Podcasts – WISER Podcast: Recent Episodes
Women In Surgery at the Emory Residencies
In this episode, we are honored to have Dr. Jennifer Kawwass with us on the podcast. Dr. Kawwass is joined by President and OBGYN hopeful Megan Wasson and Vice-President Rachel Holstein. Dr. Kawwass speaks with our team about the field of REI, the influence of social media on her patients, and her work in advocating for patients and residents.
Among her numerous roles and responsibilities, she serves as the division director of Reproductive Endocrinology at Emory University and director of the Emory Reproductive Center. Dr. Kawwass obtained her undergraduate degree at Davidson College where she split her time between studies and a division I sport. She went on to medical school in her home state of Virginia at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and found her way to Atlanta for residency and fellowship training. She has received many accolades along the way including her role as Chief Resident and guest researcher for the CDC as well as her current engagements at the national level with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Hosts: Megan Wasson and Rachel Holstein
Editors: Grace Nguyen and Megan Wasson
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot Sessions
The post On Family Building & Wearing Hats with Dr. Kawwass first appeared on WISER Podcast.
On this episode, president Shannon Su and president emeritus Elizabeth Rieger are honored to host Dr. Betsy Grunch on the WISER podcast. Dr. Grunch is a neurosurgeon, mom, and “medfluencer” who speaks with us about her insane balancing act of being a mom and a physician, working social media, and what it’s like to be a physician in the spotlight.
Dr. Grunch is an esteemed Neurosurgeon and physician shareholder at the Longstreet Clinic, in Gainesville, Georgia, where she operates at both the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and the Gainesville Surgical Center. She is a Georgia Native and attended the University of Georgia for her undergraduate degree, and the Medical College of Georgia for medical school. She then attended Duke University for her residency in Neurosurgery, and then spine fellowship. Dr. Grunch is also known as “Lady Spine Doc” on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, where she has almost 2 million followers!
Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Hosts: Shannon Su and Elizabeth Rieger
Editors: Julia Byrnes
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot SessionsHosts: Shannon Su and Elizabeth Rieger
Editors: Julia Byrnes
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot Sessions
The post S6E4: @ladyspinedoc on The WISER Podcast! first appeared on WISER Podcast.
Welcome to episode 3 of season 6! In this episode, presidents Shannon and Megan speak with Dr. Jennifer Gross about her journey to becoming a head and neck surgeon and the intrigue of head and neck surgery.
Dr. Jennifer Gross is an Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology in the division of Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University. She is an Emory University School of Medicine graduate! Before attending medical school, she was awarded a national research scholarship to work at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She also interned as a public health inspector at the Beijing Centers for Disease Control, China. Dr. Gross completed her otolaryngology residency at Washington University in St. Louis and her fellowship in head and neck oncologic surgery at the University of Miami. She has authored multiple research publications and book chapters.
Hosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon Su
Editors: Grace Nguyen
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot SessionsHosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon Su
Editors: Grace Nguyen
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot Sessions
Stay tuned for our next episode!
The post S6E3:On Head & Neck Surgery and Work-Life Balance with Dr. Jennifer Gross first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, our chief editor extraordinaire, Grace, hosts Dr. McKenzie Hollon on the WISER podcast. After many seasons of speaking with surgeons at the table, we figured it was about time to go beyond the drape, and there is no better person than Dr. Hollon to do that with us. She provides a peek into the wonderful world behind the drape, what it’s like to work and train as a cardiac anesthesiologist at a level one trauma center, and her foray into the realm of anesthesia education.
Dr. Hollon is an esteemed faculty member in the Department of Anesthesiology at Emory University Hospital who specializes in Cardiac Anesthesia. She is also the vice chair for education in the department of anesthesiology. Dr. Hollon obtained her undergraduate degree at Auburn University, and her medical degree from Louisiana State University. She completed both her residency and cardiac fellowship at Emory, and she currently serves as the Vice Chair of Education of Emory’s Anesthesia department.
