIonescu

Facebook: facebook.com/drsaraionescu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drsaraionescu

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, Dr. Vertrees sits down with Dr. Alex Schloe, Air Force veteran, family medicine physician, and host of the Physicians and Properties podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on financial freedom, real estate, and practicing medicine on your own terms.

Dr. Schloe shares his path through military medicine via the HPSP scholarship, his experience training and serving as the sole physician at an Air Force base, and how that preparation shaped his confidence as both a clinician and leader. From there, the conversation turns to entrepreneurship—starting with his first rental property purchased during intern year using a physician loan and evolving into a diversified real estate portfolio.

A major focus of the episode is residential assisted living—a boutique, high-quality care model that addresses the massive shortage of senior housing while offering strong cash-flow opportunities for physicians. Dr. Schloe breaks down multiple investment strategies, including his lease-to-operator model, which generates consistent income without day-to-day operational burden.

The discussion also dives into direct primary care, healthcare affordability, and how insurance-based systems distort patient care. Dr. Schloe shares a powerful patient case illustrating how cost barriers delay life-saving diagnoses—and why DPC offers a compelling alternative for both doctors and patients.

Finally, Dr. Schloe explains why mastermind communities, coaching, and accountability are critical accelerators for physicians looking to build wealth and optionality outside traditional clinical roles.

This episode is a must-listen for physicians who want more agency, better alignment, and real choices in how they practice medicine and live their lives.

Description:

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, I sit down with Dr. Ronan Elefant, trauma surgeon, entrepreneur, and pilot, to explore a radically different way of delivering surgical care.

Dr. Elefant shares how his background in biomedical engineering shaped his view of surgery, why he believes healthcare insurance should be reserved for catastrophic events, and how transparent, bundled cash pricing can lower costs while paying surgeons more. We discuss his company, ACES National Surgical Team, which leverages underutilized ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) nationwide—without building hospitals.

We also dive into how aviation allows him to scale surgical access across multiple states, manage complications safely, and maintain quality of life—plus how mid-career surgeons can shift from achievement to mentorship without burning out.

Keywords: surgery entrepreneurship, healthcare economics, cash-pay surgery, ambulatory surgery centers, surgeon business models, physician leadership, nontraditional surgical practice

How do you know when it’s time to leave a job—and how do you trust yourself enough to do it?

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, host Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Sujata Gill for a candid, deeply honest conversation about career fit, power, gender dynamics, and navigating a difficult transition in surgery.

Dr. Gill shares her journey from an initially rewarding community hospital role to a position that gradually became professionally suffocating—despite long hours, leadership roles, and relentless effort. She describes what it felt like to be treated as an employee rather than a physician, to be labeled “too high standard” and “too likable,” and to repeatedly be passed over for leadership roles she was qualified to hold.

This episode explores the psychological and emotional toll of staying too long, the fear and imposter syndrome that can follow even experienced surgeons into new roles, and the critical skill of not carrying old stories into new contexts.

Dr. Gill’s story ultimately becomes one of clarity, courage, and renewal—finding a physician-friendly system, supportive partners, full scope practice, and joy in surgery again.

If you’re questioning your current role, feeling “capped,” or wondering whether something better actually exists—this episode is for you.

How to recognize when a job is no longer a good professional fit

Why working harder doesn’t fix a misaligned system

The hidden cost of being treated as an “employee” rather than a physician

How gender bias can show up subtly—and how to respond without internalizing it

Why transitions often come with fear, imposter syndrome, and grief

How negative stories from past jobs can contaminate new opportunities

The importance of consciously choosing context in professional relationships

What it looks like to become a “happy surgeon” again

00:00:02 – Dr. Gill’s background and early career decisions
00:01:26 – Early success and growing frustration in community practice
00:04:18 – Systemic issues and gender-based challenges
00:13:07 – The breaking point and decision to leave
00:23:07 – Not getting stuck in stories during transition
00:31:04 – Finding fulfillment and lifting others as you rise

Pay attention to signs that you feel “capped” or powerless despite effort

Examine whether frustration is about you—or the system you’re in

Be intentional about releasing old narratives when entering new roles

Seek coaching or support during career transitions

Support others navigating similar challenges as part of your own healing

Dr. Sujata Gill is a general surgeon with expertise in bariatric and robotic surgery. After navigating a difficult and misaligned hospital system early in her career, she now practices in a physician-friendly environment that allows her to work at full scope, prioritize her family, and rediscover joy in surgery. She is passionate about supporting other physicians through career transitions and professional healing.

