In this episode of the Brown Surgery Podcast, PGY-4 general surgery resident Evan Mitchell sits down with a familiar face: Dr. Josh Cohen. Recently returning to the department as a surgical oncology attending, Dr. Cohen shares his journey from his residency training right here at Brown to his fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and what it’s like starting his new practice.

This conversation offers a grounded look into the realities of surgical oncology. Dr. Cohen discusses how to craft a career that balances broad operative skills with specialized cancer care, offering invaluable advice for medical students and residents trying to map out their futures.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Choosing the Specialty: The unique appeal of head-to-toe operations, multidisciplinary care, and integrating complex cases with palliative care.

• Fellowship Nuances: The distinct differences in training and practice between Surgical Oncology and HPB fellowships.

• Advice for Trainees: Why you shouldn't stress about specializing too early, and the critical importance of finding a residency that builds a foundation as a strong general surgeon first.

• A Week in the Life: Managing a schedule dynamically split between the OR, clinic, and dedicated research time.

• Work-Life Balance & Dispelling Myths: Breaking down the misconception that surgical oncologists must have an intensely rigid personality, and how to maintain healthy boundaries while coordinating complex care across multiple specialties.

Guest Bio:Dr. Josh Cohen completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester and medical school at UMass. After completing his general surgery residency at Brown University, he pursued a fellowship at Sloan Kettering before returning to join the Brown surgical faculty.

In this episode of the Brown Surgery Podcast, host Ryan Desrochers and co-host Ken Lynch sit down with a panel of medical students to discuss the realities of the third-year surgery clerkship experience at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. The panel, featuring Lauren McNeil (MD '27), Timmy Jeng (MD '27), and Elleen Kim (MD '27), share their diverse perspectives on transitioning into the surgical environment.

The conversation dives into the structure of a typical day—from morning rounds to navigating the operating room (OR)—and offers practical advice on balancing clinical duties with shelf exam preparation. Whether you are a rising MS3 or just curious about life in the OR, this episode provides a grounded look at the challenges and rewards of surgical education.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Daily Grind: A breakdown of the early morning start times, rounding with the team, and managing floor tasks vs. OR time.

• Site-Specific Advice: Insights into rotating at different locations, including Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and ACS (Acute Care Surgery).

• Resource Recommendations: The panel’s favorite tools for success, including UWorld, Anki, OnlineMedEd, and surgical videos (JOMI).

• OR Etiquette: How to introduce yourself to the scrub techs and residents, manage sterility, and stay engaged as a "team sport" player.

• Wellness & Expectations: Debunking myths about "mean" surgeons and sharing tips for meal prepping and maintaining mental health during long weeks.

Welcome back to the Brown Surgery Podcast. In this episode, we catch up with Dr. Laura Scrimgeour, a familiar voice to our longtime listeners. Since her last appearance as a chief resident in 2021, Dr. Scrimgeour has completed an extensive journey through cardiothoracic training and now returns to Brown as an attending surgeon.

Together, we dive deep into what it takes to thrive in the field of Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery in 2026. Whether you are a medical student weighing your residency options or a general surgery resident considering a fellowship, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the specialty.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Path to CT Surgery: Deciding between traditional and integrated training pathways and the value of a strong academic foundation.

• The Role of Research: Why "checking the box" isn't enough, and how research years build critical mentorship and data-analysis skills.

• Fellowship Selection: What to look for in a program, from operative volume and case diversity to the importance of autonomy and mentorship.

• The Future of the Field: The current state of robotics in cardiac surgery and the rising importance of advanced fellowships in areas like TAVR and aortic surgery.

• Breaking Misconceptions: A candid look at the life of a modern CT surgeon, the growing diversity in the OR, and how team-based structures are improving work-life balance.

• Life Outside the Hospital: How Dr. Scrimgeour balances a demanding surgical schedule with her passion for the outdoors and skiing.

Instagram: @dr.laura.scrimgeour

X: @LScrimgeourMD

In this episode of the Brown General Surgery Podcast, PGY-4 resident Evan Mitchell sits down with two Brown Surgery faculty—one of our senior Trauma surgeons, Dr. Andrew Stephen, MD and one of our newest Trauma faculty Dr. Holden Spivak, MD (fresh off fellowships in Trauma/Critical Care at Shock Trauma and MIS at Stony Brook)—to explore the evolving role of robotics in trauma and acute care surgery.

