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    Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC, orthopaedic trauma surgeon and SurgeonMasters CEO.Dr. Jim Naples, a Harvard ENT at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterJim Doorley, PhD, CMPC, Clinical and Sports Psychologist for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Research Fellow in Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School

    In this episode of the SurgeonMasters Podcast, Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC interviews a Harvard ENT specialist James Naples, MD, and clinical sports psychologist, Jim Doorley. They discuss integrating psychological strategies from sports performance into surgical training, emphasizing the importance of mental fitness, emotional regulation, and resilience in enhancing surgical performance and how it relates to addressing physician burnout.

    The discussion underscored the importance of mental resilience and psychological skills for surgical success, paralleling their significance in sports. James Naples, MD, and Jim Doorley highlighted techniques for immediate recovery from intraoperative mistakes and long-term well-being strategies. Efforts are underway to develop a customized curriculum for surgical trainees to address their specific performance mindset needs and challenges. The conversation also addressed balancing emotional detachment and empathy in medicine and how the process relates to physician burnout. Additionally, there was a light-hearted debate on the pros and cons of listening to music in the OR, reflecting diverse preferences among surgeons. Finally, the team addressed the need for institutional support in providing resources and training to enhance surgeons' mental fitness and overall performance.

    Here are 10 highlights from the podcast:

    Surgical Mindset vs. Performance Mindset:Challenges in Surgical TrainingInitial Collaboration and GoalsCurriculum DevelopmentKey Skills and TopicsExperiential LearningBroader Mental Fitness ConceptsPerformance and ResilienceBurnout and Emotional ManagementInstitutional Support

    Overall, the podcast underscores the critical role of psychological training in enhancing surgical performance and the need for a comprehensive approach to integrating these skills into surgical education.

    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 executive coach and former healthcare system leader, Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE.

    In this episode, Theresa broaches the neuroscience of coaching – a fascinating and extensive topic that can’t be fully covered in one podcast – to address how the coaching relationship benefits physicians.

    She tells us that certain parts of the brain light up when we hold people in what’s called a naturally creative, resourceful, and whole state. In other words, professionals will usually rise to the occasion when given the chance. As a coach, this is a great way to approach conversations with clients, as it makes them much more open to learning and creating long-lasting change.

    What steps does Theresa suggest we take to implement neuroscience concepts into coaching sessions?

    Step 1 - Be Curious Rather than Trying to Solve a Problem. It’s all about the coach asking open-ended questions and being curious, as opposed to making assumptions and giving instructions to try and solve a problem. On the receiving end of coaching, know that your curiosity is also critical to growing and achieving your best self.Step 2 - Help People Work from a Position of Strength. Focus on a person’s strengths and help them determine how they can use those strengths to accomplish their goals. As a coaching client and probably performance-driven self-critic, first shifting your thinking towards your strengths creates a more open mind for constructive feedback. Step 3 - Ask Disruptive Questions. New learning and growth come from the ability to challenge assumptions, limiting beliefs, or current thinking. Give people space to think about a different way of doing something. We don’t need to change beliefs or values.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE positivity, curiosity, and developing new neuro pathways in coaching sessions!

    Bio: Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE

    Certified Executive Coach – Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business

    Theresa “Terri” Hamilton has spent more than 30 years in executive leadership positions, including fifteen years as Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of a regional healthcare system; five years as a Chief Executive and Vice President of a for-profit hospital; and twelve years in high-tech publishing as a Publisher and Vice President.

    She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Emmanuel College, Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master of Science in Health Administration from Simmons University, Boston. Terri is also a Board Certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare 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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast ophthalmology specialist and physician coach for introverts, Dr. Charity Hix.

    Introverts have many traits that make for great physicians. They’re inquisitive, introspective, constantly researching, and thinking things through from multiple angles. While those traits are great for being a physician, the way the healthcare system is organized can make the job of a physician very draining for everyone, but especially introverts.