Episode Description

What if the next goal isn’t the answer?

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, host Dr. Amy Vertrees speaks with Jessica Smarro, licensed therapist, certified life coach, and author of In Pursuit: Go After What You Want, Alive, Aligned, and Fully You.

Jessica shares her journey from nearly 15 years working in jail diversion programs to helping high achievers “free themselves from the prison of an unmanaged mind.” Together, Amy and Jessica explore why so many accomplished professionals reach milestones only to feel disappointed, empty, or restless—and why this experience is far more common than we admit.

This conversation dives into the subtle but powerful shift from chasing achievements to understanding the feelings we’re actually pursuing. Jessica introduces her Freedom Framework, explains why self-worth must be uncoupled from accomplishment, and offers practical tools for navigating fear, imposter syndrome, and emotional discomfort without abandoning ambition.

This episode is especially resonant for surgeons and high achievers who are successful on paper—but quietly wondering if there’s more.

What You’ll Learn

Why achievement alone often fails to create fulfillment

How many goals are really about chasing feelings, not outcomes

Why feeling good before achieving doesn’t lead to complacency

The danger of “arrival addiction” and how to step off the treadmill

How to distinguish self-honoring goals from externally imposed ones

A healthier way to work with imposter syndrome

The difference between fixing yourself and understanding yourself

How to create emotional safety through self-compassion

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00:02 – Meet Jessica Smarro and the origin of In Pursuit
00:02:03 – The disappointment of achievement and chasing feelings
00:04:19 – The Freedom Framework: prison, path, and pursuit
00:09:34 – Addressing the fear of complacency
00:12:53 – Self-honoring vs. following predetermined paths
00:18:11 – Rethinking imposter syndrome as useful feedback
00:21:20 – Understanding yourself instead of fixing yourself
00:35:12 – Creating emotional safety through self-compassion
00:37:17 – Jessica’s work, podcast, and upcoming group program

Action Items

Reflect on whether your current goals are driven by fear/lack or curiosity/wholeness

Practice staying present with difficult emotions rather than bypassing them

Experiment with separating self-worth from outcomes

Use “compass checks” to assess alignment before setting your next goal

Resources

In Pursuit: Go After What You Want, Alive, Aligned, and Fully You – Jessica Smarro

Jessica’s podcast: Unblocked

About the Guest

Jessica Smarro is a licensed therapist, certified life coach, and author who helps high achievers pursue meaningful goals without abandoning themselves in the process. Her work focuses on identity, emotional safety, and sustainable fulfillment.

What happens when the career that once defined you no longer fits—or ends entirely?

In this episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, host Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with Elizabeth Parsons, former Wall Street lawyer and author of Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement. Elizabeth shares her deeply personal journey of leaving a prestigious legal career at age 35, only to discover that financial security alone was not enough to replace the identity, structure, and purpose her work had provided.

Together, Amy and Elizabeth explore why high-achieving professionals—especially those in service fields like medicine and law—often struggle with retirement or major career transitions. Elizabeth introduces the concept of “identity bridging” and explains why retirement isn’t just a financial decision, but a psychological and emotional one.

This conversation challenges the idea of retirement as an “ending” and reframes it as a new graduation—an opportunity to intentionally design a next chapter filled with meaning, agency, and fulfillment.

If you’re a surgeon or professional thinking about retirement, scaling back, or simply wondering “what’s next?”, this episode offers powerful insights and practical guidance.

