The SurgeonMasters Podcast

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast retired orthopedic surgeon and leader, Dr. Richard Barry.

Oscar London was the pen name of a local internist, the late Dr. Arlen Cohn, who practiced in Berkeley, California for over 40 years. His 1987 book, Kill as Few Patients as Possible, is the crown jewel of medical satire.

Most medical textbooks are just full of hubris. London, in contrast, gave us a mission statement that was achievable, humble, and refreshingly honest. He didn't say heal all, he said please, for the love of God, just try not to kill too many.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: patients don't want arrogance, they want honesty. Oscar London insisted that patients remember how you made them feel, not your board scores. Curiosity is the first diagnostic test. Your job is to listen, make eye contact. If you're judging the patient, you've stopped listening.

What steps does Rich suggest we take to show up how we want to for patients?

• Step 1 - Be humble and approachable. Listen more than you talk, and make eye contact when you do.
• Step 2 - Have a life outside of work. Master the subtle art of doing nothing.
• Step 3 - Accept imperfection and embrace growth.

Most importantly, PRACTICE your version of “light reading”!

BIO

Rich Barry is a retired orthopaedic surgeon living in Northern California. Prior to medical school and residency, he served as an Air Force C-130 pilot on a combat tour in Vietnam. After serving in the Air Force, he was in private practice in Davis California for over 20 years. He served as a clinical faculty member for the U.C. Davis Department of Orthopaedics.Rich is a past-President of the California Orthopaedic Association and a past-Chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Board of Councilors. Rich and his wife remain active in the Lamplighters Orthopaedic Association, a leadership alumni group of Fellows and their spouses.He is married, and is very proud of their three children, and 4 grandchildren.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast retired orthopedic surgeon and leader, Dr. Richard Barry.

As surgeons, thoughtful introspection and honest communication are the keys to balancing our personal and emotional availability with our professional commitments.

Introspective communication refers to the practice of looking inward to examine one's thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It involves engaging in honest self-dialogue, which is crucial for understanding oneself and improving how we communicate with others. This form of communication can help clarify our intentions, desires, and values, leading to more meaningful interactions with others.

Starting in residency and continuing into practice, we need to regularly reassess our own behavioral patterns and make improvements where necessary. 

Improved interpersonal communication is a teachable skill. We need to create wellness programs within our organizations that foster effective introspection and interpersonal communication skills.

What steps does Rich suggest we take to improve our introspection and communication skills?

• Step 1 - Reduce unspoken and unmet expectations.
• Step 2 - Be present and listen carefully.
• Step 3 - Encourage personal feedback.

Most importantly, PRACTICE introspective communication!

BIO

Rich Barry is a retired orthopaedic surgeon living in Northern California. Prior to medical school and residency, he served as an Air Force C-130 pilot on a combat tour in Vietnam. After serving in the Air Force, he was in private practice in Davis California for over 20 years. He served as a clinical faculty member for the U.C. Davis Department of Orthopaedics.Rich is a past-President of the California Orthopaedic Association and a past-Chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Board of Councilors. Rich and his wife remain active in the Lamplighters Orthopaedic Association, a leadership alumni group of Fellows and their spouses.He is married, and is very proud of their three children, and 4 grandchildren.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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In this episode of the SurgeonMasters Podcast, Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC, and general surgeon and SurgeonMasters physician coach, Mindy Ho, MD, discuss their time at the 2025 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago, where SurgeonMasters had an exhibit booth.

Many physicians, residents, and medical students have questions about the coaching model that show their curiosity and desire to grow.

• What is the real difference between coaching and mentoring?
• Does coaching need to happen in person, or can it be just as effective virtually?

We heard from medical students and residents, wondering: 

• Can coaching actually benefit me during training? 
• Isn’t coaching more for mid-career or late-career physicians?

We heard from mid-career and late-career surgeons asking: 

• What does the process look like? 
• How long does it take? 

As our careers evolve, we might be busy caring for patients or managing administrative responsibilities that we forget to focus on our own growth in other areas we care about or our well-being. 

• Does coaching really work?
• How does coaching affect wellness?
• What actually happens in a coaching conversation?

Mindy and Jeff explore all of these questions — and more — in this episode of The SurgeonMasters Podcast.