    Introverts tend to regain their energy through solitude, but many specialties in medicine necessitate being around other people often and for long periods. There’s a misconception that introverts don’t like people. That’s not usually true - they just need time alone to recharge and function optimally. As a practicing physician, there isn’t a lot of alone time baked into your day so you have to be proactive in carving out space for yourself to recharge. (Note: Even if we are an extrovert or land somewhere in the middle, recharging to be our best is critical!).

    What does Charity suggest we do to recharge?

    Create Self-Awareness. In order to get anywhere, you need to first understand where you currently stand. Whenever you’re doing a specific activity during your workday, take stock of how you feel. Are you engaged, bored, stressed, etc.?Take Baby Steps to Adjust. Small changes can create a big impact. Based on how you react to certain situations, be proactive about making incremental changes to your daily routine.Communicate Your Needs. Let other people know about your energy needs. Many people will be happy to accommodate you.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE recharging to create sustainability!

    Guest Bio: Charity Hix, MD

    Charity is a physician burnout coach helping introverts in healthcare escape feelings of apathy, irritability, and resentment brought on by the increasing demands and decreasing rewards of medicine.

    She uses her 20 years of experience in clinical medicine combined with coaching to help introverts discover ways to be diligent, thoughtful clinicians while prioritizing their needs and protecting their energy. She wants you to know you don’t have to feel guilty for wanting a thriving life inside and outside of 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 orthopaedic surgeon and educator, Alan Reznik, MD.

    As surgeon leaders, sometimes it can feel like our employees or members of our team are getting in our way or, even worse, trying to sabotage us. But it’s important to step back and realize that in the vast majority of cases, people are showing up to work intending to do a good job, even if there are barriers in the way that are preventing that from happening.

    In general, people work for some combination of three reasons: 1) they love their job, 2) they’re loved by their job, or 3) they have an opportunity to improve themselves. Most people need at least two of these three in order to feel satisfied. To that end, there are actions we as surgeons can take to help our employees feel more satisfied with their jobs.

    What steps does Alan suggest we do to help our team members feel satisfied at work?

    1 - Provide Love. Offer encouragement and cultivate a healthy work environment that employees look forward to participating in.2 - Provide Opportunity. Where able, provide opportunities to your employees. This is especially important if a team member lacks an essential ability or skill.3 - Provide Money. If and when possible, offer your employees a raise. When people are paid well they feel appreciated.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE supporting your team with love, opportunity, and money!

    Guest Bio:
    Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up"on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

    "It is with the understanding of differing perspectives, combining disciplines, constant collaboration, and an open mind that one achieves the best path forward." Dr. Alan Reznik



    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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast Richard A. Schaefer, MD, MPH, an orthopaedic surgeon and human at Johns Hopkins University.

    As surgeons, creating understanding and make strong connections with our patients can lead to better oucomes. Often, our patients want to better understand us too. When we have communication with mutual understanding, everyone benefits.

    Knowng our patients beyond their medical condition can be an effective tool to ease any nervousness on the patient's part and ultimately help us provide better care.

    So what does Richard suggest we do to make better connections with our patients?


    Most importantly, practice humanizing patients to offer the best care!

    Guest Bio:

    Richard A. Schaefer, MD, MPH is an orthopaedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He grew up in Buffalo, NY, after which he went to West Point followed by medical school at Tulane. He did his orthopaedic residency at the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado, and orthopaedic oncology fellowship at Mayo Clinic. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Schaefer served for over 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of colonel. He had a number of stateside and overseas assignments at military medical facilities, including two tours in Afghanistan. He received several military decorations and awards for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge.

    In addition to his clinical practice at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Schaefer is a medical student advisor, providing longitudinal school and career advising to a cohort of students from their first day and throughout the 4 years until they graduate. He has a variety of outside interests including travel, art, and sports, and is a lifelong die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills.

    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.

