Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

In this kickoff episode of the Behind the Knife Global Surgery Series, we dive into what global surgery really means—and why it matters to all of us. Five billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care. Our guest, Dr. Juan Carlos Puyana, shares powerful insights on redefining global surgery, building meaningful collaborations, and why surgeons in high-resource countries should care deeply about this work. If you want to broaden your vision of surgery, challenge assumptions, and hear stories that connect operating rooms from South Carolina to South Africa, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Hosts/Guest: Mike M. Mallah, MD, FACS, FICS Director of Global Surgery at Medical University of South Carolina @MikeMMallahMD @MUSCGlobalSurg mallahm@musc.edu Juan Carlos Puyana, MD, FACS O’Brian Chair of Global Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland @jcpuyanamd @RCSI_GlobalSurg Learning objectives: Define global surgery and explain how its meaning has evolved to highlight

Surgical resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is one of the highest-risk elective operations performed. The obstructive jaundice suffered by patients preoperatively, central location of the tumors, and extensive nature of the resection make pCCA one of the most challenging HPB disease processes. In this episode from the HPB team at Behind the Knife, listen in on the discussion about perioperative strategies to improve outcomes for surgical resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Hosts Anish J. Jain MD (@anishjayjain) is a current PGY4 General Surgery Resident at Stanford University and a former T32 Research Fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Timothy E. Newhook MD, FACS (@timnewhook19) is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is also the associate program director of the HPB fellowship.  Jean-Nicolas Vauthey MD, FACS (@VautheyMD) is Professor of Surgery and Chief of the HPB Section,

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the nuances in the work up and management of patients with pheochromocytomas. Hosts: Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center. Daniel Nelson, DO, FACS (@usarmydoc24) is Surgical Oncologist/HPB surgeon at Kaiser LAMC in Los Angeles. Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a 2ndYear Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson. Beth (Elizabeth) Barbera, MD (@elizcarpenter16) is a General Surgery physician in the United States Air Force station at RAF Lakenheath. Joe (Joseph) Broderick, MD, MA (@joebrod5) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center. Galen Gist, MD (@gistgalen) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center. Learning Objectives: 1)    Review the presentation of pa

“It’s 5pm and your Consultant (attending) has headed off home. A patient arrives in the resuscitation room blood spurting from a stab wound in the armpit. Join Roisin – a junior Major Trauma fellow, Prash – a surgical trainee, Max – a senior trauma surgery fellow, and Chris – a Consultant trauma surgeon, as we talk through decision making from point of injury to aftercare in this challenging trauma surgical case”. • Hosts: Bulleted list of host names, including title, institution, & social media handles if indicated 1.     Mr Prashanth Ramaraj. General Surgery trainee, Edinburgh rotation. @LonTraumaSchool 2.     Dr Roisin Kelly. Major Trauma Junior Clinical Fellow, Royal London Hospital.  3.     Mr Max Marsden. Resuscitative Major Trauma Fellow, Royal London Hospital. @maxmarsden83 4.     Mr Christopher Aylwin. Consultant Trauma & Vascular Surgeon and Co-Programme Director MSc Trauma Sciences at Queen Mary University of London. @cjaylwin • Learning objectives: Bulleted list of learning objectives. A

Learn more: https://behindtheknifeoralboardsimulator.org/ It has arrived!  Introducing Behind the Knife's Oral Board Simulator (beta version): Unlimited unique oral board scenarios Available 24/7 Diverse examiners Natural conversation  Detailed, actionable feedback based on SCORE curriculum and American Board of Surgery grading scheme Try it for free for a limited time! Note, this is our FIRST version of the Oral Board Simulator.  To make it better, we need your feedback.  After using the simulator, please take <1 minute to complete the feedback form.  This will help us refine the simulator and improve the user experience.   On this pod, we are thrilled to introduce the newest member of the Behind the Knife team, Dr. Matthew Swenson.  Dr. Swenson is a general surgeon and U.S. Air Force veteran.  He earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. After training he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska for