Hosts: Grace Nguyen
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Megan Wasson
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Harleen Kaur
Music: Bluedot SessionsHosts: Grace Nguyen
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Megan Wasson
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Harleen Kaur
Music: Bluedot Sessions
Stay tuned for our next episode!
The post S6E2: Behind the Drape with Dr. Hollon first appeared on WISER Podcast.
Welcome to season 6! In this episode, newly minted presidents Shannon Su and Megan Wasson interview Dr. Angela Cheng, a Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon at Emory. Dr. Cheng provides insight into her experience as a woman in largely male-dominated fields, the significance of mentorship, and the importance of standing up for yourself and asking for what you deserve.
Dr. Cheng is an esteemed faculty in the Plastic Surgery Department at Emory University who specializes in breast reconstruction, microsurgery, lymphedema surgery, and body contouring. She is also Chief of Plastic Surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and Assistant Program Director for the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at Emory. Dr. Cheng obtained both her undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Florida. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Texas-Houston, followed by plastic surgery residency at the University of Virginia and a fellowship in breast and microsurgery at UT Southwestern.
Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Hosts: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Jennifer Wang, Julia Byrnes, Shannon Su
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot SessionsHosts: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Jennifer Wang, Julia Byrnes, Shannon Su
Producers: Shannon Su and Megan Wasson
Artwork: Shannon Su
Music: Bluedot Sessions
Stay tuned for our next episode!
The post S6E1: Dr. Angela Cheng, on Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (and Asking for What You Deserve) first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, WISER president Lara Schwieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary interview Dr. Kirsten Freeman, a cardiovascular surgeon at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman discusses her experiences training in hospitals around the country, touches on the pros and cons of integrated vs traditional residency pathways to CT surgery, and describes the transition from surgical trainee to attending.
Dr. Freeman completed medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, then went on to do general surgery residency at the University of Colorado Denver and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Freeman is currently an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Florida, and the Associate Program Director for the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Integrated and Traditional Residency Training Programs.
Hosts: Lara Schwieger & Helen O’Leary
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Lucy Avant, Julia Byrnes
Producers: Lizzie Rieger & Lara Schwieger
Music: Blue Dot SessionsHosts: Lara Schwieger, Helen O’Leary
Editors: Grace Nguyen, Julia Byrnes, Lucy Avant
Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger
Artwork: Victoria Mau
Music: Bluedot Sessions
The post S5E8: Dr. Kirsten Freeman, on Cardiovascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode we interview Dr. Megan Tracci, vascular and endovascular surgeon at the University of Virginia, as well as the founder and co-medical director of the UVA Northridge Vein Clinic. Dr. Tracci is our first surgeon with a JD to be featured on the podcast! WISER president, Lizzie Rieger, and co-host Helen O’Leary team up to ask Dr. Tracci about being a dual MD-JD, health policy including her time as a fellow in the US senate, and vascular surgery.
Dr. Tracci graduated from the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with both a JD and MD, with an emphasis on health policy and patient safety. She went on to complete a residency in general surgery followed by a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Virgina. During her research years as a resident she worked as a legislative fellow for the United States senate.
https://wiserpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/S5E7-Megan-Tracci-MD-JD-on-Health-Policy.m4aHosts: Lizzie Rieger, Helen O’Leary
Editors: Grace Nguyen
Producers: Lizzie Rieger, Lara Schwieger
Music: Bluedot Sessions
Hosts: Lizzie Rieger, Helen O’Leary
Editors: Grace Nguyen
Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger
Artwork: Victoria Mau
Music: Bluedot Sessions
The post S5E7: Dr. Megan Tracci, JD, MD, on Health Policy and Vascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode we interview Dr. Laura Ramirez-Caban, a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University Hospital. WISER third year medical students Shannon and Megan team up to ask Dr. Ramirez about minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS), a relatively new subspecialty in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Later, Dr. Ramirez discusses her passion for working with underserved populations and her experience as a new mom and surgeon.
