DiepCJourney Podcast

In this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast I interview April Johnson Stearns. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Wildfire Magazine & Writing Community. April has an extensive background in writing and landed her first memoir-based magazine cover story at 16.

She worked for her college newspaper and then the local newspaper in Santa Cruz, The Sentinel, following graduation. During the tech boom of the early 2000s April worked “over the hill” from Santa Cruz in Silicon Valley.

However, in 2012, in the midst of this career, April was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at age 35. Four years later, while struggling to “go back to normal” and find others in similar circumstances, April launched WILDFIRE Magazine & Writing Community as a way for younger people to tell and read breast cancer stories.

Since 2016, April has guided hundreds of writers through the Wildfire writing workshops and published more than forty-five issues of Wildfire Magazine.

April shares the passion behind the magazine and her work with the young breast cancer community inspiring them to share their stories. She hosts her own podcast The Burn where she interviews writers in the Wildfire community.

Connect with April and the Wildfire Community:

Wildfirecommunity.org

Facebook: facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Instagram & Threads: @wildfire_bc_magazine

Twitter: @real_wildfire

Email: [email protected]

Are you aware of the value of the two-surgeon model in reconstructive microsurgery? Have you heard about the benefits to patients of ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol? I spoke with two board-certified plastic reconstructive surgeons who practice at Tucson Plastic Surgery to answer these questions and others on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

My guests are Dr. Siliva Kurtovic and Dr. Raman Mahabir. They met at the Duke Flap Course, a well-known yearly gathering of microsurgical specialists from around the world who present the latest techniques in flap surgeries. Their combined training in breast reconstruction microsurgery and aesthetic plastic surgery offers their patients affected by breast cancer skilled and compassionate care.

We shared personal stories, our combined interested in the shared decision-making model in breast reconstruction, and how surgeons and patient advocates can work together to educate patients on all options and aspects of the breast reconstruction decision making process. Dr. Kurtovic gives us her personal approach to caring for patients before and after surgery in a holistic manner to enhance emotional and physical recovery from DIEP flap surgery.

This dynamic team in Tucson, Arizona, who started as surgical colleagues at Duke University, share their personal story from the start to their present-day life. Not only are they changing the lives of breast cancer patients in their region, but you will hear about the beautiful family life they have created in this desert landscape I called home at the time of my second diagnosis. Although they were not in Tucson at the time of my second diagnosis, I am happy for those patients who are there now for this access to care with Dr Kurtovic and Dr. Mahabir.

Be sure to watch our interview on the

DiepCFoundation Educational Channel

Connect with Dr. Mahabir and Dr. Kurtovic:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonPlasticSurgery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tucsonplasticsurgery/

LinkedIn:

Dr. Kurtovic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-kurtovic-md-b0491532/

Dr. Mahabir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcmahabir/

When you think about breast reconstruction do you only think about breast implants? If so, it is because many people are still choosing this option for reconstructing their breast after mastectomy. However, there are options. Using your own tissue is an option and the tissue, along with a blood source, can come from various parts of the body. Fat grafting to shape and form the breast is also an option many ask about but not all know about. This is our topic on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

My guest, Dr. Eric Wimmers, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in Hopewell, New Jersey at the Plastic Surgery Center. He is part of the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction (IFAR) network of surgeons across the U.S.

Dr. Wimmers has unique training in microsurgery and immunology. Although he operates on the entire body, his special interests are breast reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, and peripheral nerve repair.

His pathway to his current practice as a microsurgeon developed over time. Dr. Wimmers shares his personal journey with us from beginning as an emergency room physician to a surgeon. Once he had exposure to the scope of plastic surgery, restoring form and function to the human body affected by trauma and disease he never looked back.

Dr. Wimmers shares the value of his surgical practice being part of the IFAR network. He points out that they are grouping up with other like-minded microsurgeons across the U.S. to tackle problems and issues patients face when they have been told there is no hope or fix. Combined resources and talent within the IFAR network are providing greater access to care for patients.