Joining Dr. Scott Steele today on Behind the Knife is Steve Crandall, a former medical negligence DEFENSE lawyer who, for reasons we will discuss, switched sides and now represents the patient who is suing care providers.  He is a founding partner of Crandall & Pera Law and also has been ranked as both one of the Top 5 Lawyers in Cleveland and Top 10 best Lawyers in Ohio for over 15 years. Crandall, a seasoned plaintiff attorney specializing in medical malpractice, joins the hosts to illuminate the key factors behind common lawsuits in surgery, the pivotal role of informed consent, standout cases with crucial learning points, expert witness strategies, and practical advice for surgeons to stay out of legal trouble. Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behind

Welcome to the 6th episode of our BTK/ASGBI series!  During this series, BTK fellow Agnes Premkumar and ASGBI hosts Jared Wohlgemut and Gita Lingam will compare and contrast various aspects of surgery between the United States and the United Kingdom, debating who does what better.  In this episode, we delve into surgical training, current challenges, and hopes for the future of surgical training in the US and the UK. We will be discussing the advent of the EPA curriculum in the US, the current challenge of obtaining a speciality position in the UK, and tips for making the resident to attending/junior faculty transition smoothly. Dr. Jeremy Lipman represents the US while Dr. Phil Pearce represents the UK in this thought-provoking conversation. Dr. Lipman is a colorectal surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and the director of graduate medical education for all training programs at the Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, he is an Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Professor of Surgery at Case Western Re

Why are we still treating acute uncomplicated diverticulitis with antibiotics? There is plenty of evidence from several randomized controlled trials demonstrating that symptomatic management alone yields similar results. If we should continue prescribing antibiotics for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, which patients should undergo treatment and when? Join Drs. Jared Hendren, Elissa Dabaghi, Joseph Trunzo, Ajaratu Keshinro, and David Rosen as they discuss the management of uncomplicated diverticulitis while reviewing groundbreaking literature. Hosts: -Jared Hendren, MD Institution: Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio - Elissa Dabaghi, MD Institution: Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio - Joseph Trunzo, MD Institution: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio Social Media Handle: X/Twitter @joseph_t

Psst… wanna hear some tea? Join Drs. Maya Hunt, John Woodward, and Cait Silvestri as they discuss gossip - what it is, what it means, and how it can impact the surgical training environment. Joined by authors of a recent paper deconstructing gossip in surgical residency, Dr. Bobbi Ann Adair White and former CoSEF leader Dr. Joseph L’Huillier, the team examines the ways gossip can be positive and negative, how we can mitigate the harms that come with it, and reflect on some of our own experiences with gossip as trainees. Episode Hosts: - Dr. Maya Hunt, Indiana University, mayahunt@iu.edu - Dr. John Woodward, University at Buffalo, @JohnWoodward76, jmwoodwa@buffalo.edu -  Dr. Cait Silvestri, Columbia University, @CaitSilvestri, cs4004@cumc.columbia.edu  -  CoSEF: @surgedfellows, cosef.org   Guests: -  Dr. Joseph L’Huillier, University of Buffalo, @JoeLHuillier101, josephlh@buffalo.edu -  Dr. Bobbi Ann Adair White, MGH Institute of Health Professions, @_BAAW_, bwhite2@mghihp.edu  Learning Objectives: -  D

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a clinical crossroads in breast surgery—balancing the risks of over-treatment with the need to prevent invasive cancer. With new data from active monitoring trials, the pressure is on for surgeons to personalize care. Tune in to this essential episode to stay ahead of the curve on DCIS management and to hear expert insights from two leading breast surgical oncologists. Hosts: - Rashmi Kumar, MD, PhD Resident, University of Michigan General Surgery Residency Program Twitter/X: @RashmiJKumar - Melissa Pilewskie, MD Attending Breast Surgical Oncologist, Co-Director of the Weiser Family Center for Breast Cancer, Michigan Medicine Twitter/X: @MPilewskie -  Stephanie Downs-Canner, MD Attending Breast Surgical Oncologist & Physician-Scientist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Program Director of the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Program Twitter/X: @SDownsCanner Learning Objectives: - Define DCIS and explain its significance as a precursor to inva

