In the final episode of the year, Dr. Sharon Stein sits down with Dr. Mel Thacker, an otolaryngologist and master certified coach, to discuss how surgeons can design success on their own terms.

Obligation vs. Creation Energy

Dr. Thacker explores the shift from "obligation energy"—performing tasks out of a sense of "should"—to "creation energy." By approaching surgery and clinic as a creative act, physicians can rediscover presence and joy. This mindset shift transforms work from a heavy burden into a deliberate choice.

The Identity House

A core concept discussed is the Identity House. If your identity consists of only one room—"Surgeon"—and that room burns down due to burnout or injury, you lose everything. Dr. Thacker emphasizes the need to "diversify your identity" by building other rooms for hobbies, family, and creative outlets. This diversification provides the resilience needed to survive demanding professional landscapes.

Goal Setting and Essentialism

Rather than overwhelming New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Thacker recommends Essentialism:

• Pick Three: Identify three essential goals (e.g., a new skill, a leadership role, or better boundaries).
• Reverse Engineer: Determine the exact steps and mindset needed to achieve those results.
• Hold Goals Loosely: Recognize that while a "mountaintop" provides direction, the process and internal motivation are what truly matter.

Moving from Victim to Creator

Many surgeons feel stuck in the "dream" of an older version of themselves or their parents. Dr. Thacker encourages listeners to let those old versions go. By reclaiming their power and setting firm boundaries, surgeons can move from feeling like victims of the system to creators of their own lives.

Resources:

• The Hippocratic Collective
• How to save lives with two minutes of listening, Dr. Mel Thacker on TEDxSouthLakeTahoe

Parting Words: "Design your life however you want it to look, and then make it happen."

Dr. Monique Hassan, a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon and former Army surgeon, joins the podcast to share the philosophy behind her brand, "Surgery with Soul: Rooted in Purpose, Powered by Compassion."

Dr. Hassan details her circuitous path to general surgery, motivated by a dramatic life-saving trauma case that cemented her commitment to becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. She discusses how this led her to bariatrics, a specialty where she sees immediate, profound transformations.

Fighting Stigma and Finding Connection

Dr. Hassan emphasizes that obesity is the only major medical problem carried externally, leading to constant judgment and systemic barriers in healthcare. Patients often take three to five years to seek help. She believes that for success in bariatrics, surgeons must go beyond technical skill and address the social issues that surround a patient's health, offering genuine empathy and support.

Leveraging Social Media for Change

Dr. Hassan uses her professional social media to combat the pervasive misinformation about bariatric surgery. She finds that posts that are supportive, speak from the heart, and validate the patient's struggles ("Obesity is a disease; it's not your fault") resonate most strongly, helping patients feel seen and connected.

The Power of Intentionality

To build a reputation outside a major academic center, Dr. Hassan adopted a "Year of Yes" strategy, saying yes to every speaking opportunity to build a quality portfolio.

Ultimately, Dr. Hassan would like to see more genuine diversity in surgical culture—in terms of race, ethnicity, and background—to ensure the profession reflects and better serves the patients it treats.

Resources:

• ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery): Dr. Hassan is involved in the executive council of this national society.

Orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Lisa Canada joins the podcast to discuss her pioneering work in reforming surgical culture. Dr. Canada, who recently made history at UNC by being the first orthopedic surgeon to win both the Faculty Teaching Award and the UNC Mentorship Award, is a co-founder of Speak Up Ortho.

Speak Up Ortho was born from an overwhelming collection of anonymous stories revealing the pervasive culture of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and retaliation (HBDR) experienced by women in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Canada shares how this organization is fighting to create a workplace where speaking up is not only safe but encouraged, and offers concrete tools for confronting bad behavior at every level of the surgical hierarchy.

Featured

• The Birth of Speak Up Ortho: The pivotal Facebook group post in 2021 that generated over 355 egregious stories of sexism and harassment in under 24 hours. This demonstrated that these problems were happening now, not just in the past, leading to the creation to foster diversity and inclusivity.
• Major Themes of Abuse: Stories revealed a profound sense of hopelessness and helplessness among medical students and residents due to fear of retaliation. Examples ranged from overt sexual harassment to subtle, pervasive bullying.
• The Power of Bystander Intervention: Learn the Five D's of bystander intervention that anyone—from scrub tech to medical student—can use to stop the cycle of abuse:
  • Direct: Step in and speak up.
  • Distract: Change the mood (e.g., "What time is it?" or drop something).
  • Delegate: Find a senior person or authority figure to intervene.
  • Delay: Check in with the person afterward ("I witnessed this. Are you okay?").
  • Document: Offer to put the incident in writing for the victim.
• The Problem of Isolation and Bullying: She discusses how the fear of retaliation leads to a cycle of isolation and bullying—including covert behavior and "death by a thousand cuts"—which ultimately contributes to physician depression and suicide.
• Setting a New Standard: She explains the critical need to change the culture so that it is okay to speak up without fear of being ostracized. The goal is to set an example that bad behavior is not acceptable and to provide alternative forms of teaching to replace bullying as a form of learning.
• How Leaders Should Respond: For those receiving reports of HBDR, She advises leaders to:
  • Investigate Deeply: Go beyond the two individuals to include witnesses and look for patterns (it's rarely a single event).
  • Analyze Data: Review case logs and opportunities to ensure fair treatment.
  • Find a Solution: Focus on restorative action like implicit bias training or anger management, while also recognizing that sexual harassment is a crime that requires mandatory reporting.