We continue our discussion with an explanation of the types of breast reconstruction available. Dr. Wimmers utilizes the tummy tissue most often to perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction. However, he points out not all patients have the excess tissue in their own body in the right places to do autologous reconstruction, meaning using the patients own tissue. He does get inquiries about fat grafting only.

Patients are interested in it for a variety of reasons. It might be that they have already had a tummy tuck. It may be that their fat distribution is in other places other than the abdomen. Most of his patients requesting fat grafting only tend to be on the smaller side and prefer a smaller size breast. He explains the fat grafting only procedure in detail in our interview. Dr. Wimmers tells us fat grafting only is a series of procedures done over time. Fat grafting is a very technique driven procedure.

Be sure to watch our interview on the DiepCFoundation Educational Channel

Connect with Dr. Eric Wimmers:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrEricWimmers/

Connect with The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedReconstruction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedreconstruction/

X/Twitter: https://x.com/AdvancedReconNJ

Breast sensation, “sensibility,” is a topic I personally cannot talk enough about. Breast cancer patients want to be protected from burns. They want to feel the hugs from their children, grandchildren, partners, friends, and family. Sensibility refers to awareness, emotional response, and feeling so it makes perfect sense to use this word in our conversation on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

To be honest, the feeling of numbness that many feel after a mastectomy just feels odd. I speak from experience, and I listen to other survivors who tell me this. It felt odd for me, but I was fortunate to have nerve reconstruction at the time of my DIEP flap and now have sensate breasts, thankfully. I feel that my breasts are part of my body.

I feel so fortunate today to be speaking to a world leader in breast sensation/sensibility. You will learn so much from her in our discussion. I first met her at the London Breast Meeting in September of 2023. This is one of the leading breast meetings in the world. Her talk absolutely mesmerized me.

I saw her again in January of this year, 2024, at the microsurgery meeting and we said, this podcast needs to happen.

She is approachable, warm, and accessible.

Dr. Stefania Tuinder performs complex microsurgical breast reconstruction at the Maastricht hospital in the Netherlands.

Dr. Tuinder has published multiple papers on this topic.

I was inspired by a mutual friend, Mr. Vimal Gokani, who mentioned Dr. Tuinder and her work with sensibility and neurotized breasts on his podcast, PRS Global Open, DEEP cuts.

Sensation and sensibility are something women talk about and deal with after autologous breast reconstruction. I’m fascinated with neuroplasticity and how are brains can adjust to these new sensations.

Links to papers published by Dr. Tuinder:

What does a breast feel like? A qualitative study among healthy women

Sensory recovery and the role of innervated flaps in autologous breast reconstruction—a narrative review

Somatotopic mapping of the human breast using 7 T functional MRI

Connect with Dr. Tuinder:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefania-tuinder-0440176b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefania_tuinder/

This edition of the DiepCJourney podcast highlights a recently published paper in JPRAS, an International Journal of Surgical Reconstruction. The title of the paper is:

Flap neurotization improves sensation outcomes in abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To our listeners, who may be patients, surgeons, or medical professionals we are going to explore the elements and details of this research paper and how it can be of benefit to you.

I am pleased to have two returning guests who have collaborated across continents from Australia to the U.S. sharing their combined microsurgical skills to improve patient outcomes in sensate breasts. Dr. Joe Dusseldorp is an author of the paper and an internationally trained microsurgeon who practices in Sydney, Australia. He works alongside oncologists to perform innovative treatments for breast reconstruction, which includes DIEP flap. He is a TEDx speaker, a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Faculty of Medicine at University of Sydney, and affiliated with the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

My second guest, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, is the current president of PRMA, Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates, in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. C is a board-certified plastic surgeon, breast reconstruction surgeon and microsurgeon who like Dr. Joe, performs autologous based breast reconstruction.

Raised and educated in London, England he has earned and received many academic achievements throughout his career. He continued his microsurgical training after moving to the U.S. and has authored and co-authored several book chapters and scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is the developer of the award-winning free Breast Advocate® app that provides anyone with breast cancer a much-needed voice in their breast cancer surgery decision making.

