SAGES Stories: Recent Episodes
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 24, we talk to two past presidents, Aurora Pryor, MD and Steve Schwaitzberg, MD, and the now-current president Christopher Schlachta, MD all about the new SAGES for-profit company SAGES Ingenuity and the SAGES Investment Network Collaboration (SINC).
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Drs. Pryor, Schwaitzberg, and Schlachta about the SAGES Investment Network and SAGES Ingenuity.
Links from the pod:
- SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting
- SAGES SINC Investment Fund
- SAGES Ingenuity
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 22, we talk to the current President-Elect of SAGES, hard name to spell correctly, hockey fan and Canadian (but we repeat ourselves), and one of the cool kids: Christopher Schlachta, MD!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schlachta about innovation in surgery, getting involved in laparoscopy, the SAGES Investment Network and SAGES Ingenuity. There’s also hockey, family, dogs, more hockey, and the occasional “aboot” thrown in for good measure!
Links from the pod:
- SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting
- SAGES SINC Investment Fund
- SAGES Ingenuity
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 21, we talk to the tiniest overachiever ever, Dana Telem, MD, current Vice President of SAGES, Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan, and a great friend to many of us.
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Telem about Fall weather (we might be posting this slightly out of order), evolutionary biology as a gateway to surgery, developing skin by being from Philadelphia, and why lipomas are important (they are). Oh, and we talk about creating an academic surgical career for oneself and the importance of finding your people.
Links from the pod:
- SAGES 2024 Annual Meeting
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 20, we talk to Steve Schwaitzberg, MD, Past President of SAGES and a man who has led a most interesting life. It is safe to say that SAGES would not look like what it does today without Dr. Schwaitzberg’s influence.
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schwaitzberg about socks, bingo, innovation, bad strategies for applying to med school, Club Med(?), plus current investment and innovation opportunities offered by SAGES
Links from the pod:
- SAGES 2012 Presidential Address
- SINC Opportunity Fund (Investment)
- SAGES Ingenuity – Opportunities for Innovation
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 19, we talk to KMarie King, MD. MS, MBA, FACS
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. King about learning to lead, the Glass Cliff, The Wallflowers (for some reason), belonging, advocacy, and implementing technology.
Links from the pod:
- SAGES 2022 Gerald Marks Lecture
In episode 18 we talk to Dr. Goldberg about his early years as a stage thespian, later years as a surgeon, Cleveland (of course), and much more.
In episode 17 we talk to Dr. Soper about the wild-west early days of MIS, surgeons with frickin laser beams, and why SAGES is the best society ever.
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 16, we talk to an amazing surgeon and human, Associate Professor of Surgery, Chief of Minimally Invasive, Robotic, and Bariatric Surgery, and Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Grady Memorial Hospital: Dr. Shaneeta Johnson!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Johnson about Cleveland (why?), global surgery volunteerism, how to implement DEI correctly, offsetting surgery’s carbon footprint, and more.
Links from the pod:
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- SAGES Speaker Log
- SAGES Committee Sign Up
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 14, we talk to surgeon extraordinaire, Chair of Surgery at Stanford, Director of the ABS, and amazing person: Dr. Mary Hawn!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Hawn about all things Board related, issues facing surgeons today, the challenges of being a two doctor household, and who in surgery has Vizslas.
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- Stanford Department of Surgery
- American Board of Surgery
- SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 14, we talk to surgical educator extraordinaire, SAGES past president from 2002-2003, and one of the best human beings on the planet: Dr. Bruce Schirmer!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Schirmer about HPB and the early partnerships between SAGES and the AHPBA, the early days of laparoscopy and endoscopy as he experienced them, and one of the most unfortunate/infamous SAGES Stories of all time.
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- SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 13, we talk to surgical educator extraordinaire and potentially the nicest human being in the entire world, Gerry Fried, MD
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Fried about life, family, Cleveland (again), Canada, and Montréal restaurant recommendations. Also, shout outs to Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery!
- SAGES 2023 Annual Meeting
- Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
In episode 12 we talk to Dr. Caitlin Halbert about rock stardom, bartending, getting into surgery as a woman and finding those strong women mentors and more.
In episode 11 we talk to Dr. Jeff Ponsky about endoscopy, Cleveland, and living on a compound. Plus, surgery, SAGES, family, and the importance of not taking oneself too seriously.
In episode 10, this is it. The big one. We're talking to one of the OGs of SAGES, the Godfather of Colorectal Surgery himself: Gerald Marks, MD!
This is a bonus podcast from Cold Steel talking to our President Elect, Patricia Sylla, MD
In episode 9, we get to listen to our current President-Elect - Patricia Sylla, MD talk about all things colorectal, family, and SAGES.
In episode 8, we get to listen to founding SAGES Member, past-president, and the most recognizable voice in surgery, old Golden Throat himself: Rick Greene, MD!
In episode 7, we double down on hernia talk (triple down if you count one of the hosts) and talk to Jake Greenberg, MD and Archana Ramaswamy, MD. Oh, yeah, they also happen to be the 2022 Program Chairs for the SAGES meeting so there might be a little more meeting talk than usual.
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 6, we listen to a great person tell us great stories about SAGES, the American Board of Surgery, and life. This month we talk to none other than Jo Buyske, MD who is a past president of SAGES and the CEO and President of the ABS.
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Buyske about being there at the start of the laparoscopic revolution, learning to be a role model, and Catwoman.
In episode 5, we interview someone to whom we would pay to listen to read the phone book. We are happy to present SAGES President Elect for 2022-2023, newly minted Vice President of the American Board of Surgery, and doting grandfather John Mellinger, MD!
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In episode 4, we continue to bring you interesting stories from interesting surgeons. We are happy to present one of the founding members of SAGES, Past President, and genius inventor George Berci for your listening pleasure!
Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Berci about how he survived the Nazi invasion of Hungary, how he came to be a surgeon and helped to invent modern endoscopy, work-life balance and much more. Receive a copy of Dr. George Berci’s autobiography – The Scope of My Life With your minimum $25 donation to the Foundation.” : https://www.sagesfoundation.org/donate-now/one-time-gift/ You can buy Dr. Berci’s most recent book, “No Stones Left Unturned” here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76845-4
Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD talk to Dr. Pryor about how she came to be known as the undisputed Wii Boxing champ, how she met her husband and started her family during her residency, career development, and much more
Current SAGES President Liane Feldman, MD tells us her story about how she started her career in surgery and SAGES and moves into many of the current projects she is spearheading during her presidential year, including FUSE, the 2022 Meeting, and more!
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
In this inaugural episode, we go big time and present SAGES Past-President Horacio Asbun, MD for your listening pleasure! Your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD kick off SAGES Stories in a wide-ranging interview with Dr. Asbun discussing his mentors, the professional philosophy he shared with his children and some of his most memorable SAGES moments.
Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast!
Beginning this month, co-hosts Dr. Shirin Towfigh and Dr. Kevin El-Hayek share their interviews with SAGES leaders and influencers whose contributions have impacted the society. Listeners can look forward to episodes that feature a diverse group of SAGES members talking about a wide range of professional and personal topics.
In this introductory episode, you will meet your hosts Shirin Towfigh, MD and Kevin El Hayek, MD and learn a little bit about what we'll be doing with the podcast going forward.