Why high achievers excel as “reactors” but struggle to become “creators” of their own lives

The concept of identity bridging and why retirement disrupts more than just your schedule

The three motivational pillars of identity: communion, agency, and cohesion

Why staying too long can diminish a career—and why “leaving on top” matters

How to develop new internal metrics for success beyond professional recognition

Why retirement planning should begin at least two years before your exit

How to experiment with new interests without needing immediate competence or validation

Why succession planning is emotionally harder than most professionals expect

00:00:02 – Elizabeth Parsons’ journey from Wall Street lawyer to retirement transition expert
00:04:21 – From problem-solver to life designer: reactor vs. creator
00:06:06 – Identity bridging and the three motivational properties
00:08:31 – Common pitfalls: why career-adjacent options often fall flat
00:11:11 – Creating new metrics for success without external applause
00:13:46 – Finding your “second curve” and rediscovering dormant interests
00:18:25 – Life restructuring after work: avoiding “365 Saturdays”
00:21:39 – Knowing when it’s time to retire—and why leaving on top matters
00:24:53 – Succession planning and the emotional difficulty of handing over the reins
00:32:29 – Elizabeth’s programs, intensives, and resources

Begin thinking about retirement or major transitions at least two years in advance

Identify how your current identity is tied to belonging, agency, and routine

Create personal definitions of a “great day” that don’t rely on professional validation

Pay attention to persistent annoyance with work—it may be a signal, not a flaw

Explore interests with curiosity and experimentation, not immediate mastery

Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement by Elizabeth Parsons

Learn more about Elizabeth’s programs: highachieverretirement.com

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn

Elizabeth Parsons is a former Wall Street lawyer and the founder of High Achiever Retirement. After leaving her legal career early, she experienced firsthand the identity loss that often follows high achievement. Today, she helps accomplished professionals navigate retirement and major career transitions with intention, clarity, and purpose.

What if the peak of your career isn’t when you’re most celebrated—but when you no longer need to be?

In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, Dr. Amy Vertrees sits down with surgical oncologist and former military surgeon Dr. Matthew Hueman to explore belonging, burnout, identity, and the quiet work of finding peace in a demanding profession.

Dr. Hueman shares his journey from growing up in a military family and training at West Point, to six military deployments where he discovered the true cost—and power—of belonging. He reflects on the flattening of hierarchy during his final deployment in Somalia and how that experience reshaped his understanding of purpose, leadership, and authenticity.

After transitioning to civilian healthcare, Dr. Hueman found himself burned out—not from working hard, but from doing work that felt increasingly disconnected from meaning. That realization ultimately led him to leave a large healthcare system and focus his practice on breast cancer care, where he now prioritizes presence, relationships, and helping patients find peace amid uncertainty.

Together, Drs. Vertrees and Hueman challenge long-held surgical norms around endurance, ownership, prestige, and external validation. They discuss why breast surgery is often undervalued, how surgeons delay happiness waiting for the “next milestone,” and what it really means to build a career that feels aligned—without waiting for permission.

This episode is an invitation to stop postponing peace—and to begin finding it now.

Why burnout is often about meaningless work, not workload

The hidden cost of belonging—and why it matters in medicine

How military experiences can reshape leadership and purpose

Why breast surgery offers profound professional fulfillment

How surgeons tie self-worth to endurance and external validation

What it means to reach the “peak” of your career

How to help patients—and ourselves—find peace in uncertainty

“The peak of your career isn’t when you’re most celebrated. It’s when you don’t need to be celebrated at all.”

“The hardest work feels weightless when it’s aligned with purpose.”

“Burnout isn’t about working too hard—it’s about meaningless hard work.”

“You shouldn’t postpone peace. You should do it today.”

00:00 – Dr. Hueman’s background and early life

02:31 – West Point and the meaning of belonging

03:31 – Military deployments and evolving purpose

05:35 – Transition to civilian healthcare and burnout

08:16 – Comparing military and civilian medical missions

10:36 – Rethinking burnout in medicine

14:42 – Choosing breast cancer care

26:26 – Bias against breast surgery

37:10 – Redefining success and fulfillment

39:56 – Building a values-driven private practice

42:51 – Helping patients live with uncertainty

47:36 – Gratitude and emotional capacity

Dr. Matthew Hueman is a surgical oncologist with a focus on breast cancer care and a former U.S. Army surgeon with six deployments. After leaving a large healthcare organization, he built a private practice centered on presence, autonomy, and helping patients find peace in uncertainty. His work explores purpose, belonging, and meaning in medicine.

Dr. Amy Vertrees is a general and breast surgeon, host of the BOSS Business of Surgery Series, and founder of Become the BOSS MD, a coaching program for surgeons focused on mindset, communication, and professional fulfillment.