Other Resources

• Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) Survey: Comprehensive bullying and harassment study that served as a model for raising awareness globally.

In this powerful episode, we welcome Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma and critical care surgeon, Air Force veteran, and former Congressional healthcare policy advisor. Dr. Williams shares the intensely personal journey that led him to write his critically acclaimed book, The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal.

Dr. Williams discusses how the 2016 mass shooting of police officers in Dallas—where he was the trauma surgeon on call—served as a pivot point, driving him to use his expertise to seek broader societal change. He offers deep insights into the unique burdens faced by surgeons of color, the necessity of humility in the operating room, and actionable ways all healthcare professionals can transition from clinical practice to policy advocacy.

What You'll Learn

• The Pivot Point: How the Dallas mass shooting was the impetus for him to make a serious change, building on years of internal realization that his impact needed to extend beyond the hospital walls.
• The Surgeon's Conflict: He speaks openly about the duality of a surgeon's psyche: the humility and feeling of "not enough" that drives continuous learning, balanced with the necessary confidence and bravado to perform life-saving procedures. He shares a humbling, early-career story about calling a code on a patient who was simply asleep, highlighting the core lesson of humility and attention to detail.
• The Weight of Life-and-Death Decisions: Dr. Williams reflects on the enormous responsibility trauma surgeons carry, living with the question of whether a different split-second decision could have changed a patient's outcome during a mass casualty event.
• The Burden of Black Surgeons: As a Black male physician, he discusses the burden of having to exceed standards to maintain credibility, and the emotional toll of dealing with overt and covert racism daily. He emphasizes that increased diversity in the workforce is essential for a better healthcare system and patient experience.
• Turning Expertise into Policy: Dr. Williams asserts that every healthcare professional has a voice and perspective needed by policymakers. He offers tangible, actionable ways surgeons can influence healthcare equity and policy, including:
  • Writing Op-Eds based on research for a wider audience.
  • Speaking at local City Council or Commissioners Court meetings about healthcare items on the docket.
  • Getting involved with policy and advocacy groups within professional societies (like the ACS) or external organizations (like Doctors for America).
• The Head and the Heart of Advocacy: The key to successful policy influence is bringing both evidence (statistics and data) to make them believe you, and stories to make them care. Always offer a concrete solution when voicing a concern.

Resources:

• The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal
• Doctors for America

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lee Ponsky, Chair of Urology, shares his journey of pushing boundaries within academic medicine, finding purpose beyond traditional roles, and discovering new paths to fulfillment.

Dr. Ponsky reflects on his early frustrations with systemic roadblocks in medicine and how his drive for innovation led him to challenge the status quo—most notably by pioneering the use of medical scribes to combat burnout and improve productivity. His data-driven initiative not only enhanced patient care but inspired other department leaders to adopt similar approaches.

He also explores the importance of seeking meaning beyond the day job, emphasizing that true fulfillment often comes when physicians allow themselves to explore passions outside of clinical work. With honesty and humility, Dr. Ponsky reminds listeners that success in medicine doesn’t have to be confined to the hospital walls—it can grow through curiosity, creativity, and balance.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• Innovation in Surgery: Overcoming “we can’t do that” barriers to bring new ideas—like medical scribes—into practice.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: How frustration can fuel creativity and change in structured systems.
• Burnout & Fulfillment: Redefining professional identity and finding purpose beyond clinical duties.
• Leadership & Impact: Using data, persistence, and self-initiative to drive transformation in healthcare.
• Work-Life Balance: Encouragement to explore passions outside of medicine for long-term sustainability.

Malpractice litigation is a universal reality in medicine, yet it remains one of the most isolating and difficult experiences a physician will face. We break the silence with Dr. Gita Pensa, an emergency medicine physician, educator, and the creator of the groundbreaking podcast and resource platform, Doctors and Litigation & LEAP.

