Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

In surgical residency, cases are long, expectations are high, and patient care always comes first. But then you become a parent, and suddenly you’re navigating pregnancy risk, parental leave, and lactation logistics in a system that wasn’t built for it. We’ve made meaningful progress over the past decade, but too many trainees still face becoming parents in residency without clear, consistent support. In this episode, join Dr. Kara Button with Dr. Arielle Kanters and Dr. Sarah Shubeck as they ask: How do we build a surgical workforce that’s skilled, resilient—and genuinely supported as surgeon-parents? They’ll share practical, evidence-based steps programs can take to make parental support the norm—not the exception.Hosts:Kara Button, DO — General Surgery Resident, Maine Medical Center; Behind the Knife Surgical Education FellowArielle Kanters, MD — Colorectal Surgeon; Associate Program Director, Colorectal Surgery Fellowship, Cleveland ClinicDr. Sarah Shubeck, MD — Assistant Professor of Surgery; Breast Sur