Listen now to hear how coaching applies across every stage of a medical career, and how it can support you in finding clarity, growth, and purpose — wherever you are on your journey.

Subscribe to the SurgeonMasters Podcast!\

BIO:

Mindy Ho, MD, MBA

I am a board-certified General Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in medicine, working in both private practice and hospital employed settings. A native of the Midwest, I returned to Indiana after completing my residency in the Chicago area. While building a thriving career as a general surgeon, I concurrently pursued my MBA and embraced my most rewarding role yet, becoming a mother of three.

[Learn more about Mindy]

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified psychiatrist and performance coach, Ryan Davis, MD. Ryan works with elite athletes and high-level professionals, including professional golfers on the LPGA tour. 

Routine is important. 

Through the lens of a golfer, it's important to have a pre-shot routine and a post-shot routine. This means that every single time a golfer steps up to the ball, they do the exact same thing. After taking the shot, they also take the exact same actions while thinking about what they liked and didn't like about the shot. This allows for consistency, and helps tamp down intrusive thoughts. 

This can be applied in the realm of medicine too. As surgeons, we sometimes go off script by doing things differently than normal for one reason or another. But when we can stick to our routines, that's when the best outcomes occur. 

What steps does Ryan suggest we take to stick to our routines?

• Step 1 - Develop a routine and know what it is. Many people already have a routine without even knowing it. Identify the elements of your routine so you can make sure you implement those steps regularly.
• Step 2 - If you notice you're falling off your routine, ask yourself why. Sometimes there is a justifiable reason, but in most cases it's best to stick to that routine.
• Step 3 - Refine your routine over time to optimize your performance and achieve your best results.

Most importantly, PRACTICE your routine to reach peak performance!

BIO

Dr. Davis is a Harvard trained, board-certified psychiatrist with advanced performance coach training. While not at the office Dr. Davis is a 3-time marathon runner, die-hard University of Michigan and Detroit sports enthusiast, and most importantly, an obsessed golfer.  

Dr. Davis helps his clients gain insight into their psyche as it relates to their sport and personal life. Dr. Davis’ background allows him to offer unique mental coaching, creating resilient and driven athletes who live more purposeful lives. Dr. Davis provides performance coaching for elite athletes, teams, as well as business executives.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

Send us Fan Mail

Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast retired orthopedic surgeon and leader, Dr. Richard Barry.

We should all strive to achieve a lightness of being in our everyday relationships. Lightness is a transferable personality and management skill. 

The term “lightness of being” refers to the deeper concept of a life lived with openness, humor, and humility. In other words, it’s about living with less attachment (or less heaviness), and more lightness.

In a practical sense, lightness of being means letting go of guilt, resentment, or control to move through life with a freer spirit. Lightness involves connection (whether it’s a patient connection, dealing with hospital staff, or spending time at home with our families). In all these situations, we should strive to be fully present in the present moment. 

What steps does Rich suggest we take to shift our mindset from heaviness to lightness of being?

• Step 1 - Reframe seriousness. Life if serious enough. Ask yourself “does this need to be heavy or can I hold it lightly?” Shift the narrative from “I have to” to “I get to” which flips burden into opportunity.
• Step 2 -  Look upon impermanence as freedom. Situations, feelings, and identities shift. This change in perspective allows you to loosen your grip. 
• Step 3 - Choose small over big. Heaviness often comes from trying to solve everything at once. Break big tasks into smaller tasks that you can celebrate finishing.

Most importantly, PRACTICE your own lightness of being!

BIO

Rich Barry is a retired orthopaedic surgeon living in Northern California. Rich has a somewhat unique background. Prior to medical school and residency, he served as an Air Force C-130 pilot on a combat tour in Vietnam. He returned to the States with an assignment as a T-38 instructor pilot before being selected to attend medical school on an Air Force scholarship. After residency, he served as an Air Force orthopaedic surgeon at Travis AFB, California. After serving in the Air Force, he was in private practice in Davis California for over 20 years. He served as a clinical faculty member for the U.C. Davis Department of Orthopaedics.

Rich is a past-President of the California Orthopaedic Association and a past-Chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Board of Councilors. He served on the AAOS’ Board of Directors. He has been honored with the California Orthopaedic Association’s Founders Award and the COA’s 2011 Tipton Leadership Award. Rich and his wife remain active in the Lamplighters Orthopaedic Association, a leadership alumni group of Fellows and their spouses.