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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 CEO of VITAL WorkLife, Mitch Best, a mental health and well-being expert for healthcare organizations and their workforces with a niche in physician-focused behavioral health solutions.

    Over the past several years, many healthcare organizations have started recognizing the critical importance of prioritizing the well-being of their care teams, not only for the good of the individual but also for the bottom line. While it is important organizations are starting to offer resources that make a real difference, the environment must be a safe space for physicians to take advantage of these resources.

    To that end, Mitch is calling for physicians and surgeons to become well-being advocates - physicians who are trained proactively to be spokespeople for their well-being and their colleagues' well-being, and offer proactive solutions in non-crisis situations.

    The goal is to weave the importance of well-being into the fabric of healthcare organizations nationwide.

    What steps does Mitch suggest we take to pursue self-advocacy?

    Step 1 - Educate Yourself. One of the easiest ways to be an advocate for yourself is to educate yourself on the importance of well-being. Step 2 - Seek Our Resources. See what well-being resources are offered by the organizations or associations you are a part of.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE self-advocacy for the good of yourself and your community!


    About Mitchel Best

    As the CEO of VITAL WorkLife for over a decade, Mitch guides the company's vision, directs the senior leadership team, and works towards achieving organizational objectives. His focus extends to empowering hundreds of thousands of physicians and APPs, enabling them to reach their full potential, all while fostering a vibrant and celebrated company culture.

    He began with the company in 2001 as Director of Business Development, moved up to Vice President in 2004, became COO in 2008, and eventually acquired the company in 2013.

    With a background in behavioral health consulting and diverse industry expertise, Mitch infuses his work with passion and enthusiasm, offering a quick start nature, servant leadership and diligent oversight. He has also been actively engaged in executive and mental health & well-being industry groups for more than 15 years.

    Mitch, a Minnesota native, resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children, emphasizing work-life balance through family time and an active lifestyle. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

    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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast clinical psychologist and certified mental performance consultant, James Doorley, PhD, CMPC.

    Dr. Dorley explains that performance psychology can teach us a lot as surgeons. Through his collaborative work with Dr. Naples he has learned that the mental side of surgery is not emphasized as much as it could be in many surgical training programs. Many surgeons have a casual understanding of these mental aspects, but it’s not built into our training or emphasized during our careers.

    Performance psychology is different from talking about feelings or emotions with a therapist; it’s akin to a quarterback working with a mindset coach to play their best under duress.

    What steps does Jim suggest we take to implement performance psychology skills into our daily routines?

    What steps does Jim suggest we take to implement performance psychology skills into our daily routines?

    Step 1 - Raise Awareness. Become aware of performance psychology and its benefits to the medical community. The best sports teams in the US are now employing performance psychologists to help elite athletes perform their best. Surgeons can and should be doing the same. Step 2 - Incorporate Performance Psychology. Use performance psychology skills like visualization, bolstered by decades of science, to support your best practice.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE performance psychology to improve performance!

    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.

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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 Otolaryngology surgeon, James Naples, MD.

    In this podcast, we discuss the surgical mindset. If you’re a performance-driven surgeon, it can be difficult at times to manage the challenges of the perfectionist mindset. We expect our best every time and the best out of those around us.

    There are times when we struggle in ways that appear technical but are more psychological, how our hands function is simply a manifestation of what our mind is doing. As a result, it’s important to address the performance mindset so that we can improve efficacy across the board.

    What steps does Jim suggest we take to improve our mindset as surgeons?

    Step 1 - Rehearse & Visualize. Surgery is 1% perspiration and 99% preparation. Rehearse and visualize important events before they happen so you’re better prepared.Step 2 - Script All Possible Outcomes. If you think through every possible outcome and how to react to each, you will be fully prepared for the procedure.Step 3 - Limit Distractions. This may be controversial, but it’s important to remove all distractions (including music) from the operating room to clear your mind and find readiness. [Jim and I may have some different opinions on this, which we will share in a future podcast.]