Welcome back our series on AI for the clinician! In this episode, we go over some basics of machine learning statistics with the goal to help you read and analyze contemporary studies. Some of this will be a review, and parts will be technical, but by the end we hope reading these studies is less daunting.  Hosts: Ayman Ali, MD Ayman Ali is a Behind the Knife fellow and general surgery PGY-4 at Duke Hospital in his academic development time where he focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, and surgery.  Julie Doberne, MD, PhD: @juliedoberne Julie Doberne is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Assistant Professor of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, cardiothoracic surgeon, and faculty member of the Surgical Data and Decision Sciences Lab at Oregon Health and Science University.  Phillip Jenkins, MD: @PhilJenkinsMD Phil Jenkins is a general surgery PGY-4 at Oregon Health and Science University and a National Library of Medicine Post-Doctoral fellow pursuing a master’s in clinical informa

In the second episode of this new collaboration between BTK and Annals of surgery, we discuss another hot topic: academic surgery. Specifically, we discuss dedicated research time for residents and how surgical leaders think about building the academic surgery enterprise. This discussion was inspired by a couple of recent papers in Annals of Surgery that stirred up a lot of conversation on social media which can be found below.  Host: Cody Mullens, MD MPH — general surgery resident at University of Michigan current BTK Surgery Education Fellow (@Cody_Mullens) Guest: Justin Dimick, MD MPH — Fredrick A Coller Distinguished Professor and Chair of Surgery at the University of you Michigan and Editor in Chief at Annals of Surgery (@jdimick1) Papers:  Career Trajectory After General Surgery Residency Do Academic Program Graduates Pursue Academic Surgery? https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/abstract/2025/05000/career_trajectory_after_general_surgery_residency_.10.aspx Training the Surgeon-scientist: Time (a

In this episode of Behind the Knife, Dr. Patrick Georgoff sits down with Dr. Keri Seymour and Dr. Joey Lew to tackle the complex world of gastrostomy tubes. What may seem like a routine and straightforward procedure is anything but—full of nuanced patient considerations, timing dilemmas, technical challenges, and potential complications that can turn a “simple” consult into a 2 a.m. call you won’t forget. From who truly needs a G tube and when to managing difficult post-op issues like dislodgement and buried bumper syndrome, this episode breaks down the practical, evidence-based approach every surgeon should know. Whether you’re managing stroke patients, trauma cases, or navigating the tricky administrative obstacles around enteral access, this episode will equip you with the insights and strategies to confidently dominate your G tube consults. Hosts:  ·      Dr. Patrick Georgoff (Acute Care Surgeon, Duke University) ·      Dr. Keri Seymour (Minimally Invasive & Acute Care Surgeon, Duke Regional) ·     

A silent danger lurks within the descending thoracic aorta. While most Type B aortic dissections are managed medically, up to half of these patients will either require life-saving surgery or die within just five years. So how do we separate those who will quietly recover from those on the edge of catastrophe? How do we protect the spinal cord, bowel, and limbs from the devastating consequences of malperfusion? Join the University of Michigan Department of Vascular Surgery as they tackle the high-stakes decisions behind managing this unpredictable disease—where timing is critical, interventions are evolving, and lives hang in the balance. Hosted by the University of Michigan Department of Vascular Surgery: ·       Robert Beaulieu, Program Director ·       Frank Davis, Assistant Professor of Surgery ·       Luciano Delbono, PGY-5 House Officer ·       Andrew Huang, PGY-4 House Officer ·       Carolyn Judge, PGY-2 House Officer Learning Objectives: 1.         Discuss general approach to diagnosis and m