Drawing on her personal 12-year legal saga that involved two jury trials, Dr. Pensa shares a story of trauma, resilience, and transformation. She challenges the conventional wisdom of "don't talk about it" and offers vital, humane, and strategic advice for surgeons and all physicians on how to survive—and even grow from—the harrowing experience of being sued.

Featured:

• Hard Truths About Litigation: Dr. Pensa stresses: being sued or having an adverse outcome is not a verdict on the quality of your care. She challenges the misconception that the legal system operates based on medical logic and fairness, describing law as a "weapon" where strategy often dictates the outcome.
• The Danger of Isolation: Why advice to "not talk about it" is neither smart nor humane. She explains that physicians must be able to talk about the fact that they are being sued, their feelings, and the legal process without compromising the details of the medical care.
• The Process of Recovery and Growth: She shares her journey out of a decade-long crisis, detailing the need for both emotional processing and strategic education. She emphasizes that growth comes from having self-compassion, accepting help, and studying the legal process to become an "empowered defendant."
• The Surgeon's Struggle: Unique challenges in litigation, dealing with the direct physical cause of harm and their natural desire for control.
• Contending with Chronic Stress: Litigation is described as a "chronic disease with acute exacerbations" of terrible stress, prolonged by years of delays and uncertainty. She validates the difficulty of relinquishing control and dealing with prolonged stress, which is often compounded by feelings of guilt and responsibility.
• The Path Forward: Communication and Resolution: Learn about the power of honest and open dialogue with patients after an adverse event.

About the Guest

Dr. Gita Pensa is an emergency medicine physician practicing in Rhode Island and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University.

Resources:

• Doctors and Litigation: The L Word podcast and educational platform.
• A World of Hurt: How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone: A 27-minute documentary focusing on the malpractice system and the value of Communication Resolution Programs.
• Communication Resolution Program (CRP): Models like the Michigan Model for open and honest dialogue with patients after adverse events.

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Dr. Julie Freischlag—a titan in surgery, education, and academic administration—to reflect on her groundbreaking career and the enduring lessons she's learned about leadership, connection, and resilience.

Dr. Freischlag is currently the CEO and Chief Academic Officer at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and the Executive Vice President of Health Affairs at Advocate Health. A pioneering vascular surgeon, she has amassed a legacy of "firsts," including being the first female Surgeon-in-Chief at Johns Hopkins and the first female President of the Society of Vascular Surgery. She served as President of the American College of Surgeons from 2021-2022.

Dr. Freischlag shares the core principles that have guided her through 38 years in medicine, from the operating room to the executive suite. Known for her memorable "Julie-isms," she offers honest and brilliant insights on the reality of a surgical career, the power of storytelling, and the true meaning of leadership.

Featured in this episode:

• The North Star of Leadership: She reveals the simple yet powerful philosophy that has defined her career: You work for your patients and the people who work for you. Maintaining this focus ensures you always do the right thing, even when facing difficult decisions.
• The Power of Storytelling (and Connection): Discover why a personal connection is essential in medicine. Dr. Freischlag explains that sharing patient stories—even during the surgical time-out—makes the work real for the entire team. She also stresses that leaders must share their own stories, including vulnerabilities and failures, to help others realize they are "alright" and not alone in their struggles.
• Confidence and Open-Mindedness: Learn how increased confidence in leadership allows for greater open-mindedness and delegation. Dr. Freischlag discusses how she evolved from an early leader who delegated little to one who now embraces new ideas and trusts her team. She notes that the loudest voices are often the least confident and that listening is a key, underrated skill.
• Preparing for the Hard Conversations: Dr. Freischlag outlines her strategy for approaching hostile or difficult meetings: Be armed with data, stay composed (even if you have to "smile big"), and know when to cut the conversation short to regroup later. She emphasizes that if you're going to make a change, you need to understand the root of the problem and bring a plan, not just a complaint.
• The Value of Coaching and Peer Support: Hear about Dr. Freischlag's own experience with coaching, starting early in her career at Johns Hopkins, and why she now champions it for new leaders. She also highlights the immense value of peer counseling in combating imposter syndrome, which affects many new leaders—both men and women.
• The Resilience Piece: Dr. Freischlag reflects on the importance of resilience, modeling the idea that "it's not how far you fall, it's how high you bounce." She shares a powerful, years-later story of learning that she was intentionally not ranked by her desired residency program, demonstrating how setbacks can ultimately work in your favor.

Navigating a career in medicine can be a challenging journey, and sometimes, physicians face injustices and workplace conflicts that are isolating and overwhelming. In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, we sit down with Dr. Pringl Miller and Dr. Andrea Merrill, the founders of Physicians Just Equity (PJE), to discuss their mission to support physicians and surgeons in the United States who experience workplace conflict.