    Most importantly, PRACTICE your surgical mindset to attain the best outcome!

    BIO:

    Dr. James Naples is the Residency Program Director of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a Clinical Advisor at Harvard Medical School. He has mentored residents and students through various stages of their training, and focuses on ways to improve their performance. Clinically, he is interested in cochlear implant, Acoustic Neuroma and vestibular disorders. Dr. Naples earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and stayed there to complete his residency training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. He then completed his fellowship training in neurotology at the Perelman School of Medical at the University of Pennsylvania.

    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.

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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 physician scientist, Rachel Draelos, MD, PhD.

    The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is probably one of the leading causes of physician frustration. EMRs are “broken” in a few different ways. First, the user interface is poor and confusing. Second, the underlying data is messy and fragmented. This limits what you can do in the interface. Rachel’s company is working on creating a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) that’s easy to use and crafts the data specifically to unleash the power of AI in medicine to help with all kinds of different administrative tasks.

    AI is a contentious topic in medicine. Some are excited about its potential, while others are nervous about its implications.

    What steps does Rachel suggest we do to better leverage AI in medicine?

    Step 1 - Understand the different types of AI. Artificial intelligence comes in a variety of different forms. Machine learning and neural networks are forms of AI that can be extremely beneficial in the field of medicine. Step 2 - Identify key areas of administrative burden. These could include prior authorizations, billing, coding, etc.Step 3 - Spend some time on Google searching for AI tools that can automate those tasks.

    Most importantly, practice leveraging tech to mitigate administrative burdens!


    BIO: Rachel Draelos, MD, PhD

    Rachel is a physician scientist, and the first person to graduate from Duke University with an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Her research focuses on novel artificial intelligence methods development for medical applications. She has published across multiple areas of artificial intelligence, including computer vision, natural language processing, explainable AI, and expert systems. Her machine learning models have been applied to medical images, medical notes, EHR data, and genetic data. Dr. Draelos is the Founder & CEO of Cydoc, a health AI company. The Cydoc Smart Patient Intake Form generates medical notes from patient intake forms, saving 10 minutes per patient visit. Dr. Draelos is also the author of the popular AI and medicine blog Glass Box, and the Founding Consultant of Vismedica AI, a firm that offers healthcare and AI consulting services.

    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.

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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 physician and coach, Stacia Dearmin.

    The unfortunate truth is that most surgeons in the United States will be named in a malpractice lawsuit at some point in their careers. Despite that, it’s a topic we don’t often discuss.

    Most compassionate surgeons are hit hard when a patient has an unforeseen negative outcome. Adding a malpractice lawsuit on top of a negative outcome can be overwhelming and injurious to a surgeon physically, mentally, and emotionally.

    What steps does Stacia suggest we do to become better equipped to deal with malpractice litigation?

    Step 1 - Connect with someone about your personal experience in a protected space. The isolation that stems from a malpractice lawsuit exacerbates suffering. We need other people to lean on when we’re suffering. Step 2 - Educate yourself about malpractice litigation. Recognize that, as doctors and not attorneys, we are not experts in litigation. However, learning the basics of the process can help us better prepare.

    Most importantly, practice preparation for potential malpractice litigation!

    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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast, leadership and health coach, Becky Wolfe.

    During her career as a Physician Assistant, Becky noticed that the healthcare system was treating a lot of chronic diseases but not doing as much to help patients get well. That disconnect and frustration resulted in Becky pursuing a career in health coaching.

    Now Becky’s primary coaching focus is helping teams function optimally. You need to have high levels of trust in order for teams to function well. Every member of any healthcare team has the same ultimate goal in mind – the patient outcome. It’s important for each member to have a clear role and identity in attaining that goal. If everyone has a solid understanding of their role, communication will improve drastically.

    What steps does Becky suggest to help teams function optimally?