What if we could train patients for surgery the way elite athletes train for game day? In this episode, we review the science, shed light on the disparities, explore real-world challenges, and honor the behind-the-scenes workers that facilitate prehabilitation in thoracic cancer care. Join attending surgeon Doctor Jinny Ha, 3rd year general surgery resident Doctor Kyla Rakoczy, and Community Outreach Patient Navigator, Leslie Ricks Chandler, in discussing prehabilitation in thoracic surgery. Hosts:  Dr. Jinny Ha, MD, MHS, assistant professor of surgery and thoracic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Leslie Ricks Chandler, Community Outreach Program Advisor Johns Hopkins Thoracic Surgery Dr. Kyla Rakoczy, MD, 3rd year general surgery resident at Johns Hopkins LinkedIn: Kyla Rakoczy Learning objectives:  After listening to this episode, participants will be able to: Define the role and components of prehabilitation in the context of thoracic oncology and ERAS/ESTS guidelines. Interpret key findings from recent clin

Primary hyperparathyroidism is an underdiagnosed condition which leads to decreased bone mineral density, fracture, renal disease, among other symptoms that can decrease the quality of a patient’s life. Moreover, once diagnosed, only a small fraction of patients with the diease end up being offered surgery. Whether it is because of misunderstood indications and benefits of surgery, non-localization of disease, or various other reasons, we thought it was worthwhile to review relevant literature. Hosts: Dr. Becky Sippel is an endowed professor of surgery at Division Chief of endocrine surgery at University of Wisconsin Madison and she is the most recent past president of the AAES.  She is an internationally recognized leader in the field of endocrine surgery. She has over 250 publications. She was the PI for a RCT which studies prophylactic central neck dissections which is a widely read and quoted study in endocrine surgery. Dr. Amanda Doubleday is a fellowship trained endocrine surgeon in private practice w

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to achieve this level of performance in your preparation you are sure to pass the oral exam with flying colors. The second part introduces high-yield commentary to each scenario. This commentary includes tips and tricks to help you dominate the most challenging scenarios in addition to practical, easy-to-understand teaching that covers the most confusing topics we face as general surgeons. We are confident you will find this unique, dual format approach a highly effective way to prepare for the test. All of our premium courses are available via our website and apps (iOS and Android).  Users can take notes, pin chapters a

In this episode, the Behind the Knife team shares exciting updates, including updates to the General Surgery Oral Board Review with 123 expert-commentary scenarios, 10 interactive videos, and 97 operative descriptions. They announce upcoming projects such as an AI-powered oral board simulator, Spanish-language review, a free pediatric surgery resource, and detailed surgical instrument flashcards. The team also introduces Dominate Surgery courses for medical students and advanced practice providers, designed to modernize and elevate surgical education. ***Choledocholithiasis wtih Gastric Bypass Video Scenario Link: https://app.behindtheknife.org/video/behindtheknife-general-surgery-oral-board-review-video-sample-choledocholithiasis-w-gastric-bypass --- Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral boa

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to achieve this level of performance in your preparation you are sure to pass the oral exam with flying colors. The second part introduces high-yield commentary to each scenario. This commentary includes tips and tricks to help you dominate the most challenging scenarios in addition to practical, easy-to-understand teaching that covers the most confusing topics we face as general surgeons. We are confident you will find this unique, dual format approach a highly effective way to prepare for the test. All of our premium courses are available via our website and apps (iOS and Android).  Users can take notes, pin chapters a

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to achieve this level of performance in your preparation you are sure to pass the oral exam with flying colors. The second part introduces high-yield commentary to each scenario. This commentary includes tips and tricks to help you dominate the most challenging scenarios in addition to practical, easy-to-understand teaching that covers the most confusing topics we face as general surgeons. We are confident you will find this unique, dual format approach a highly effective way to prepare for the test. All of our premium courses are available via our website and apps (iOS and Android).  Users can take notes, pin chapters a