Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: "Leading Pediatric Orthopedics at Scottish Rite for Children"

Guest: Dr. Daniel Sucato, Chief of Staff, Scottish Rite for Children
Host: Scott Becker
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker is joined by Dr. Daniel Sucato, Chief of Staff at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, to discuss the institution’s history, its specialized approach to pediatric orthopedics, the latest trends and innovations in the field—including the role of research, artificial intelligence (AI), and genetics—as well as leadership insights gleaned from Dr. Sucato’s tenure. The conversation provides an in-depth look at one of the nation’s most respected yet underrecognized pediatric orthopedic hospitals.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Scottish Rite for Children: History and Unique Mission

• Legacy of Excellence

  • Founded in 1921 by Dr. W.B. Carroll to treat children with orthopedic manifestations of polio.
  • Over 100 years of specialized care, now with 20 orthopedic surgeons and the largest pediatric orthopedic fellowship in the U.S.
  • Academic affiliations with University of Texas Southwestern and Children’s Health ([01:30]).

• Access and Patient Care

  • “Up until about 15 years ago, we didn’t charge patients...But over the last 15 years, we’ve had a little bit of a revenue cycle, but we still will take any child that has a orthopedic condition irregardless of their ability to pay.” (Dr. Sucato, [02:45])
  • Serves local, regional, and national patients, maintaining a charitable ethos alongside clinical excellence.

• ‘Best Kept Secret’

  • Despite its reputation among specialists, Scottish Rite remains less well-known to the general public ([01:13]).

2. Dr. Sucato’s Career Journey

• Buffalo Roots & Dallas Leadership

  • Trained in Buffalo before joining Scottish Rite for a fellowship then stayed, serving 28 years and leading for the past 14 years ([03:39]).
  • Stays loyal to Buffalo Bills while also cheering for the Cowboys, highlighting personal ties and community connection.

• Memorable Moment

  • “My wallpaper on my phone is me and my family at the Cowboys game against the Bills on Thanksgiving Day...where we won.” (Dr. Sucato, [03:52])

3. Trends & Innovations in Pediatric Orthopedics

• Award-Winning Research

  • Scottish Rite won Best Research at key society meetings: Scoliosis Research Society, Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine ([05:18]).

• AI in Clinical Practice & Research

  • On AI-enhanced documentation:

    • “...the medical record, note, is really almost created entirely by the interaction that the AI is witnessing or hearing. And so we've put that into place here at Scottish Rite.” (Dr. Sucato, [06:32])

  • On AI in research and diagnostics:

    • “We're developing ways to identify, using big data, trends...really trying to use predictive analytics...and in a diagnostic way to read radiographs.” ([07:09])

• Genetics and Personalized Medicine

  • First institution to identify a gene for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  • Three active R01 grants for genetics research.
  • Example: Genetic-based treatments for spinal muscular atrophy are transforming outcomes ([07:38]).

4. Strategic Focus for the Year Ahead

• Maintaining Pediatric Focus & Expanding Access
  • “We're going to continue to do what we've always done, which is stay laser focused on kids and children...access is really an important thing that we're looking for.” ([08:11])
  • Ongoing commitment to clinical, translational, and basic research ([08:51]).

5. Workforce Issues in Pediatric Specialties

• Shortages in Primary and Subspecialty Care

  • No significant shortages among orthopedists or anesthesiologists at Scottish Rite due to strong institutional reputation.
  • National shortages noted in pediatric primary care and certain subspecialties (e.g., pediatric rheumatology, developmental pediatrics):
    • “Those subspecialties are hard to come by...they continue to train more and more to try to kind of fill the need.” ([09:02])

• Anesthesia Recruiting

  • “We really haven’t seen much of a challenge...because of our mission and the vision of what we do.” ([09:58])

6. Leadership Philosophy & Advice

• Key Principles

  • Lead by example—“Doing the right thing almost at all costs.” ([10:41])
  • Servant leadership—“Nobody works for you. You work for them.”
    • “If you keep that in mind, I think it's really something that will serve you well as a leader...” ([11:05])
  • Communicate vision and mission—Get everyone to understand the ‘why’ ([11:17]).
  • Hire for both soft and hard skills—Build a sustainable, positive culture ([11:33]).

• Trust and Mutual Responsibility

  • “I think there's a...mutual trust that they trust you, that you're looking out for them and the institution. And that doesn't happen overnight.” ([12:47])

  • On leadership challenges:

    • “It’s sometimes a lonely world, sometimes it's a bumpy road...But as long as you're doing what you think is right for the institution...that trust gets built over time.” ([13:10])

7. Lighthearted Sports Banter

• Bills vs. Cowboys
  • Dr. Sucato remains hopeful for the Bills, recognizes current team challenges ([14:09]).
  • Shared sentiment: “But I think we could all agree that we're sick of the Chiefs winning and hoping that they don't make it go deep.” — Scott Becker ([14:50])
  • “I respect them immensely, but I am glad that they are not doing that well this year.” — Dr. Sucato ([14:57])

Notable Quotes

• On Charitable Mission:

  • “We still will take any child that has an orthopedic condition irregardless of their ability to pay.” – Dr. Sucato ([02:45])

• On AI in Patient Care:

  • “We've begun to really utilize [AI] so that the medical record, note, is really almost created entirely by the interaction that the AI is witnessing or hearing.” – Dr. Sucato ([06:32])

• On Servant Leadership:

  • “Nobody works for you. You work for them. And if you keep that in mind, I think it's really something that will serve you well as a leader...” – Dr. Sucato ([11:05])

• On Trust in Leadership:

  • “Mutual trust…doesn’t happen overnight. That happens day in and day out, and you try to build on that.” – Dr. Sucato ([12:47])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction to Scottish Rite and its mission – [00:26]
• History and evolution of Scottish Rite – [01:37]
• Dr. Sucato’s personal journey & loyalty to the Bills – [03:39]
• Major trends in pediatric orthopedics (research, AI, genetics) – [05:18]
• Institutional focus for the coming year – [08:11]
• Workforce and specialty shortages discussion – [09:02], [09:58]
• Leadership principles and personal advice – [10:41]
• Perspective on trust and reciprocal leadership – [12:47]
• Sports banter: Bills vs. Cowboys, Chiefs rivalry – [14:09]

Tone and Language

The conversation is collegial and insightful, blending serious analysis of clinical and operational challenges with warm anecdotes and a lighthearted touch—especially in sports banter—reflecting both the host’s curiosity and Dr. Sucato’s leadership style.

For those seeking insight into pediatric orthopedic leadership, emerging trends in children’s specialty care, and sustaining charitable missions amid growth, this episode is a rich, direct account from one of the specialty’s most respected leaders.