Since retirement, Rich has remained active in his community. He served as a physician at a Solano County Health Services inner-city, primary care clinic in Vallejo for several years. He was the Chairman of the Solano County Board of Supervisors Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board. He served as a member of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team for over 5 years.

Rich is a disabled veteran. He is married, and is very proud of their three children, and 4 grandchildren.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, Nicholette Kasman, MD, MAPP.

Just as there’s a big difference between the absence of illness and health, there’s a difference between flourishing and simply not suffering. Applied positive psychology is the study of what contributes to flourishing.

It’s a human tendency to have a negativity bias. Although we’re constantly looking to fix ourselves and our problems, our greatest area for growth is to lean into our strengths. 

This is all applicable to the lives of physicians. When we strive for excellence, we tend to lean into that negativity bias of trying to fix everything around us. That can lead to people feeling browbeaten. If you instead train someone to look for their own strengths and the strengths in those around them, people start to feel seen and engaged. That is the foundation of psychological safety and exceptional clinical work.

What steps does Nicholette suggest we take to integrate positive psychology into the operating room?

• Step 1 - Develop a vocabulary of strengths. Take a strength survey or use another resource to grow your awareness. 
• Step 2 - Start looking for the strengths in other people by noticing what they get excited about. 
• Step 3 - Point out those strengths. When you name the strength you see in another person, it makes them feel seen and empowered.

Most importantly, PRACTICE identifying strengths in ourselves and others!

BIO:

Nicholette Kasman, MD, MAPP, is a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified coach with additional training as a positive psychology coach. Her work focuses on enhancing well-being, psychological safety, and professional growth in academic medicine. She is a lead author of Team Building Through Positive Psychology Principles in the Pediatric Cardiac Operating Room (NEJM Catalyst) and was recently featured on SurgeonMasters discussing the use of strengths to support thriving in surgery and medicine.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Professional Certified Coach, Lynn Bagdasian.

Practicing gratitude can make life so much better. There’s so much chaos and stress in the world around us as physicians. Implementing a gratitude practice into our daily lives releases dopamine and can reduce stress.

When we express gratitude as a habit, we transform everyday routines into rituals. Think about something you do every day, like washing your hands, brushing your teeth, or making coffee. We do these so often that they become routine. But if we incorporate a gratitude practice into those behaviors, they become mindfulness rituals.

What steps does Lynn suggest we take to create a daily gratitude ritual?

• Step 1 - Think of 3 things that you’re grateful for. It doesn’t have to be big things, it can be simple things like running water, or sharing a conversation with your kids.
• Step 2 - Think of a routine habit that you do every day (ex. brushing your teeth or washing your hands).
• Step 3 - Incorporate the three things that you’re grateful for into these three routine daily tasks to form a mindfulness gratitude ritual.

Most importantly, PRACTICE a gratitude ritual for well-being!

BIO:

Lynn Bagdasian is the founder of Lynn Bagdasian Life Coaching, LLC, where she specializes in empowering clients to gain insight & clarity and reach their full potential. She earned her Certified Professional Coach (CPC) credential through the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accreditation with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Lynn holds a certification as a Grief Educator from David Kessler+grief.com, and is an iPEC Energy Leadership Master Practitioner.

Lynn serves as a volunteer, training and mentoring Tanzanian Coaches to support the next generation of East African women leaders.

When she's not coaching clients, leading workshops in her community or volunteering, Lynn enjoys spending time with her family & friends, meeting new people and traveling around the world. She is happiest when she is helping others create the life of their dreams.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified psychiatrist and performance coach, Ryan Davis, MD.

Ryan works with elite athletes and high-level professionals - most of whom are type A go-getters. While it’s a personality type that can take you far, it doesn’t always lead to a balanced life. Life balance is a bit of a cliche - it’s something we talk about a lot, but not attainable for many of us, and not one we strive to achieve. 

One way to think about balancing priorities is like a tripod made up of three key components: self-care, career, and relationships. While these components may differ from person to person, they often represent the pillars of a fulfilling life. As a thought experiment, imagine forming a tripod with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, connected by a rubber band. When you pull on one finger—putting more time and energy into that area—you increase the tension on the others. This simple exercise illustrates how shifting focus in one part of life can create strain in the others.

