Abhishek and Corey take on robotic surgery from the surgeon’s side: what the technology actually does, why patients often misunderstand it, and where it delivers the most value. They trace its unusual origins, question “center of excellence” marketing, and debate whether better ergonomics and precision justify the cost. Finally, they look ahead to imaging-guided surgery, autonomous robots, and whether a household robot is comforting—or terrifying.

Chapters

• 00:05 — Cold open: EV guilt and plastic bags
• 03:48 — Why talk about robotic surgery?
• 04:34 — Are “centers of excellence” meaningful?
• 05:39 — What robotic surgery actually is
• 06:12 — The history of surgical robotics
• 09:02 — Adoption across surgical specialties
• 10:44 — The real value question: usefulness versus cost
• 13:38 — Choosing the right tool for the job
• 15:47 — What does “game changer” actually mean?
• 18:04 — Why hernia repair may be robotics’ best fit
• 21:01 — Should any robotic procedures be off-limits?
• 22:12 — Robotics and surgical education
• 26:16 — The economics of buying and upgrading robots
• 27:54 — The next frontier: information, not just dexterity
• 30:01 — Rapid fire: AI, autonomous surgery, and the future
• 33:25 — If you needed a hernia repair, would you choose robotic?
• 34:28 — Would you trust a robot at home?

Key takeaway

·         Robotic surgery is neither a cure-all nor a gimmick. It can make certain operations more manageable and expand what surgeons can do comfortably, but its value still depends on cost, training, access, and whether the technology improves decisions—not just mechanics.

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Corey Campbell dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of hernia surgery: mesh. They break down what a hernia actually is, why mesh is usually used, why complications often get blamed on the wrong thing, and how minimally invasive technique changes the risk profile. They also branch into sports hernias, biologic mesh, mesh allergy, and the broader problem of medical myths sticking harder than the facts. Mesh is not as bad as mosquitos. 

Key topics 

• In this episode, Dr. Parmar explains hernias as holes in the abdominal wall and why the tissue is never as strong as it was before the defect formed. 

• Mesh is described as an intentional foreign body that triggers scar tissue, which is the mechanism that helps close and reinforce the defect. 

• The hosts argue that most mesh-related problems are more often tied to technique and patient optimization than to the mesh itself. 

• Dr. Parmar makes the case that chronic pain is a major issue in groin hernia repair, and that suturing can increase nerve injury risk. 

• They compare tissue repair versus minimally invasive mesh repair and discuss why MIS can reduce nerve exposure. 

• The conversation pushes back on the public fear of mesh, noting that bad outcomes are memorable while successful repairs are forgotten. 

• Sports hernia is discussed as a misnomer, often better understood as athletic pubalgia or groin pain in athletes without a true fascial defect. 

• The episode closes by debating biologic vs. bioabsorbable vs. synthetic meshes, highlighting how mesh design has improved over time, especially with macroporous and coated materials, while emphasizing that placement and technique still matter most. 

Timestamps 

00:00 - Opening banter and guest-style disclaimer jokes 
01:50 - Who the hosts would invite as a dream medical guest 
03:41 - Why expertise should stay in its lane 
06:49 - Today’s topic: hernias and mesh 
10:37 - What a hernia is and why mesh is used 
11:24 - Why the body reacts to mesh on purpose 
12:19 - Why patients compare hernia repair to patching clothing 
13:44 - Why groin hernia pain is often the real issue 
15:44 - Why chronic pain is usually about nerves and technique 
17:52 - The problem with vilifying mesh as the default villain 
20:21 - Why mesh got a bad reputation over time 
22:55 - Negativity bias and why bad outcomes dominate memory 
25:06 - Sports hernia: what it is and what it is not 
27:14 - Athletic pubalgia, imaging, and physical therapy first 
28:41 - Why some surgeons consider adductor release 
31:31 - The sham surgery study and why outcomes can be deceptive 
33:32 - What happens if mesh disappeared tomorrow 
34:15 - How hernia culture would change without mesh options 
39:53 - Rapid-fire opinions on synthetic vs biologic mesh 
45:28 - The most important mesh innovation in the last 20 years 
46:34 - Coated mesh and why placement matters 
48:13 - Robots, mesh placement, and future hernia repair topics 
49:25 - Irish goodbye and the end of the episode 

Connect with the Hosts: 

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn 

• Douglas Corey Campbell - X 

In this episode, Abhishek and Corey welcome their longtime friend and former medical school classmate, Dr. Lindsay Frederick, an OB-GYN whose career has taken her from private practice in rural Alabama back into academic medicine.  The conversation quickly turns into a funny, personal, and career-focused chat about how she found her way into obstetrics and gynecology. The episode covers her path from chemical engineering to medicine, why she chose a hands-on specialty, and what she loves about delivering babies, surgery, and long term patient relationships.

