Same Surgeon, Different Light

In this season finale of Same Surgeon, Different Light, co-host Dr. Thomas Varghese speaks with Dr. Stephanie Fuller, attending surgeon in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. and chair of the STS Workforce on Annual Meeting, about creating a life of impact. For Dr. Fuller, it's about positioning herself for new learning opportunities - both expected and unexpected. "Lessons will come from all sorts of people along your pathway. Be receptive to anybody willing to teach you," she advises.

Isabelle Opitz, MD, the director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, and an associate professor for thoracic surgery at the University of Zurich, as well as the chair of the Lung Cancer Center in Zurich, talks with Dr. Thomas Varghese about her international career path, spanning Germany, France, and Switzerland, in this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light.

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Varghese joins Dr. Yolonda Colson, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, for an insightful conversation on the advancement of women in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Colson shares her origin story - "from farm to field" - as an accomplished surgeon and scientist. What does it take to become a consistently high performer? Dr. Colson advises, "Stay focused on your purpose stay open to new opportunities."

In this episode of The Same Surgeon, Different Light, podcast host Dr. Thomas Varghese explores the opportunities, the rewards, the sacrifice, and the struggles in life as a cardiothoracic surgeon with Dr. Mimi Ceppa, a thoracic surgeon at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Ceppa shares her family's journey as immigrants from Vietnam to Canada, the expectations placed on her to become a doctor, what it takes to get into medical school, and how she balances her career with her personal life. No doubt, it's a "can't miss" episode. 

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, your host, Dr. David T. Cooke, talks with Dr. Ikenna Okereke, vice chair of the department of surgery at Henry Ford Health, and Dr. Mark Henderson, professor of medicine and vice chair of education at UC Davis Health, about the role of education in medical workforce diversity.

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, host Dr. Thomas Varghese chats with Dr. Mara Antonoff, associate professor and program director of education, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about the origins of her career. Dr. Antonoff shares what it takes to be a leader in thoracic education, what she learned about the importance of independent and deliberate practice as a competitive figure skater, and the power of resilience from her parents who “made do with very minimum resources.” Dr.

In this episode hosted by Dr. David T. Cooke, Drs. Jordan Dozier, Clauden Louis, and Michael Onwugbufor talk about their long, education journey, how to design a practice, and their shared experiences. Dr. Onwugbufor shares part of his career journey this way: "When searching for a first job, you need to know you'll have some kind of mentorship and support. For me, it was reassuring to know that when I started doing my first few cases, I wasn't by myself. I didn't feel lonely. That I had someone more experienced supporting me.

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, Dr. Thomas Varghese talks with Dr. Richard Ohye, the University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center, about finding his niche and superpower in cardiothoracic surgery, and how his career has evolved over the years. "When I rotated on pediatrics, it was another level of everything perfect. It was art. This is what I wanted to do. I found my niche," said Dr. Ohye. 

In this episode, Dr. David T. Cooke talks with Dr. Angelica Martin, UC Davis Health, and Dr. Lillian Tsai, Stanford Medicine, about their career journeys and the people who have been a positive influence on them. “I come from an underserved community and I’m the first in my family to go to college,” said Dr. Martin. “At first, it felt like I was navigating this career on my own. My mentor has been my north star.”