Dr. Miller, a board-certified general surgeon, hospice and palliative care medicine, and Dr. Merrill, a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist, practicing breast surgeon, share their personal experiences with workplace injustices and how those challenges inspired them to create PJE. They explain how the organization provides peer support, education, research, and advocacy to help physicians navigate difficult situations without suffering reputational harm or career setbacks.

Featured in this Episode:

• The Hidden Struggle: Discover why so many physicians, despite their training and competence, feel isolated and overwhelmed when faced with workplace conflict. Dr. Miller explains how PJE's mission is to provide a safe space and peer support for those who feel like they're "the frog in the boiling water."
• Recognizing the Red Flags: Learn to identify the warning signs that indicate you might need help. Dr. Merrill shares key indicators, such as a surprise meeting, a sudden decrease in referrals, or being placed on a performance improvement plan, and offers actionable advice on how to respond.
• A Guide to Getting Help: Understand the process of reaching out to Physicians Just Equity. Dr. Miller details how the organization provides one-on-one team peer support, Q&A sessions, and a comprehensive intake process to ensure a safe and confidential environment.
• The Power of Data: Hear how PJE is collecting crucial data on physician injustices to inform advocacy and drive institutional change. The guests discuss alarming trends, including an increase in unjustified dismissals of trainees, and how this impacts the future of the healthcare workforce.
• Stories of Success: Be inspired by powerful success stories, including that of a cardiothoracic surgery resident who overcame multiple dismissals to complete her training.

About the Guests:

• Dr. Pringl Miller: A board-certified general surgeon, hospice and palliative care medicine with fellowship training in clinical medical ethics. She is the founder of the Surgical Palliative Care Society and Physicians Just Equity.
• Dr. Andrea Merrill: A board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist, practicing breast surgeon, serving as a peer supporter for Physicians Just Equity.

Training as a surgeon is intense—almost a decade of education, residency, and fellowship. But for many, the most stressful phase comes next: the job search. In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Madeline Torres shares her journey from the uncertainty and anxiety of looking for her first surgical position to finding clarity, confidence, and mentorship that supported her early career.

From identifying your non-negotiables to leveraging mentorship networks, this episode is packed with practical advice for surgical trainees about to take the next big step in their careers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Facing the job search anxiety: The fears, hopes, and uncertainties that come after nearly a decade of training.
• Defining non-negotiables: How Dr. Torres prioritized what mattered most—from clinical focus to location to work-life integration.
• Asking the tough questions: The importance of understanding workplace culture, faculty relationships, and family leave policies before signing an offer.
• Building mentorship networks: From group chats with peers to calling mentors across institutions, how mentorship provides guidance, confidence, and support.
• Creating a structured path: Tools and strategies to avoid feeling lost and instead walk into interviews and job offers with clarity.

About Dr. Madeline Torres

Dr. Madeline Torres is a board-certified General Surgeon (American Board of Surgery) and Surgical Oncologist at Cooper University Health Care, where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Torres brings nearly a decade of training and extensive clinical experience to her practice, with a focus on surgical oncology.

Resources & Links:

Join The Surgeon’s Launch Pad for tools, strategies, and support to confidently land your first job.

In this episode of The Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon L. Stein speaks with Dr. Geeta Lal about the importance of surgical ergonomics. They discuss Dr. Lal's personal journey with surgical-related injuries, the cultural shifts needed in the surgical community to prioritize surgeon longevity, and practical tips for improving ergonomics in the operating room. Included in this conversation:

• The role of surgical ergonomics in surgeon wellness.
• Why surgical culture often minimizes our own physical health.
• Ergonomics can enhance both physical and cognitive performance.
• Breaks during surgery have been shown to improve both focus and performance.
• Tips for residents to use now in advocating for their own surgical longevity.
• The role of stretching and strengthening in preserving physical wellness.

About Dr. Geeta Lal

Dr. Geeta Lal is a board-certified General Surgeon (USA & Canada) with fellowship training in Endocrine Surgical Oncology. A tenured Professor of Surgery with a cross-appointment in Pediatrics, she has over 20 years of experience in thyroid and parathyroid surgery, including pediatric and re-operative cases. Dr. Lal is deeply involved in teaching surgical residents and medical students and has held leadership roles, including Co-Leader of her cancer center’s Endocrine Multidisciplinary Oncology Group and Associate Chief Quality Officer for Adult Inpatient Services. She maintains an active clinical research program with extensive publications on a variety of topics, including Surgical Ergonomics. She is a founder and first president of the Society of Surgical Ergonomics. She speaks, consults, and coaches internationally in the field of Surgical Ergonomics and details of how to engage hercan be found at https://surgicalergonomics.com/.

Other resources discussed in the podcast:

The Society of Surgical Ergonomics

OR Stretch Video