    Step 1 - Double Down on Communication. It’s the building block of any successful team. You need more communication, not less. Schedule regular meetings to get everyone on the same page efficiently.Step 2 - Build Deeper Layers of Trust. Get to know the members of your team on a more personal level. Even if it may feel a bit awkward or too personal, ask them about their hobbies and interests outside of work. This will create a much deeper bond that will help improve communication and teamwork.

    Most importantly, PRACTICE people development to build stronger teams!

    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.

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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 physician coach Joseph Kaczmarczyk, DO, MPH, MBA.

    Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a cascade of seemingly endless changes. While everyone’s experience of the pandemic has been unique, there is one aspect that’s shared between physicians and patients alike: No one is immune to change. But the change brought on by the advent of COVID-19 was unlike anything we’d seen before.

    The new normal for change is “3-D change” - which is defined by three dimensions: (1) it’s perpetual; (2) it’s pervasive; (3) it’s exponential. With this new 3-D change, we need to adapt our leadership styles accordingly. Sapient leadership invokes humanism and refers to the quality of wisdom and to being human.

    What steps does Joe suggest we do to practice sapient leadership?

    Step 1 - Think of a change you’ve experienced. How would you characterize that change? Was it pervasive, perpetual, or exponential?Step 2 - Consider how the experience of that change impacted you. How did it alter your thinking?Step 3 - Ponder what you are going to do differently in the future as a result of that change?

    Most importantly, practice sapient leadership!

    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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast author, international speaker, and consultant in performance and sport psychology, Dr. Haley Perlus.

    The principles of sport / performance psychology have many applications for surgeons, who are always striving for peak performance. There is a lot that we, as surgeons, can learn from professional athletes.

    Professional athletes don’t recover when they have the time. They recover as a mandatory part of their performance program. Surgeons can do the same. You can’t be resilient or clear of mind if you don’t give yourself time to recover.

    What steps does Haley suggest we do to incorporate recovery into our practices?

    Step 1 - Recognize that recovery is non-negotiable. It is a mandatory component of our performance programs.Step 2 - Focus on short recovery bouts consistently throughout the day.

    Most importantly, practice recovery!

    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.

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    Jeff welcomes to the podcast Joseph M. Kaczmarczyk, DO, MPH, MBA.

    Joseph specializes in teaching physicians about crisis leadership and crisis management. Although there is overlap between crisis leadership and crisis management, there is a distinct difference between the two. Crisis leadership is knowing the right thing to do, while crisis management is knowing how to do things right.

    Since every physician may be called on to be a crisis manager, it’s important to know what comprises crisis management. Joseph prefers to define crisis management using the GHP model - which consists of four components.

    Component 1 - Issues Management. This consists of performing an environmental scan to identify any issues with the potential to become crises, generating a risk image, obtaining stakeholders’ views of these threats, and to ascertain the probable consequences.Component 2 - Planning & Prevention. This consists of establishing a proactive policy to respond to potential crises and preparing contingency plans.Component 3 - The Crisis. This consists of evaluating your response to the crisis, targeting your message to the appropriate audiences, and minimizing harm to your stakeholders.Component 4 - The Post-Crisis. This consists of monitoring the crisis, informing stakeholders of your actions, evaluating how the crisis management plan worked.Most importantly, practice crisis management!

    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.

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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…

    Carla welcomes orthopaedic surgeon and coach, Jeffrey M Smith, MD, FACS, PCC to the 100th episode of the SurgeonMasters podcast!

    A huge part of the SurgeonMasters podcast has been inspiring others by highlighting issues specific to physicians and surgeons. These important conversations have been a refuge and a resource for medical professionals to discuss topics that typically don’t get much focus.

    This podcast was born from Jeff’s interest in coaching and how it can improve the lives of physicians and surgeons at every level. Coaching is something that can help anyone in the medical profession.