Connect with Dr. Joe Dusseldorp:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joedusseldorp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoedusseldorp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.dusseldorp

X: https://x.com/drjoedusseldorp

Links to find the work of Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrysopoulo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchrysopoulo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChrysopoulo

X: https://x.com/drchrysopoulo

In this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast I am joined by another podcaster. What I am most excited about is that he is one of our international guests this year.

We have known each other for some time. Not trying to age either one of us but I have enjoyed knowing him, having robust conversations, and learning so much about the world of plastic surgery and microsurgery from him. We will talk about these topics in the podcast in a cross-continental discussion with my guest Mr. Vimal Gokani.

Notice I said, “Mister.” That is because he is a well-respected microsurgeon in the UK and rather than Dr. as we refer to physicians in the U.S. they are bestowed the honor and title “Mr..”

Mr. Gokani is a consultant plastic reconstructive surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust with expertise in:

• ·       Lymphoedema surgery
• ·       Skin cancer surgery
• ·       reconstructive surgery following breast cancer and other types of cancer.
• ·       body contouring following weight loss.
• ·       abdominal wall reconstruction and…
• ·       aesthetic surgery of the breast, body, and face.

We are going to find out in this interview how he became interested in plastic surgery, and we will discuss some of my preferred topics to talk about:

• ·       Diep Flap
• ·       Lymphedema treatment service and surgery
• ·       Neurotized breast… restoring sensation to the breast.
• ·       And robotics surgery… where are we and what does the future look like in robotics.

Please be sure to go to Spotify and check out his podcast: PRS GLOBAL OPEP DEEP CUTS where he interviews notable colleagues in his field.

Mr. Gokani Social Media Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vimal-gokani-251b3336/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vimal.gokani/

Consider a young person who has been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Add to the mix they are facing a mastectomy and exploring options for breast reconstruction. Let’s say they are someone who has grown up in the world of social media. The question arises, where do they connect and get their credible information? Breast reconstruction is a complex decisional process. Do they use a platform like TikTok based in thirty second increments or a more community-based platform like Meta/Facebook where patients can engage in more of a discussion about what they are facing after a horrible diagnosis? What are other platforms being utilized?

It is our topic of discussion on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast with my guest, Dr. Andrew Gassman, a board-certified microsurgeon who sees this population of women in his practice each day. He collaborates with a team of microsurgical specialists at PRMA in San Antonio, Texas. Their primary practice focuses on those affected by breast cancer, are facing mastectomy, and are exploring options for breast reconstruction. PRMA practices the co-surgeon model where each patient has two skilled microsurgeons in the OR for their autologous breast reconstruction surgery.

We ask our listeners to share the platform they use to find credible information on social media when newly diagnosed and considering breast reconstruction. Please share your comments after listening to the podcast. We do not feel that one platform or channel is more important than another. It is our aim to share our thoughts, but we want to hear from you. We honor your choice in social media selection.

Another way of sharing your thoughts with us is by reaching out on either one of our social media accounts.

Dr. Gassman Social Media Accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.andrewgassman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gassman_ps/

Terri Coutee Social Media for DiepCFoundation:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diepCfoundation.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diepcfoundation/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/6state

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terricoutee/

Access to medical care for those affected by breast cancer is crucial, and often life transformative. This personal story will give emphasis to the voice of an advocate, a woman of strength, and determined to find the best care available for her during her personal journey from diagnosis to recovery from reconstructive surgery.

My guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast is Dana Brown, a 54-year-old wife, mother, and educator. She has been married to her best friend and soulmate for 35 years. She was intent on finding a well-qualified microsurgeon to perform her DIEP flap breast reconstruction after enduring multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.

It turned out to be a formidable task but one she tackled head on. After researching other practices around the country, she was able to find one in her state. She found Dr. Kasia Kania to perform her breast reconstruction. Dana's voice waivers when she tells us the words Dr. Kania spoke to her at their initial consult, "I can fix that." 

Together, they wrote appeals to state insurance to obtain the best possible care for Donna. 