Key topics include:

• Why robotic surgery remains rare in acute trauma (hemodynamic instability, docking delays, and the risks of insufflation in unstable patients)
• Real-world exceptions: robotic splenectomy videos, liver laceration repairs, and selective use in stable obese patients with bowel injuries
• The nationwide decline in operative trauma since 1990 and the rebranding from “trauma surgeon” to “acute care surgeon”
• How emergency general surgery and elective MIS cases now sustain operative volume
• Training pathways: Is residency robotic experience now enough to skip a second fellowship year? Should future acute care surgeons pair a 1-year SCC fellowship with a dedicated MIS year?
• Will the classic 2-year AAST/ACS fellowship curriculum need to pivot toward more robotics and less ortho/neuro month-rotations?
• Job market realities: Being robotic-ready is nice, but sound decision-making (“when to operate and how”) remains the most valuable skill
• Why open surgery will never become obsolete in a field driven by source control and hemorrhage control
• Advice for trainees: seek broad exposure, lean on mentors, prioritize supportive groups, and don’t fear creative (even non-traditional) training routes

Whether you’re a med student eyeing surgical critical care, a resident deciding on fellowships, or a program director shaping tomorrow’s curriculum, this candid conversation offers an honest look at where the field stands today—and where it’s headed tomorrow.

Tune in for practical insights from surgeons who are living the transition.

In this episode of the Brown Surgery Podcast, host Dr. Evan Mitchell, MD interviews Dr. Rebecca Gologorsky, MD, one of our colorectal surgeons at Brown Surgery. The conversation dives into Dr. Gologorsky’s journey to colorectal surgery, sharing how mentorship and the variety of colorectal procedures—from open to robotic—drew her to the field. Dr. Gologorsky offers practical advice for residents and medical students applying to competitive colorectal fellowships, highlighting the value of research and personal connections. She also touches on emerging tech like single-port surgery and clarifies the colorectal surgeon lifestyle, which can vary from manageable to intense. The episode is perfect for aspiring surgeons curious about the specialty.

If anyone has comments on this episode or suggestions for topics please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

Today we are going to dive into what it is like to be a Preliminary General Surgery Resident here at Brown. With match day right around the corner, Drs. ⁠⁠⁠Beltre⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Filtz⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Mitchell⁠⁠⁠ sit down with Drs. Audrea Bose, Liam Watkinson, and Brooke Vogel to discuss what their experience at Brown has been like and offer some advice for those of you searching for a preliminary general surgery position.

Pulmonary emboli in Trauma patients is, unfortunately, an established and not uncommon complication we must deal with. Today, we welcome one of our own Trauma Surgeons, Dr Brent Emigh, MD to the Podcast to discuss VTE occurance and prophylaxis in Trauma patients.

Article with more information on PE in Trauma patients is HERE

Article mentioned on IVC filters can be accessed HERE

If anyone has comments on this episode or suggestions for topics please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

Today are going to dive into Pediatric Surgery. Drs ⁠⁠Beltre⁠⁠, ⁠Filtz⁠, and ⁠⁠Mitchell⁠⁠ sit down with Dr Samantha Ahle to discuss why she choose general surgery and a career in pediatric surgery, some of the factors that go into choosing a pediatric fellowship, address some of the considerations with becoming a pediatric surgeon and, of course, touch on the often discussed work-life balance.

Dr Ahle attended George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC for medical school. She did her residency training and completed a Masters in Med Ed at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. She then went on to do a

If anyone would like to reach out to Dr Ahle about anything she discussed today or to talk more about pediatric surgery or surgical education, you can reach her at [email protected]

If anyone has ideas for topics to be covered in future episodes, please feel free to email me at [email protected]

General surgery residency can be a stressful time, especially during intern year. Four our our general surgery residents sit down to discuss their experience and offer up tips on surviving and thriving during your intern year. Shout out to Drs Beltre, Case, Mitchell, and Saymuah for grabbing the mic and continuing our local podcast for students, residents and anyone else interested in surgery. Please look forward to many more episodes to come. If anyone has ideas for topics to be covered, please email me at [email protected]

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Brown Surgery Podcast. Today we welcome Drs Daryl Appleton, Katie MacCallum and Charles Baldi for a panel discussion on healthy surgical compartmentalization of care that we all experience in our discipline. 

This was part of a grand rounds session we had in our department the week of January 15th, 2024. It is one of the more important discussions we have had as a department and I think you all will appreciate it.