    Thank you for making the SurgeonMasters Podcast a success for 100 episodes. Look forward to more high-level conversations on the mini-podcast in the future!

    Most importantly, PRACTICE Inspiring Passion in yourself and others!

    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.

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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 physician leader and coach, Joseph M. Kaczmarczyk, DO, MPH, MBA.

    Although crisis leadership and crisis management are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between the two. Crisis leadership is knowing the right things to do, while crisis management is knowing how to do things right.

    All physicians are leaders. There are six critical aspects of crisis leadership:

    Sense MakingDecision Making and CoordinatingMeaning MakingAccountingLearningPreparing

    What should a physician know about crisis leadership for crises you can’t predict? After a crisis appears to be “over” it’s not actually over until an AAR (After Action Review) is completed. This review dives into what was expected to happen; what actually happened; what went well; and what can be improved.

    What does Joseph suggest we do to practice good leadership in response to a crisis?

    Step 1 - Recall the Crisis. In the crisis, were you the crisis leader, crisis manager, or both? Did you perform any of the six crisis leadership tasks?Step 2 - Ask Yourself the 4 AAR Questions. What was expected to happen? What actually happened? What went well? What can be improved?

    Most importantly, PRACTICE crisis leadership!

    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.

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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 Carla Smith, MD. Carla is an orthopaedic surgeon, educator, and coach.

    As physicians, we talk a lot about having compassion for our patients but we don’t really talk about compassion for ourselves. It’s essential that we call attention to this compassion gap so we can improve our practices and our lives.

    Carla has been through the SurgeonMasters Physician Coach Training program and is now working as a physician coach. The SurgeonMasters approach to coaching provides the opportunity to identify skills that we want to obtain or improve, with the ultimate goal of helping ourselves or others.

    What steps does Carla suggest we do to have more compassion for ourselves?

    Step 1 - Recognize how you’re reacting to things. This can be something as simple as failing to wake up early to exercise. Are you beating yourself up for small things like this?Step 2 - Take a beat. Don’t immediately jump into a negative headspace and beat yourself up. Take a moment to think about how you’re going to react.Step 3 - Show compassion to yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself! Give yourself grace.

    Most importantly, start to PRACTICE self-compassion!

    Guest: Carla Smith, MD
    Carla is a fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeon. She is also a surgeon educator and surgeon coach. As former chair of the department of surgery at a very large urban hospital, she saw firsthand how adverse events and lack of collegiality impact physicians, which steered her toward peer support and coaching. She views physician empowerment as a way to give back to her community and foster physician longevity. Balancing work with her passion for humanitarian service – both domestic and abroad – has been one of her most rewarding accomplishments. In her free time, Carla values spending time outdoors with her family.

    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 orthopaedic surgeon, Wendell Cole MD. Dr. Cole is also the host of the popular orthopaedic podcast, Nailed It Ortho.

    The Nailed It podcast grew from Dr. Cole's desire to learn more about various orthopeadic topics while in medical school. It has since grown into covering a wide range of issues that surgeons face - many of which are not explicitly taught in medical school.

    Podcasting has become a great creative outlet for Dr. Cole. It has also helped him realize the importance of creative outlets. In the medical field, we're often fixated on the technical aspects of our work so much that we tend to ignore creativity.

    What steps does Wendell suggest we do to nurture our creative outlets?

    Step 1 - Think back to what you enjoyed doing as a kid. For example, maybe you loved to draw.Step 2 - Figure out a way to incorporate that into your life and career. If you loved to draw, think about how you can bring that into your work.

    Most importantly, start to practice your creative outlets!