Dr. Ramirez obtained her undergraduate degree from Drexel University, and her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine. She completed residency at Emory University and a MIGS fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Hosts: Megan Wasson, Shannon SuEditors: Megan Wasson, Shannon Su, Grace NguyenProducers: Lizzie Rieger, Lara SchwiegerMusic: Bluedot SessionsHosts: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson
Editors: Shannon Su, Megan Wasson, Grace Nguyen
Producers: Lara Schwieger and Lizzie Rieger
Artwork: Victoria Mau
Music: Bluedot Sessions
The post S5E6: Dr. Laura Ramirez-Caban, on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, we interview Dr. Olamide Alabi, an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Jessica Keilson, general surgery PGY4, and Dr. Emma Rooney, vascular surgery fellow, teamed up to discuss Dr. Alabi’s experiences in medical school, residency, and as a vascular surgery attending. Later, we discuss Dr. Alabi’s role as a mentor in surgery and her insights into being an effective mentor.
Dr. Alabi attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine for medical school and Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California for her general surgery residency. She went on to complete a fellowship in vascular surgery at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Her current interests and research involve the disparities in vascular surgery within the veteran community.
Listen Below:
Hosts: Dr. Emma Rooney, Dr. Jessica KeilsonEditors: Cynthia Ramazani, Grace NguyenProducers: Lara Schwieger, Lizzie RiegerHosts: Dr. Emma Rooney & Dr. Jessica Keilson
Editors: Cynthia Ramazani & Grace Nguyen
Producers: Lara Schwieger & Lizzie Rieger
Music: Blue Dot Sessions
The post S5E5: Dr. Olamide Alabi, on Vascular Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Allison Linden, an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Katya Van Anderlecht and Sophia Stylianos (M4s) teamed up to discuss Dr. Linden’s experiences as a researcher and global surgeon in Rwanda and Uganda. Later, we talk about her many roles as ECMO director, pediatric surgeon, former critical care fellow, and public health scholar.
Dr. Linden attended Georgetown University for medical school and general surgery residency. During her residency sabbatical, she went on to Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health where she was a Paul Farmer Global Surgery Research Fellow and received her MPH degree with a concentration in global health and population. Dr. Linden has completed 3 fellowships, the first being a Pediatric Surgery critical care fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the second, a Pediatric Surgery ECMO fellowship at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, and finally a Pediatric Surgery fellowship at Thomas Jefferson Dupont Hospital for Children. Dr. Linden is now a pediatric surgeon here at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Listen below:
Dr. Linden with her husband at Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.Dr. Linden with her daughter during fellowship.Hosts: Katya Van Anderlecht & Sophia Stylianos
Editor: Lizzie Rieger & Cameron Blount
Producers: Jessica Keilson, Katya Van Anderlecht, Sophia Stylianos, Cameron Blount, Julia Byrnes, and Francesca Giraudo
Music: Blue Dot Sessions
Citations:
Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services: Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Improving Employment and Working Conditions in Health Services, Geneva, 24–28 April 2017, International Labour Office, Sectoral Policies Department, Geneva, ILO, 2017.
LeBrun DG, Chackungal S, Chao TE, Knowlton LM, Linden AF, Notrica MR, Solis CV, McQueen KA. Prioritizing essential surgery and safe anesthesia for the Post-2015 Development Agenda: operative capacities of 78 district hospitals in 7 low- and middle-income countries. Surgery. 2014 Mar;155(3):365-73. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.10.008. Epub 2013 Oct 11. PMID: 24439745.
Leider JP, Plepys CM, Castrucci BC, Burke EM, Blakely CH. Trends in the Conferral of Graduate Public Health Degrees: A Triangulated Approach. Public Health Reports. 2018;133(6):729-737. doi:10.1177/0033354918791542
Linden AF, Maine R, Hedt-Gauthier BL, Kamanzi E, Mody G, Ntakiyiruta G, Kansayisa G, Ntaganda E, Niyonkuru F, Mubiligi J, Mpunga T, Meara JG, Riviello R. Validation of a community-based survey assessing non-obstetric surgical conditions in Burera District, Rwanda. Lancet. 2015 Apr 27;385 Suppl 2:S8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60803-0. Epub 2015 Apr 26. PMID: 26313110.