There will always be a give and take among our big three components. When we become unaware and the balance is disrupted, it can lead to burnout. 

What steps does Ryan suggest we take to bring awareness to our work-life balance?

• Step 1 - Remember, we only have 100% to give. It’s important to realize that we only have so much to give. 
• Step 2 - Consider what your “components” are. You don't need to limit yourself to just three; instead, make a list of your top 3-5 areas where you want to spend your time.
• Step 3 - Consider how you want to divide your 100%. How much do you want to allocate to your career, family, self-care, etc.? 

Most importantly, PRACTICE your life balancing act!

BIO

Dr. Davis is a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist with advanced performance coach training. While not at the office Dr. Davis is a 3-time marathon runner, die-hard University of Michigan and Detroit sports enthusiast, and most importantly, an obsessed golfer.  

Dr. Davis helps his clients gain insight into their psyche as it relates to their sport and personal life. Dr. Davis’ background allows him to offer unique mental coaching, creating resilient and driven athletes who live more purposeful lives. Dr. Davis provides performance coaching for elite athletes, teams, as well as business executives.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes ENT surgeon and professional coach Dr. Mel Thacker to the podcast.

There’s a fallacy among physicians that we have to show up in the clinic as the all-knowing ego in the white coat who has all the answers. But when we approach treatment this way, it actually disconnects us from our patients. 

We need to learn how to step out of the hero identity because when we define ourselves as heroes, our patients often become victims. When we approach patient care humbly without the mindset that we’re “better” than our patients, it can create much better outcomes. 

Instead of disempowering the patient, we lay out the situation as it currently stands and explain the options available. This invites the patient to become the creator of their own lives by giving them their power back.

What steps does Mel suggest we do to shift our mindset?

• Step 1 - Anytime you are feeling like a victim and you want to blame someone or something, ask yourself what you can create from this.
• Step 2 -  Recognize when you see your patients inviting you into a collaboration of care.
• Step 3 - Try to move yourself out of the “hero” mindset and into a “coaching” mindset.

Most importantly, PRACTICE shifting your mindset from hero to coach!

BIO

Mel Thacker, MD, PCC, DipABLM, is a fellowship-trained rhinologist/otolaryngologist, professional certified coach, and lifestyle medicine specialist.

In December 2024, she left her successful surgical career to focus exclusively on coaching surgeons. Her mission is to help them reclaim purpose, clarity, and control in their lives.

She is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast, Surgeons with Purpose, and the Founder of Empowered Surgeons Group, a program that will teach you everything you didn't learn in surgical training.

 Follow her on Instagram here
Connect on LinkedIn here

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast, Quality Improvement Executive Leadership Consultant, Margie Nelson, MS, MT, EMT, CPXP.

Margie has spent the past 20 years as a hospital quality and safety specialist handling risk, quality improvement, and communication enhancement. 

Physicians are generally recognized as healers, but when they’re first thrown into a leadership position, physicians are less likely to have experience in leading people (especially other physicians). When taking roles that require supervision of people, there’s a different skill set you need to develop to become a great leader. 

A few simple actions can make all the difference in building trust among your team.

What steps does Margie suggest to improve communication and trust among your team?

• Step 1 - Create an action plan. That means living your own values so that your team leads in the same way you do. 
• Step 2 -  Embrace teamwork. Advocate for your team. Celebrate their wins. Discuss when things go wrong.
• Step 3 - Instill trust. Build a culture of collective excellence and elevate your team by your own leadership example.

Most importantly, PRACTICE intentional communication to lead your team!

BIO

Margie Nelson, MS, MT, EMT, CPXP,  is a Quality Improvement Executive Leadership Consultant with a demonstrated history of working with hospital and healthcare systems on quality, safety and patient experience of care.  Most recently she added Physician Wellness to her skills administering a Physician Coaching program at Envision Healthcare which made a significant impact on physician wellness and improvement of quality and safety scores. Margie’s education and training include a BS and MS from the George Washington University in Medical Technology and Healthcare Quality and Safety. She has worked on both sides of the care and regulatory aspects of Healthcare and continues to bring value to physician relationships with patients, leaders and colleagues.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians. 

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more. 

PRACTICE Your Best!