Episode 16: Dr. Andrea Hayes-Jordan Dr. Andrea Hayes-Jordan is the Byah Thomason Doxey-Sanford Doxey Distinguished Professor, and Chief of the Division of General Pediatric Surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She is also the surgeon-in-chief at the North Carolina Children’s Hospital, as well as the first board-certified Black female pediatric surgeon in the United States, and the first person to perform pediatric HIPEC surgery for sarcomatosis. She joins Dr. Mezrich to share her journey through these accomplishments, her experience as an aspiring Black female surgeo ..read more

Episode 15: Chancellor Rebecca “Becky” Blank Rebecca “Becky” Blank has been the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2013. It only takes a glance at her Curriculum Vitae to understand that her journey to the position is one of great impact and innovation. Before becoming the chancellor at UW-Madison, Blank was the deputy secretary and acting Secretary of Commerce under President Obama, a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton, dean and professor of public policy and economics in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michi ..read more

Episode 14: Dr. Allan Kirk Dr. Allan Kirk of Duke University is the David C. Sabiston, Jr. Professor of Surgery, chairman of the department of surgery, a professor of immunology and pediatrics, among many other accomplishments (including his former career as a tuba player). He joins Dr. Mezrich to discuss his history in transplant surgery, the first time he met his wife in sixth grade, how innovation itself has changed over time, and the future of transplant. Follow us on Twitter: @WiscSurgery Give our Facebook page a like: @WiscSurgery Follow us on Instagram: @WiscSurgery ..read more

Episode 13: Dr. Rana Awdish At the end of her medical training, Dr. Rana Awdish suffered a sudden critical illness that nearly killed her. From this experience as a dying patient, Dr. Awdish’s perspective shifted and translated to her practice in crucial ways. She learned the importance of acknowledging the humanity of patients, of nuance in how doctors discuss pain, of relinquishing the pressure to be a “good patient,” and much more. She was able to implement these ideas and form the CLEAR (Connect, Listen, Empathize, Align, Respect) program, which teaches faculty and trainees relationship-ba ..read more

Episode 12: Dr. Layton “Bing” Rikkers Dr. Bing Rikkers was born in a small town in Wisconsin, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate career, and now holds a special place in the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery’s history as a prominent past chairman. Dr. Rikkers shares how he overcame his fear of blood, the pioneering days of heart transplant, his lengthy experience as a chairman, his insecurities, and serendipity. Follow us on Twitter: @WiscSurgery Give our Facebook page a like: @WiscSurgery Follow us on Instagram: @WiscSurgery ..read more

A Tribute to Dr. John Daly Dr. John Daly, the dean of Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine, passed away on Friday, March 26, 2021 at the age of 73. Dr. Daly touched the lives of so many in and out of the world of surgery. In this tribute, Dr. Mezrich provides a window into his life through an interview he had with Dr. Daly a couple of years ago, as well as his own experiences with him. Our hearts go out to Dr. Daly’s family, and all affected by passing ..read more

Episode 11: Dr. Gretchen Schwarze Dr. Gretchen Schwarze is a vascular surgeon and medical ethicist here at the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery. Dr. Schwarze has a deep background and interest in how surgeons communicate treatment decisions and recommendations to patients. Dr. Schwarze has made it her mission to better equip surgeons in their disclosure of treatment so that it most aligns with the values, preferences, and goals of their patients. In this episode, she discusses how her purpose of changing the world brought her to surgery, the life of a resident, and the many compon ..read more

Episode 10: Dr. Jeff Matthews Dr. Jeff Matthews is the chairman of surgery at the University of Chicago, and serves as a leader in many organizations in the surgical world. He joins Dr. Mezrich on the podcast to discuss how to set up a research lab, the progress of surgical training, the direction of surgical science, truth and truthiness regarding evidence-based practice, and his experience in making music! Dr. Matthews provides insight and advice for those invested in the future of surgery, and anyone who is trying to find their place in the world. Follow us on Twitter: @WiscSurgery Give our ..read more

Episode 8: Dr. Bruce Gewertz Dr. Bruce Gewertz is the Chair of the Department of Surgery, Surgeon-in-Chief, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs, and Vice-president for Interventional Services at Cedars-Sinai Health System. In realizing the value of emotional intelligence, Dr. Gewertz has made it his mission to share the impact emotional intelligence can have in the hospital. However, Dr. Mezrich knows Dr. Gewertz best as an inspiring and warm soul who supported his development as a surgeon. Dr. Gewertz shares what emotional intelligence looks like, and how his unique path in the field forced him to ..read more

Episode 8: Dr. Robert Montgomery It is difficult to choose an accolade that best describes Dr. Robert Montgomery. Some might say he is the director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Some might point to his many awards, including being in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most kidney transplants performed in one day. Today, however, he sits down with Dr. Mezrich to discuss his own heart transplant, and his resilience in the face of familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite the hurdles of this rare disease, he has found a way to achieve his dreams by staying calm to avoid arrhythm ..read more