Today, Dr. Randy Lehman sits down with a surgeon who traded stability for autonomy.

Dr. Amy Vertrees, an Army-trained general surgeon who built a thriving private practice covering three hospitals, breaks down the challenges and victories of modern rural surgery.

They explore what makes rural practice unique, why fellowship isn’t always necessary, and how to build a surgical team that lasts.

Plus, a candid conversation on hernia repair (when to go open vs. laparoscopic vs. robotic) and the complications that keep rural surgeons up at night.

Surgeons at any stage will find practical insights into training choices, private practice, and long-term sustainability in rural surgery.

0:00 Intro

0:13 Dr. Vertrees’ Background

2:12 Inside Private Practice

5:58 Building a Multi-Hospital Rural Surgery Group

9:26 Hub-and-Spoke Models & Surgeon Recruitment

16:10 Inguinal Hernia Volume

20:14 How I Do It: Inguinal Hernia Repair Philosophy

32:48 Confidence, Training, and Choosing the Right Operation

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Dr. Vertrees:

https://www.bosssurgery.com/

🌐 Connect with The Rural American Surgeon:

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralAmericanSurgeon

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