Same Surgeon, Different Light

Listeners will discover interesting personal details such as Dr. Pickens, along with his five siblings, grew up on a farm in a rural Alabama town.

This inspirational leader shares remarkable, thought-provoking details about her journey into medicine.

Dr. Romano has overcome stigmas and changed paradigms, and she’s done this by confidently wearing her emotions on her sleeve.

With generous detail, Dr. Flores describes his “jagged line” to cardiothoracic surgery, while crediting luck and his supportive mom for much of his success.

This “giant” in cardiothoracic surgery shares her perspectives and thoughts about overcoming challenges associated with shattering glass ceilings, constant changes in cardiothoracic surgery, and the need to adopt a growth mindset in the quest for excellence.

Listeners will discover fascinating personal details, like why Dr. Kpodonu considers himself an “international gentleman.”

This inspirational leader shares details about growing up in Canada with a dad who was part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a mom who was a nurse.

Described as a leader extraordinaire, Dr. Dearani reflects on his STS presidency and shares the most challenging aspects of leading the organization during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is the thoracic surgeon of tomorrow different than the thoracic surgeon of today? According to Dr. Rusch, “absolutely.”

Listeners will learn that Dr. Erhunmwunsee chose a career in cardiothoracic surgery because “there is no place more beautiful than the chest—the beating heart, the lungs that are inflating and deflating—doing their own thing, but working in concert.”

When it comes to the triple threat in academic surgery, Dr. Tseng “walks the walk.”

In 1975, when he and his family came to the US as political refugees from their native Vietnam, they were among the first Vietnamese to put their “feet in the soil” of this country.