What happens when a surgeon and a hematologist-oncologist decide to take their commitment to public health from the bedside to the ballot box?

In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein is joined by trauma surgeon Jana Hambley, MD, and her husband, Bryan Hambley, MD, a leukemia specialist currently running for Secretary of State of Ohio. From their early days meeting in freshman chemistry at Notre Dame to navigating residency as a married couple, the Hambleys share how a shared passion for community service evolved into a statewide political campaign.

This isn't a conversation about politics—it's about the unique perspective physicians bring to leadership, the challenges of raising a family while one parent is on the road, and why "intentionality" is the secret weapon for successfully managing it all.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The "Doctor-Politician" Trend: Why more physicians are running for office (including recent guests like Dr. Brian Williams) and how seeing systemic flaws like medical bankruptcy and gun violence up close drives the desire for legislative change.
• The Secretary of State’s Role: Demystifying a powerful office. Bryan explains how this position influences everything from independent redistricting commissions to the "intentional confusion" found in ballot language.
• The "Village" Model: Jana opens up about the logistical "dance" of being a surgical mom while her husband travels 4-5 nights a week. They discuss the power of community, from live-in help to local volunteers who open their homes on the campaign trail.
• The Anatomy of a Ballot: Why medical consent forms are written at a 5th-grade reading level, but ballot initiatives are often written in complex legalese designed to discourage voters.
• Life Lessons for the Kids: What the Hambley children are learning about ambition, service, and the fact that "fighting for what you love" sometimes means sacrifice.
• A Bipartisan Hope: Bryan shares his reflections from 13 months on the road, staying in farmhouses across Ohio, and why he firmly believes that—despite national headlines—the American people are better than the current political climate suggests.

About the Guests:

Bryan Hambley, MD is a hematologist-oncologist at the University of Cincinnati and a 2026 candidate for Ohio Secretary of State. Jana Hambley, MD is a surgeon on faculty at the University of Cincinnati and a former resident of Dr. Stein’s.

Key Takeaway for Listeners:

"Ambition needs to be married to a vision that’s more than someone’s personal ambition. It has to be ambition for a system, a hospital, or a state." — Dr. Bryan Hambley

Connect with the Hambleys:

• Social Media:@hambleyforohio

Join the Conversation: Are you a physician considering a move into advocacy? Reach out on LinkedIn and share your story.

In this episode of the Intentional Surgeon, Dr. Sharon Stein welcomes her longtime colleague and friend, Dr. Tanaz Ferzandi, Director of Urogynecology at Keck Hospital of USC and Past President of the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS).

Drs. Stein and Ferzandi dive into the power of "cross-pollination" between surgical specialties, the systemic gender inequities built into healthcare reimbursement models, and why surgeons must move from being "cogs in the wheel" to empowered leaders at the decision-making table.

What You'll Learn

• The Power of Cross-Pollination: Stepping outside your surgical "silo" is essential. Dr. Ferzandi explains how collaborating with other specialties (like colorectal and urology) offers fresh perspectives on surgical planes and techniques that improve patient outcomes. The same is equally true outside of the OR, where research projects and quality initiatives can be strengthened through multi-specialty collaboration.
• Finding Your Tribe: The importance of choosing mentors and allies intentionally. Dr. Ferzandi discusses navigating "girl-on-girl crime" in medicine and the value of both male and female sponsors who champion your growth without feeling threatened.
• The "Feminization" of Healthcare Economics: A stark look at how fields dominated by women often see a flattening of hierarchy and a subsequent drop in salary and reimbursement. This affects not only the providers, but our patients as well, as care for women is often reimbursed less generously. Dr. Ferzandi shares a powerful example of systemic bias: a mid-urethral sling procedure for a woman vs. a man. While the surgical steps are nearly identical, the hospital reimbursement for the male procedure can be 2.5 times higher than for the female procedure.
• "If You're Not at the Table, You're on the Menu": A call to action for surgeons to educate themselves on the business side of medicine. Dr. Ferzandi emphasizes that "best care" cannot be delivered without the proper resources, which requires advocacy at the administrative level. This is why surgeons need to understand the "tributaries" of revenue they create—from radiology and lab work to physical therapy—to gain leverage during negotiations with hospital leadership.

Ready to invest in yourself? If you’re ready to move from "cog in the wheel" to empowered leader, visit intentionalsurgeon.com to learn more about career coaching for surgeons.

Welcome to 2026! In this solo episode, Dr. Sharon Stein kicks off the year by exploring a topic that defines—and often derails—surgical careers: The Surgical Ego.

We all know the TV stereotype of the arrogant surgeon. But Sharon dives into a more subtle version: the ego that hides behind the mask of the "humble, meticulous surgeon." Whether you walk into a room saying "I’ve got this" or rack yourself over the coals after a complication, both extremes stem from the same risky belief: that we have total control over every outcome.

What You'll Learn

• The Summit of Ego: A residency story about a surgeon who believed the worst thing that could happen to a patient was something happening to him.
• The "Humble" Trap: Sharon shares how her own guilt over an anastomotic leak revealed a hidden ego—the belief that being "careful enough" could prevent all complications.
• Ego as a Distraction: Why questioning your skill mid-case directs focus away from the patient and toward your own self-doubt.
• Suffering as "Payment": The common but illogical feeling that if we suffer enough along with the patient, we can "pay" for a bad outcome.
• The Learning Cycle: Why our "precious surgical ego" makes us want to hide mistakes rather than being curious about how to improve.
• Finding Balance: How to maintain the confidence required to operate while accepting that some factors remain beyond our control.

Key Takeaways for 2026

1. Notice the Shift: Watch for when your ego—through overconfidence or shame—takes the driver's seat.
2. Focus on the Patient: In difficult moments, move from "Am I good enough?" to "What does this patient need right now?"
3. Ditch Perfection: Meticulousness is a goal, not a guarantee. Even the best surgeons have complications.

Join the Conversation: How has ego helped or hurt your practice? Sharon wants to hear your stories at www.intentionalsurgeon.com.

Ready to be intentional about your surgical career? Visit intentionalsurgeon.com/launchpad to learn about securing the right surgical position for you.

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.