Connect with our Guest:

Sara Frederick

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Corey Campbell keep things loose in this episode as they move from podcast housekeeping to a spirited conversation about college football. They dig into why the sport is so entertaining, how NIL has changed the landscape, and why the chaos around rankings, transfers, and conference realignment keeps fans hooked. Abhishek learns it N-I-L and not “nil.”

·       In this episode, Dr. Parmar and Dr. Campbell make the case that college football is uniquely entertaining because it is easy to follow, has fewer games than baseball, and creates higher emotional stakes with fewer data points.

·       Dr. Campbell argues that the sport works because it is a drama machine - full of heroes, villains, and college kids making high-pressure mistakes on a national stage.

·       They discuss how college football functions as a transitional space where young athletes are thrust into adulthood, pressure, and public scrutiny before they are ready.

·       The conversation contrasts college football with the NFL, where the talent level is higher but the outcomes can feel more predictable.

·       They move into NIL, explaining the basic idea that athletes should be able to profit from their name and likeness, while also noting that the system currently feels chaotic and underregulated.

·       They debate possible fixes for the current system, including standardized contracts, transfer rules, and whether a salary cap would make the sport more fair or just entrench the blue bloods.

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

Drs. Corey Campbell and Abhishek Parmar talk about leadership in surgery through the lens of operating room culture, training, and decision-making under pressure. They unpack how surgical leadership differs from management, why clear expectations matter, and how calm, safety-focused communication can shape better outcomes for teams and patients. In this episode, Corey and Abhishek also break down what makes a good OR leader, compare leadership styles, and use real-world examples from aviation, sports, and surgery to show how leaders perform when things go wrong.

Key topics

• We discuss why surgeons are often leaders by default when they enter the operating room, even if they do not think of themselves that way.
• Corey draws a distinction between leadership and management, arguing that leadership is vision and direction, while management is the technical work of getting people and systems aligned.
• The conversation explores how toxic teaching can still produce technical skill, but often at the cost of trust, morale, and team performance.
• Corey describes how better surgical management means setting clear expectations for residents, med students, nurses, and anesthesiology teams before the case starts.
• Abhishek shares how his approach has shifted toward creating a culture of safety, calm, and predictability so everyone in the room feels comfortable contributing.
• They use Captain Tammy Joe Schultz and the Southwest Airlines emergency as an example of calm leadership under extreme pressure.
• They discuss whether yelling in the OR is ever appropriate, settling on the idea that context matters, but personal attacks and humiliation are destructive.

Timestamps

00:00 - Cold open
03:01 - Why leadership in surgery is worth talking about
04:09 - Does being a surgeon make you a better leader or a worse one?
05:05 - The “dark side” model of surgical training and anger as fuel
06:53 - Why leadership and management are not the same thing
07:22 - What real management looks like in surgery
09:30 - Abhishek’s early leadership style and why residents said they wanted him “less like Parmar”
11:30 - CEO versus COO: vision versus operations
13:14 - How teams align around a shared vision for a successful operation
14:45 - Examples of excellent OR leadership
15:05 - Building a culture of safety in an intimidating environment
16:37 - Type A versus type B leadership styles in surgery
18:28 - The tradeoffs of being highly meticulous versus relationally trusted
21:06 - Adam Galinsky’s Inspire and the psychology of leadership
22:02 - The Southwest flight emergency and Tammy Joe Schultz’s calm under pressure
23:58 - Visionary, exemplary, mentor: what strong leaders actually do
26:36 - The Costa Concordia captain as the opposite of leadership
29:52 - How surgical leadership changes when things stop going according to plan
31:25 - Why surgery tests leadership more often than routine pilot work
33:00 - Why the pilot analogy breaks down for surgeons
34:49 - Is authoritarian leadership ever appropriate in surgery?
35:05 - Is yelling in the OR ever okay?
37:08 - Parenting, pilots, and why calm communication matters in vulnerable moments
39:49 - When stress, stakes, and incompetence trigger emotion in the OR
41:21 - Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, and what actually makes a great coach or leader
45:07 - Rapid fire: are leaders born or made?
52:48 - Closing jokes and sign-off

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

This episode of Dueling Scalpels features Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Corey Campbell digging into what AI actually changes in medicine. They focus on where it helps, where it creates risk, and why context, expertise, and accountability still matter. TL:DR: “AI makes you more capable, but it makes you dumber as well.”

