Can the familiarity between a surgeon and anesthesiologist impact patient outcomes? In this episode, Dr. Lee Sharma, welcomes Dr. Julie Hallet, to share insights from her recent JAMA Surgery study, which found that increased familiarity between surgeon-anesthesiologist teams leads to reduced 90-day morbidity in high-risk GI, GYN oncology, and spine surgeries. Sparked by her frustrations with inconsistent anesthesiology teams in Ontario’s regionalized system, Dr. Hallet’s research highlights the power of non-technical skills, trust, and shared worldviews in improving OR outcomes. She discusses why there’s no “magic number” for team familiarity, the challenges of scheduling stable teams, and her ongoing work to address anesthesiologists’ concerns and develop cost-neutral care models. This episode offers actionable insights for clinicians, administrators, and policymakers aiming to enhance patient care through team-based approaches.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Prioritize Surgeon-Anesthesiologist Familiarity – Schedule consistent surgeon-anesthesiologist teams for high-risk elective surgeries to reduce 90-day morbidity, leveraging the trust and communication built through repeated collaboration.
2. Advocate for Cost-Neutral Change – Use Dr. Hallet’s data to push for scheduling reforms that stabilize OR teams without requiring additional resources, emphasizing improved patient outcomes to hospital leadership.
3. Address Implementation Challenges – Engage anesthesiologists early to understand concerns about specialization and ensure care models balance familiarity with maintaining broad expertise, especially in smaller hospitals.

About the Show:

Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:

Dr. Julie Hallet is an associate professor of surgery at the University of Toronto and a hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and GI surgical oncologist at the Odette Cancer Center at Sunnybrook Health Sciences. With a medical degree from Université Laval and fellowships in complex surgical oncology (University of Toronto) and advanced hepatobiliary surgery (Strasbourg, France), she is also an associate scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute. Her research focuses on improving surgical outcomes through team dynamics and system-level changes.

Email: Julie.hallet@sunnybrook.ca  

Twitter: @HalletJulie

Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

• Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
  📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Can setting boundaries transform your medical practice and personal life? Host Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Dr. Ruby Powar, to explore her inspiring journey from Vancouver, Canada, to building a private practice alongside her husband. Drawing from her diverse experiences in urgent care, hospice, and outpatient medicine, Dr. Power shares how she prioritized family while navigating the challenges of establishing a practice. She discusses the power of internal and external boundaries to create harmony in both professional and personal spheres, offering practical strategies for conflict resolution and team-building in a small practice. From choosing not to admit patients to preserve work-life balance to learning the business side of medicine, Dr. Powar’s story weaves together themes of curiosity, resilience, and gratitude. This episode provides actionable insights for physicians aiming to align their practice with their personal values and sustain their passion for medicine.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Define Internal Boundaries First – Reflect on your personal priorities and set internal boundaries to guide career decisions, ensuring alignment with your values, such as family or work-life balance.
2. Establish Conflict Resolution Processes – Create structured processes for addressing workplace conflicts, including designated times for discussion and built-in pauses to reduce emotional reactivity.
3. Embrace Curiosity in Career Choices – Explore diverse practice opportunities early in your career to discover what aligns with your strengths and passions, avoiding the trap of comparing yourself to others.

About the Show:

Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:

Dr. Ruby Powar is a family physician in private practice in Auburn, Alabama, alongside her husband. A graduate of the University of West Indies and a former resident at North Shore-LIJ, she also serves as a physician for the city of Opelika. With a background in urgent care, hospice, and outpatient medicine, Dr. Powar brings a unique perspective on balancing family, professional growth, and practice management. Her journey reflects a commitment to curiosity, resilience, and fostering harmony in both her personal and professional life.

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

• Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
  📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

How can surgeons navigate the inevitable complications and conflicts that arise in their practice? Host Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Dr. Steven Cohen, a seasoned colorectal surgeon based in Richmond, Virginia, to the Scalpel and Sword Podcast. Dr. Cohen's wealth of knowledge and experience makes him the perfect guest to explore the human side of medicine and the importance of professionalism in surgery. He delves into the medical-legal arena, highlighting trends like finger-pointing among healthcare teams and the importance of pausing to respond rather than react to bad outcomes.

Drawing from a case where a patient died despite exceeding standard care with a Greenfield filter, he emphasizes transparency, documentation, and team collaboration. Dr. Cohen also shares practical advice on ownership, power dynamics, and the “trust but verify” approach, equipping surgeons with tools to enhance patient care and professional resilience.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Pause and Respond – Take a moment to involve all stakeholders, including family and team, to manage complications effectively.
2. Document Thoroughly – Record all steps and decisions to preempt conflict and ensure accountability in patient care.
3. Trust but Verify – As the surgeon, confirm all preoperative optimizations and maintain control over patient outcomes.
   

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Dr. Steven Cohen is a board-certified colorectal surgeon with over 30 years of experience, holding an MD from UCLA, residency from Boston University, and a fellowship in colorectal surgery from Cleveland Clinic Florida. He earned an MBA from Walden University and serves as associate faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and staff surgeon at the VA hospital in Richmond, Virginia. A prolific publisher and expert witness, Dr. Cohen reviews medical-legal cases to enhance his practice, teaching residents about accountability and conflict management. Known for his mentorship, he advocates for transparency and team-based care, drawing from his extensive surgical and educational background.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephencohenmd
  

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.