Linden AF, Sekidde FS, Galukande M, Knowlton LM, Chackungal S, McQueen KA. Challenges of surgery in developing countries: a survey of surgical and anesthesia capacity in Uganda’s public hospitals. World J Surg. 2012 May;36(5):1056-65. doi: 10.1007/s00268-012-1482-7. PMID: 22402968.
Maine RG, Linden AF, Riviello R, Kamanzi E, Mody GN, Ntakiyiruta G, Kansayisa G, Ntaganda E, Niyonkuru F, Mubiligi JM, Mpunga T, Meara JG, Hedt-Gauthier BL. Prevalence of Untreated Surgical Conditions in Rural Rwanda: A Population-Based Cross-sectional Study in Burera District. JAMA Surg. 2017 Dec 20;152(12):e174013. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4013. Epub 2017 Dec 20. PMID: 29071335; PMCID: PMC5831432.
Shrime MG, Sekidde S, Linden A, Cohen JL, Weinstein MC, Salomon JA. Sustainable Development in Surgery: The Health, Poverty, and Equity Impacts of Charitable Surgery in Uganda. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 30;11(12):e0168867. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168867. PMID: 28036357; PMCID: PMC5201287.
The post S5E4: Dr. Allison Linden, on Pediatric & Global Surgery first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Priscilla Strom, the first female graduate of the general surgery residency program at Emory University. She completed medical school at Emory in 1976, general surgery residency at Emory in 1981, and a trauma surgery fellowship at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in 1982. She also holds master’s degrees in both theological studies and bioethics.
She is currently the interim Program Director at the general surgery program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and practices in Gainesville, Georgia.
Lara and Cameron teamed up for this interview to ask about Dr. Strom’s missionary work in India, being the first female trainee at the Emory general surgery residency program, the ACGME implementation of the 80-hour work week, as well as asking advice for residents and fellows going through training now (from a program director!).
Hosts: Cameron Blount & Lara Schwieger
Editor: Cameron Blount
Producers: Jessica Keilson, Cameron Blount, & Lara Schwieger
Music: Blue Dot Sessions
The post S5E3: On Being the First with Dr. Priscilla Strom first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, Cameron Blount (M4) and Lara Schwieger (M3) interview Dr. Frances (Francie) Jenkins! This episode focuses on advice for 4th-year medical students navigating application season, including ERAS tips, navigating virtual interviews, and formulating rank lists. Dr. Jenkins reflects on her intern year experiences and shares where she imagines herself and her career in the future. Finally, we ask about the best music for the OR, bonding with co-residents, and losing your car in the parking garage!
Dr. Frances Jenkins is a current PGY2 in the General Surgery Residency Program at Emory University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and completed medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hosts: Cameron Blount & Lara Schwieger
Editors: Cynthia Ramazani
Producer: Cameron Blount & Lara Schwieger
Music: Blue Dot Sessions
The post S5E2: Resident Reflections – Dr. Frances Jenkins first appeared on WISER Podcast.
In this episode, we take a step back in time and focus on women throughout history that have gone against the grain and pursued their passions for surgery despite obstacles and opposition. These stories highlight how far we’ve come, and remind us that there is still more work to be done.
Dr. Wang and Patience discuss Major Barbara Stimson, Dr. Nina Braunwald, and Dr. Margaret Ann Bulkley, among others.
Major Barbara StimsonDr. Nina BraunwaldJames Barry aka Dr. Margaret Ann BulkleyHosted & Produced by: Dr. Vivian Wang & Patience Timi
Edited by: Samridhi Banskota & Cameron Blount
Music by: Blue Dot Sessions
The post S5E1: History of Women in Surgery: A Step Back in Time first appeared on WISER Podcast.