She is now in recovery from her successful DIEP flap with Dr. Kania. The lesson to be learned is one of perseverance and stopping at nothing until one finds the best surgeon to perform what is for many a life-changing surgery after loss of breasts due to breast cancer.

Dana’s story is not unique. There are many who must fight to gain access to care. It can be emotionally and physically exhausting but with Dana’s determination and the combined efforts and support of her family and surgeon, she made it happen. The listener will draw many lessons and tips from my guest. It was a touching interview and I value the honest account of Dana’s experience helping others.

Dana’s social media account:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdanajo/

Dr. Kasia Kania’s social media accounts and information:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkasiakania/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorplasticsurgery/

LinkedIn: Kasia Kania, MD, MPH

Facebook: Taylor Plastic Surgery

This is a special episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. It is one of the most touching interviews I have done to date. Originally recorded during the pandemic as a video, I searched through my audio archives hoping I might find it to repurpose the interview. Thankfully, you can now listen to the interview as a podcast. I added a special tribute at the beginning of the podcast to honor my own Father and share the intrinsic value and meaning of the necklace I wear.

Next, I honor the mentor, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, who changed the trajectory of my work in 2016 encouraging me to open DiepCFoundation. The interview is a tribute to his own dad, the inspiration and story of why he chose microsurgery as his profession. Dr. C weaves in the history of microsurgery, riveted by the stories of soldiers during WWI and WWII that he watched on the “telly” with his dad during his childhood. You must listen to his account of Howard Gillies, the pioneering surgeon who treated facial injuries and pioneered the use of skin flaps in plastic surgery.

The pauses in his voice, the reflection in his words, parallel the ethos of my dad. These conversations in life are important to reflect upon and what brought us to choose our purpose in life. Mentors are leaders. They guide us, teach us, and counsel us. This quote from Steven Spielberg summarizes it beautifully. Thank you for being that mentor in my life Dr. C, and I feel it reflects the feeling we both have for our dads and one I am certain your children feel about you.

"The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves." ~ Steven Spielberg

More on the history of microsurgery:

Flap Monitoring in Breast Reconstruction and the History of the Guinea Pig Club in Plastic Surgery

Dr. Chrysopoulo social media accounts:

Instagram: https://www.istagram.com/mchrysopoulo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChrysopoulo

LinkedIn: Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS

Twitter: @drchrysopoulo

Dr. C’s FREE breast cancer health app: Breast Advocate®

Imagine a world where a specialist surgeon on one continent could be virtually transported into any operating room of another surgeon specialist, anywhere in the world, to collaborate with one another visually and practically. That is now a reality with the Proximie system, an augmented reality telehealth platform and innovation in education and global surgery.

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram if the Founder of Proximie. She shares the story of her childhood and the events that made a lasting imprint on her memory growing up in Lebanon. She learned a lot about community, people coming together and sharing and supporting each other.

Seeing the resulting injuries of war and the effects it had on friends who experienced injuries led her to understand the importance and role of doctors. Her family had a profound influence on her trajectory into medicine, innovation and narrowing the gap in access to care. This became of great interest to Nadine as her own career in plastic surgery progressed.

We discuss the collection of knowledge in the library database of the Proximie system and the ongoing value it has in surgical education and learning. I mention to Nadine the honor I had speaking to Dr. Joe Dusseldorp and Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo about their Proximie experience during a DIEP flap procedure. It was seamless connectivity for these two surgeons and delightful to share their experience using Proximie across continents.

At the heart of this it is patients for access and quality of care. Nadine has accomplished this by reimagining the future of healthcare through the Proximie system. Our thoughts conclude the podcast sharing the importance of leaving a legacy of your work and what inspired me to invite Nadine to be interviewed on the DiepCJourney podcast. I am grateful!

Learn more about Nadine’s work and the topics I reference in the podcast:

Nadine’s Ted Talk: Digitization in Healthcare Delivery

LinkedIn: Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram FRCS (Plast), BEM

Instagram: drnadz_j

Instagram: Proximie

Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System with Dr. Joe Dusseldorp and Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS