Podcast
Brown Surgery Podcast
Hosted by Kenneth Lynch, Jr., PhD, APRN-CNP · EN
Local Podcast Covering Surgically Relevant Topics
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
So you Want to be a Cardiothoracic Surgeon? Dr. Laura Scrimgeour, MD
Mar 1700:13:02Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the Brown Surgery Podcast. In this episode, we catch up with Dr. Laura Scrimgeour, a familiar voice to our longtime listeners. Since her last appearance as a chief resident in 2021, Dr. Scrimgeour has completed an extensive journey through cardiothoracic training and now returns to Brown as an attending surgeon.Together, we dive deep into what it takes to thrive in the field of Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery in 2026. Whether you are a medical student weighing your residency options or a general surgery resident considering a fellowship, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the specialty.In this episode, we discuss:The Path to CT Surgery: Deciding between traditional and integrated training pathways and the value of a strong academic foundation.The Role of Research: Why "checking the box" isn't enough, and how research years build critical mentorship and data-analysis skills.Fellowship Selection: What to look for in a program, from operative volume and case diversity to the importance of autonomy and mentorship.The Future of the Field: The current state of robotics in cardiac surgery and the rising importance of advanced fellowships in areas like TAVR and aortic surgery.Breaking Misconceptions: A candid look at the life of a modern CT surgeon, the growing diversity in the OR, and how team-based structures are improving work-life balance.Life Outside the Hospital: How Dr. Scrimgeour balances a demanding surgical schedule with her passion for the outdoors and skiing.Instagram: @dr.laura.scrimgeourX: @LScrimgeourMD
Transcribe →Robotics in Acute Care Surgery – Trends, Training, and the Future of Trauma & Critical Care
Nov 1900:19:47Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Brown General Surgery Podcast, PGY-4 resident Evan Mitchell sits down with two Brown Surgery faculty—one of our senior Trauma surgeons, Dr. Andrew Stephen, MD and one of our newest Trauma faculty Dr. Holden Spivak, MD (fresh off fellowships in Trauma/Critical Care at Shock Trauma and MIS at Stony Brook)—to explore the evolving role of robotics in trauma and acute care surgery.Key topics include:Why robotic surgery remains rare in acute trauma (hemodynamic instability, docking delays, and the risks of insufflation in unstable patients)Real-world exceptions: robotic splenectomy videos, liver laceration repairs, and selective use in stable obese patients with bowel injuriesThe nationwide decline in operative trauma since 1990 and the rebranding from “trauma surgeon” to “acute care surgeon”How emergency general surgery and elective MIS cases now sustain operative volumeTraining pathways: Is residency robotic experience now enough to skip a second fellowship year? Should future acute care surgeons pair a 1-year SCC fellowship with a dedicated MIS year?Will the classic 2-year AAST/ACS fellowship curriculum need to pivot toward more robotics and less ortho/neuro month-rotations?Job market realities: Being robotic-ready is nice, but sound decision-making (“when to operate and how”) remains the most valuable skillWhy open surgery will never become obsolete in a field driven by source control and hemorrhage controlAdvice for trainees: seek broad exposure, lean on mentors, prioritize supportive groups, and don’t fear creative (even non-traditional) training routesWhether you’re a med student eyeing surgical critical care, a resident deciding on fellowships, or a program director shaping tomorrow’s curriculum, this candid conversation offers an honest look at where the field stands today—and where it’s headed tomorrow.Tune in for practical insights from surgeons who are living the transition.
Transcribe →So You Want to be a Colorectal Surgeon? Dr. Rebecca Gologorsky, MD
Jul 6, 202500:19:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Brown Surgery Podcast, host Dr. Evan Mitchell, MD interviews Dr. Rebecca Gologorsky, MD, one of our colorectal surgeons at Brown Surgery. The conversation dives into Dr. Gologorsky’s journey to colorectal surgery, sharing how mentorship and the variety of colorectal procedures—from open to robotic—drew her to the field. Dr. Gologorsky offers practical advice for residents and medical students applying to competitive colorectal fellowships, highlighting the value of research and personal connections. She also touches on emerging tech like single-port surgery and clarifies the colorectal surgeon lifestyle, which can vary from manageable to intense. The episode is perfect for aspiring surgeons curious about the specialty.If anyone has comments on this episode or suggestions for topics please feel free to reach out to me at kenneth_lynch@brown.edu
Transcribe →The Prelim Experience at Brown: Drs. Audrea Bose, Liam Watkinson, and Brooke Vogel
Mar 12, 202500:18:24Tap to summarizeToday we are going to dive into what it is like to be a Preliminary General Surgery Resident here at Brown. With match day right around the corner, Drs. Beltre, Filtz, and Mitchell sit down with Drs. Audrea Bose, Liam Watkinson, and Brooke Vogel to discuss what their experience at Brown has been like and offer some advice for those of you searching for a preliminary general surgery position.
Transcribe →Venous Thromboembolism in Trauma: Dr Brent Emigh, MD
Dec 12, 202400:14:15Tap to summarizePulmonary emboli in Trauma patients is, unfortunately, an established and not uncommon complication we must deal with. Today, we welcome one of our own Trauma Surgeons, Dr Brent Emigh, MD to the Podcast to discuss VTE occurance and prophylaxis in Trauma patients. Article with more information on PE in Trauma patients is HERE Article mentioned on IVC filters can be accessed HERE If anyone has comments on this episode or suggestions for topics please feel free to reach out to me at kenneth_lynch@brown.edu
Transcribe →So You Want to be a Pediatric Surgeon? Dr Samantha Ahle, MD
Nov 13, 202400:27:50Tap to summarizeToday are going to dive into Pediatric Surgery. Drs Beltre, Filtz, and Mitchell sit down with Dr Samantha Ahle to discuss why she choose general surgery and a career in pediatric surgery, some of the factors that go into choosing a pediatric fellowship, address some of the considerations with becoming a pediatric surgeon and, of course, touch on the often discussed work-life balance. Dr Ahle attended George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC for medical school. She did her residency training and completed a Masters in Med Ed at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. She then went on to do a pediatric surgery fellowship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL If anyone would like to reach out to Dr Ahle about anything she discussed today or to talk more about pediatric surgery or surgical education, you can reach her at samantha.ahle@brownphysicians.org If anyone has ideas for topics to be covered in future episodes, please feel free to email me at kenneth_lynch@brown.edu
Transcribe →Strategies to Prepare for and Survive Intern Year
Aug 15, 202400:21:59Tap to summarizeGeneral surgery residency can be a stressful time, especially during intern year. Four our our general surgery residents sit down to discuss their experience and offer up tips on surviving and thriving during your intern year. Shout out to Drs Beltre, Case, Mitchell, and Saymuah for grabbing the mic and continuing our local podcast for students, residents and anyone else interested in surgery. Please look forward to many more episodes to come. If anyone has ideas for topics to be covered, please email me at kenneth_lynch@brown.edu
Transcribe →Healthy Surgical Compartmentalization: A Panel Discussion
Jan 25, 202400:48:35Tap to summarizeHi everyone, welcome back to the Brown Surgery Podcast. Today we welcome Drs Daryl Appleton, Katie MacCallum and Charles Baldi for a panel discussion on healthy surgical compartmentalization of care that we all experience in our discipline. This was part of a grand rounds session we had in our department the week of January 15th, 2024. It is one of the more important discussions we have had as a department and I think you all will appreciate it.
Transcribe →A Panel Discussion on Imposter Syndrome in General Surgery
Mar 23, 202300:49:24Tap to summarizeToday we have a special episode that touches on a topic that is receiving a lot of attention in the literature but is not often talked about in general surgery or training programs. Imposter syndrome, or phenomenon as it was originally defined, is a feature that involves fear of being discovered and exposed as an imposter, or more simply one who feels they do not belong in the role they occupy, and does not deserve the success they achieve. To explore this concept in greater detail, we are fortunate enough to have a diverse panel of surgeons from Brown Surgery joining us today. With the help of Dr. Daryl Appleton, we will have an open conversation with Drs Christine Emmick, Dean Roye, Andrew Luhrs and Elizabeth Tindal to explore this concept in greater detail. For Bio’s on our facilitator and panelists: Dr Daryl Appleton, M.ED, CAGS, LMHC, Ed.D. Dr Christine Emmick, MD Dr Dean Roye, MD Dr Andrew Luhrs, MD Dr Elizabeth Tindal, MD Article of interest on Imposter Syndrome in General Surgery training programs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1072751521012308 Thanks again to all of our panelist and for making this discussion on Imposter Syndrome incredibly engaging. If there a specific topics and/or specialties you would like me to dive into in future episodes of this podcast my email is below so just send me a quick note. Have a great week and I’m looking forward to having you back with us in the next episode of the Brown Surgery Podcast. Kenneth_Lynch@brown.edu
Transcribe →Caustic Ingestion: Dr. Jennifer Hubbard, MD
Mar 16, 202300:20:30Tap to summarizeToday I am excited to welcome back our Brown surgical critical care fellow, Dr Jennifer Hubbard, MD to the podcast to discuss a topic we don’t talk about enough in the general surgical world; caustic ingestion. Dr Hubbard presented this topic at a recent combined conference and I thought it would work really well as a podcast episode. I’m also going to try this out as a video podcast so let me know if you like this format. Without further ado, let’s dive into caustic ingestion.
Transcribe →