In this episode:

• Dr. Parmar and Dr Campbell discuss whether AI makes clinicians more capable or simply more dependent on fast answers.
• They break down AI use in diagnostics, therapeutics, research, and documentation.
• Dr. Campbell argues that AI can improve efficiency but may weaken learning, especially for trainees.
• Dr. Parmar shares how he already uses AI for clinical documentation and why he sees it as a time saver.
• The two debate whether AI-generated notes, reports, and recommendations create medico-legal risk.
• They explore which specialties are most exposed to automation, especially radiology and pathology
• They also look at AI-assisted video review in surgery and whether it could help improve performance.
• The conversation widens into concerns about AI flooding medical research with polished but low-value output.

Timestamps

(00:00) Opening banter and setting up the episode
(01:04) The Odyssey, Greek mythology, and why updates still matter
(04:28) Why they wanted to talk about AI in medicine
(06:19) Data centers, energy use, and local community costs
(10:24) Does AI threaten humanity, or just make people dumber?
(11:00) AI, Google, and why easy answers may not stick
(12:25) Where AI fits best: diagnostics, therapeutics, and research
(13:28) Experience versus machine learning in surgical judgment
(15:27) The difference between remembering a task and knowing why to do it
(18:24) Using AI for clinical documentation in real practice
(20:05) Why medical documentation exists in the first place
(21:30) AI-generated police reports and medico-legal concerns
(23:02) Final responsibility when AI helps write the note
(24:48) Why context and expertise still matter more than raw information
(26:11) AI as the internet’s most polished and most unreliable extension
(28:21) Which specialties are most at risk from AI
(29:50) Self-driving cars and the same accountability problem
(31:51) Using AI and video review to score robotic surgery
(37:23) Whether AI should be used as a residency gatekeeper
(41:37) Rapid fire on AI in medicine, training, and research
(44:05) Why good surgeons stay introspective and keep learning
(46:21) The disruption from laparoscopic and endovascular transitions
(48:03) AI and the risk of flooding research with junk output
(51:35) Medical research, truth, and why AI makes that harder
(52:46) Closing thoughts

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

In this episode, hosts Corey and Abhishek dig into the societal challenges facing men and boys in the 21st century. They cover biological development differences, education gaps, cultural expectations, and the impact of technology on social bonds—highlighting what societal structures could do to support healthier male identities.

Key topics:

• The impact of neurodevelopmental differences between boys and girls, including delayed impulse control in boys and implications for education.
• The rise of gender disparities in academic performance, especially in the US, with statistics on dropout rates, college enrollment, and postgraduate achievement among Black women versus Black men.
• The influence of societal expectations and gender roles, including men's diminished sense of purpose as traditional roles evolve.
• The decline of male friendships and social interactions, partly due to technology and social media reducing meaningful in-person contact.
• The concept of positive peer pressure and expectations as drivers for self-improvement among men.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing the episode and the provocative topic of men’s societal struggles
02:00 - Debunking myths about male and female development differences
05:00 - The impact of societal changes on boys’ education and maturation
08:00 - How gender gaps in school performance and expectations are shifting
11:00 - Developmental differences in impulse control and maturity in boys versus girls
14:00 - The influence of social expectations and opportunities on success
17:00 - The rise of women in higher education and the changing landscape for Black men and women
21:00 - The decline of male friendships and its societal implications
27:00 - How technology shifts have reduced human interaction and community building
34:00 - The cultural perception of masculinity and the loss of purpose among men
38:00 - Strategies and ideas for supporting boys and men in a changing world
44:00 - Rapid-fire questions about stereotypes and societal expectations

Resources & Links:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Richard Reeves - Buy on your local bookstore or online
• The Center on American Life - Men Friendship Survey
• Finnish Education System
• George Gilder on Gender Roles and Society
• The Stakes of Modern Masculinity - Book or article reference

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

Join hosts Dr. Abhishek Barmar and Dr. Corey Douglas Campbell as they continue their discussion with Dr. Jinnie Kim Page, a distinguished board-certified plastic surgeon, for a candid discussion on gender dynamics, surgical artistry, medical training, and the evolving landscape of medicine. This episode offers an illuminating look into the personal and professional journeys shaping the future of healthcare.