    Guest: Wendell "Cody" Cole MD

    Wendell is a current Orthopaedic Surgery chief resident at Tulane University SOM. He started college at the age of 16 and started medical school when he was 20 years old. He graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2018. He is also a best--selling author, having written "The Med School Survival Kit- How to Breeze Through Medical School WHile Crushing Your Exams", which currently has over 120 reviews and 5 stars on Amazon. He also is the co-host of Nailed It Ortho, a 5-star orthopaedic surgery podcast covering high-yield topics with more than 200 episodes published featuring experts from the field of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has also published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, has written multiple textbook chapters, and has presented his research at a national level. He is set to start a sports medicine fellowship in 2023 at NYU- Hospital for Joint Disease.

    Find Dr. Cole at Nailed It Ortho.



    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.

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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 pediatrician and founder of Doctoring Differently®, Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid.

    Doctoring Differently® is focused on teaching physicians that they can create the lives and careers that they deserve. Many physicians are unaware of the plethora of professional options available to them. We’re often taught that there are only a few career paths to choose from. But there are so many alternative options that can lead to better, more fulfilling careers.

    What steps does Naomi suggest we do to build the careers of our dreams?

    Step 1 - Understand that there are no rules for a career in medicine! The traditional career paths are not the only ones available. Step 2 - Survey your career options. This can include opportunities inside and outside of medicine. Explore what others have done and even what no one has done before.Step 3 - Begin the process that will create the career that you want. Take action and pursue the career of your dreams.

    Most importantly, begin to PRACTICE doctoring differently!

    Guest Bio:

    Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid, M.D. is a board-certified pediatrician and founder of Doctoring Differently®, a company uniquely centered around educating and supporting physicians in their pursuit of unconventional clinical and non-clinical career paths. Dr. Lawrence-Reid created this platform after personally exploring many of the flexible and lucrative job opportunities that physicians are not taught at any point in medical education. She now utilizes her unique methodology to educate physicians on creating careers that prioritize their individual interests while promoting lifelong curiosity, creativity, and satisfaction in medicine.

    Dr. Lawrence-Reid is a proud Boston-area native now warmly based in San Diego, California. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and she completed pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore/Einstein in Bronx, New York. She has served as a staff physician at Rady Children’s Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, and various other southern California hospitals. In addition to Doctoring Differently®, Dr. Lawrence-Reid is owner and medical director of NLR Med Aesthetics and she remains a vocal advocate for health and safety policies that protect the children of San Diego county.






    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 a Text Message.

    Jeff welcomes to the podcast Retired US Navy Captain and New York Times Bestselling author, David Marquet.

    David was a nuclear submarine commander who came up through an organizational structure that rewarded knowing the right answer and following orders. In many organizational structures, people are often biased towards doing what they’re told, even if they sense it may not be the best course of action.

    The best way to get out of this organizational mindset is for the leader to not make any decisions, but instead let their team come to them with solutions.

    What steps does David suggest we do to improve organizational design?

    Step 1 - Invite dissenting opinions. Even after a decision has been made, ask your team if it was the right call and how things could have been handled differently.Step 2 - Stop requiring permission. Instead have team members actively verbalize actions before they take them. This allows the leader to stop any actions, while empowering team members to take ownership of their actions.Step 3 - Lean back and let your team come to you. This will make your team feel more valued and lead to better decision making and organizational design.

    Most importantly, practice organizational leadership!

    Guest: David Marquet

    Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author David Marquet was assigned to command the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, then ranked last in retention and operational standing. He “turned the ship around” by treating the crew as leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This revolutionary approach not only took the Santa Fe from “worst to first” in the rankings, but also created more subsequent leaders than any other submarine. Captain Marquet is the author of Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. Fortune magazine named it the #1 must-read business book of the year, and USA Today listed it as one of the top 12 business books of all time. Next came the newly acclaimed book, Leadership is Language. It is time to ditch the Industrial Age playbooks and learn that choosing the right words can improve team decision-making and execution. Leadership is

    Language is featured in The Wall Street Journal’s Top 10 Best-Selling Business Book List, and was named the Book of the Month for the Financial Times. David Marquet is here today to deliver the powerful message that in highly effective organizations, leadership is not for the select few at the top.

    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!