Dr. Castater followed a unique path to becoming a trauma surgeon. From fine artist, to business school, to an unexpected trauma experience of her own that led her to medical school, Dr. Castater walks us through her journey. This episode offers perspectives on medicine as a second career, family transitions and balance, and how Dr. […]
In this episode, co-hosted with Audible Bleeding, Dr. Rockman, the Program Director of vascular surgery residency and fellowship and a professor of surgical research at NYU, walks us through her impressive research career, touching upon finding ways to fit research into a busy surgical lifestyle, her passion for trying to bridge the gap for underrepresented/marginalized […]
Dr. Caprice Greenberg is a renowned surgeon scientist and a true visionary in the world of health services research. In this episode, we make reference to two powerful talks of hers that made waves in the world of surgery. The first talk, called “Sticky Floors and Glass Ceilings”, was her 2017 Association for Academic Surgery […]
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we are excited to be joined by Dr. Stephanie Drew, an incredible Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon and breast cancer survivor. Dr. Drew shares her cancer journey, the coincidence that led to her diagnosis, insights gained from being a physician-patient, and her experience living as a cancer survivor. We […]
It’s that time of year when newly minted graduates of surgical training programs start their first attending jobs! It’s an exciting time, but do you really know what to expect? And how do you go from years of pre-scripted training to finding the right first job? So, for our first episode of season 4, we […]
This mother-daughter special features Dr. Patricia Bortoluzzi, a craniofacial plastic surgeon in Montreal, and her daughter, Alex Speak, who just so happens to be our Producer here at WISER. In this episode, they discuss their roots in surgery, their mother-daughter dynamic, and the struggles in their respective journeys. Dr. Bortoluzzi, a first-generation Canadian of Italian […]
Before COVID times, one of our #beWISER events was on pregnancy and parenthood during surgical residency. Dr. Rima Rindler (Emory neurosurgery resident) and Dr. Emily Barrow (then Emory ENT resident, now faculty), came up with the idea of sharing their experiences and the many things they both wished they knew about having kids during residency. […]
Dr. Shipra Arya is seriously impressive – she graduated from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, one of the most prestigious medical schools in India (think: 60,000 applicants for 35 spots a year!), and at that time, was the only female student pursuing surgery. Early on, she knew that she wanted to come to the […]
Today, we are delighted to be presenting an interview with Dr. Leigh Neumayer. She visited Emory University last year to deliver General Surgery grand rounds, and we caught some of her valuable time to talk to her one-on-one. At this time, she was the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she became their first female […]
Dr. Velazquez is the Vascular Fellowship Director and a faculty member at Wake Forest Health. She graduated from Universidad de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, then completed a general surgery residency at Emory University and a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Florida. Throughout her journey to becoming a vascular surgeon, Dr. Velazquez has demonstrated […]
The path to become a practicing surgeon is long and arduous. At the same time, it is also fairly regimented: 4+ years in medical school, 5+ years in residency, and then possibly a couple more in fellowship. Each step comes with a standardized process and timeline that we are used to pressing through. After you […]
In today’s episode, we hear from some Buckeyes! Our WISER co-founder, Vivian Wang (she/her/hers) is joined by JC Chen (they/them/theirs), a PGY2 from The Ohio State University, as they interview Dr. Courtney Collins (she/her/hers). In our conversation, we start to scratch the surface on the topic of LGBTQ+ in surgery.
Dr. Collins is originally from a small town in Washington state. From there, her training took her all the way to the east coast, until finally settling in the Midwest with her partner. She is currently an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, with interests in complex abdominal wall reconstruction and geriatric surgery.
Being the oldest of five siblings, family was a major support system for Dr. Collins when she came out at a young age. We explored what it was like to grow up gay in a conservative town, and how being a part of the LGBTQ+ community impacted the way she navigated her career.
Diversity and inclusion are often mentioned “buzzwords” in medicine, but active advocacy and allyship from colleagues is often lacking. For those that identify with the experiences in this episode, Dr. Collins gives this advice:
“You don’t have to feel ashamed of yourself for not speaking up for everything that you hear… You can’t take on the whole system by yourself and you shouldn’t feel pressured to.”
While we celebrate the upwards trajectory with LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusivity in surgery, we still have a ways to go, and we invite you to join us and be an ally.
As Dr. Collins aptly notes,
“Nobody is perfect, we all have to work together because changing culture takes a long time…but it’s important to have conversations like this..”
Hosts: Vivian Wang, JC Chen
Editor: Patience Timi
Producer: Alex Speak
Art: Virginia Wang