In this episode:

• Dr. Jinnie Kim Page's journey from neuroscience to plastic surgery
• The intersection of art, engineering, and medicine in plastic surgery
• The emotional impact of reconstructive vs. cosmetic procedures
• How generational differences influence medical culture and training
• The challenges of surgical training, including handedness, confidence, and resilience
• The future of general surgery and specialization trends
• The impact of AI, social media, and patient feedback on medical practice
• Perspectives on work-life balance, gender, and career choice in medicine
• Discussions on medical ethics, professionalism, and innovation in the digital age

Timestamps:

• 0:06

 — Welcome and the question of talent versus resilience

• 2:10

 — Can surgical skill and confidence be taught?

• 7:18

 — Late bloomers, adversity, and training great surgeons

• 12:00

 — How younger generations may reshape surgical training

• 19:42

 — Is traditional general surgery disappearing?

• 24:03

 — Women in surgery, career flexibility, and work-life balance

• 28:38

 — Rapid-fire: overrated instruments and operating-room preferences

• 30:44

 — Music in the operating room

• 35:15

 — Procedures they’d happily never do again—and advice for residents

• 36:53

 — Plastic surgery myths, liposuction, and the future of the specialty

• 41:46

 — If they weren’t surgeons: alternate careers and closing thoughts

Resources & Links:

• Spruce AI
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Brian Johnson's Muscle Intelligence
• Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight Podcast
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Connect with Dr. Eugenia Kim Page:

• Instagram

Connect with the Hosts:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X

Join us as we dive into an engaging chat with Dr. Jinnie Kim Page, a board-certified plastic surgeon with a wealth of experience in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. We explore her journey from medical school to complex surgeries, her thoughts on surgical artistry, and the evolving landscape of medicine.

In this episode:

• Dr. Page shares her inspiring story of discovering anatomy and falling in love with surgery during med school
• Insights into the artistry of plastic surgery and its visibility to patients
• How patient expectations are managed through communication and shared goals
• The debate over surgical tools and techniques, including microvascular procedures
• The impact of generational differences on training, communication, and professionalism
• The future of medical practice in a changing healthcare landscape

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Jinnie Kim Page and her journey into plastic surgery
02:16 - Transition from neuroscience to anatomy and surgery
04:17 - The intersection of engineering, artistry, and medicine
06:51 - The importance of creativity and troubleshooting in reconstructive surgery
08:19 - Managing patient expectations and the art of aesthetic surgery
12:26 - Training, mentorship, and the evolution of surgical skills
15:33 - Holistic view of plastic surgery: reconstructive vs cosmetic
19:20 - Challenges of transparency and patient reviews in the digital age
23:58 - The future of general surgery and specialized fields like ACS
32:24 - The psychological impact of battling cancer as a surgeon and parent

Resources & Links:

• Spruce AI – AI tool for guest selection and conversation ideas
• Atomic Habits by James Clear – For personal development insights
• Brian Johnson's Optimize – Videos on extending lifespan and healthspan

Connect with Dr. Eugenia Kim Page:

• Instagram

Note:

This conversation was a deep dive into the complex, evolving world of surgery, highlighting the importance of artistry, resilience, and continuous learning for future surgeons.

In this episode, Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Douglas Corey Campbell dive into the complex, often flawed world of medical research. They explore how research quality, funding, and systemic pressures shape the scientific landscape, especially in surgery.

Main Topics:

• The true nature and pitfalls of medical research practices
• How funding and institutional pressures distort scientific inquiry
• The realism versus idealism in surgical innovation and research adoption
• The impact of publication culture and journal practices on scientific integrity
• The timeline and challenges for implementing new surgical techniques
• The role of statistical significance and P values in research

Key Insights:

• Most medical research starts with questions driven by ease or pressure, not genuine scientific curiosity.
• Retrospective studies dominate, often lacking experimental rigor and susceptible to bias.
• Meta-analyses may oversimplify and overvalue aggregated, sometimes low-quality data.
• Funding for research is disproportionally expensive, limiting high-quality, prospective studies.
• Industry and career incentives heavily influence research agendas and publication behaviors.
• Adoption of new surgical methods can take 10-20 years despite evidence and technological advancements.

Timestamps:

• 0:05 Opening & Banter
• 4:47 Why Medical Research Breaks Down
• 9:19 Incentives, Funding & Publication Pressure
• 14:49 Why Good Evidence Takes Time
• 20:17 Rapid-Fire Research Hot Takes
• 24:57 Can We Still Trust Medical Science?

Links:

• Phineas Gage Case Study
• Coda Trial: Antibiotics in Appendectomy
• Understanding P Values
• Meta-analyses Explained

Connect with the Guests:

• Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn
• Douglas Corey Campbell - X