In this episode of Scrubcast, we delve into the fascinating world of digital health and its implications in surgery with Dr. Oliver Aalami, a clinical professor at Stanford Surgery. Discover how Dr. Aalami's passion for innovation led him to specialize in vascular surgery and to create VascTrac-the world's first peripheral artery disease (PAD) study powered by a smartphone.

Dr. Aalami shares how his experience led him to create educational programs that bridge the gap between healthcare and technology. Learn about the challenges and opportunities in digital health projects and how researchers can effectively use technology for patient monitoring while still emphasizing the importance of data privacy and secure systems.

Learn about Spezi (formerly CardinalKit), Stanford’s free, open-source framework for developing health applications here: https://spezi.stanford.edu/


How to Navigate the Digital Health Ecosystem with Dr. Oliver Aalami

We dive into the fascinating world of plastic and reconstructive surgery with Dr. Anita Mohan, a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University's Department of Surgery. Join host Rachel Baker as they traverse Dr. Mohan's journey from her initial training in England through her PhD and MBA to her current role at Stanford and the VA.

Dr. Mohan, who specializes in breast reconstruction, shares insights into gender-affirming top surgeries and the unique challenges they present. She also discusses her dedication to improving clinical outcomes for patients, particularly those who have undergone significant weight loss or suffer from lymphedema.

Tune in to learn about Dr. Mohan's advice for aspiring surgeons and her vision for the future of plastic surgery. 

Episode Highlights:
• Dr. Mohan's journey into plastic surgery
• The role of creativity and problem-solving in the specialty
• Insights into gender-affirming surgeries
• The importance of research and collaboration in advancing patient care

Produced by: Rachel Baker
Music by: Midnight Rounds
Chair: Dr. Mary Hawn

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Pushing the Envelope of Reconstruction with Dr. Anita Mohan

In this episode of Scrubcast, host Rachel Baker sits down with Dr. Tom Pham, a clinical associate professor in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation at Stanford University. Dr. Pham discusses his recent work in Lusaka, Zambia, where he has been instrumental in developing the kidney transplant program. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and training in improving surgical practices in underserved regions.

Dr. Pham also shares his inspiring journey into the world of transplant surgery, highlighting the pivotal role of mentorship in his career. He pays it forward as the Clerkship Director at Stanford. 

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and share with your friends!

Music by Midnight Rounds
Produced by Stanford University's Department of Surgery
Chair: Dr. Mary Hawn


Transplant Surgery and Global Health with Dr. Tom Pham

In this episode of Scrubcast, host Rachel Baker sits down with Dr. Crystal Chang, a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University. As a hospital dentist, Chang treats medically complex patients who often can't receive care in a traditional private practice. 

They also discuss the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Chang shares results of a pre-pandemic research study that shows Healthcare Professionals have the highest suicide rates in the country and opens up about her own previous struggles with isolation. Today, as Associate Director of Wellness for the Department, Chang shares the initiatives she’s helping to implement at Stanford to support her colleagues. 

Key Topics:
•	Dr. Chang's path to becoming a surgeon and her experiences in healthcare
•	The significance of self-care and mental health awareness in high-pressure environments
•	The "Tell Us About It" campaign aimed at improving communication and support among surgical staff
•	Strategies for fostering empathy and understanding among healthcare professionals
•	Insights on peer support systems for surgeons after unexpected events
•	The importance of acknowledging and addressing wellness as a priority in the medical community

Navigating Dentistry and Wellness in Surgery with Dr. Crystal Chang

On this episode of Scrubcast, we dive deep into the world of trauma surgery with Dr. Joe Forrester, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery at Stanford University and the trauma medical director for Stanford Healthcare. In this conversation hosted by Rachel Baker, Dr. Forrester shares his personal journey as both a surgeon and a trauma patient. (He decided professional climbing wasn’t a long-term career strategy at the age of 20 after a serious rock-climbing accident. Read the story here.)

Dr. Forrester also serves as the founding director of Stanford’s Chest Wall Injury Center. He talks about bringing new surgical techniques to Stanford including surgical stabilization of sternal and rib fractures (SSRF) and how he shares he knowledge with residents and fellow surgeon (Learn more about RibFest.) all in the hopes of providing patients with the level of care he would want for his family and friends. 

p.s. Dr. Forrester couldn’t divulge the details of a study that will premier at AAST this September but you can read the precursor paper here:  “Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis of intercostal nerves.” 

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Dr. Forrester's journey to trauma surgery
05:00 The impact of personal experiences on his career
10:00 Lightning round: Surgeons he admires and best advice
15:00 Reflections on mentorship and opportunities
18:00 Closing thoughts


Advances in the Treatment of Chest Wall Injury with Dr. Joe Forrester

In this episode of Scrubcast, we sit down with Dr. Nick Leeper, Chief of Vascular Medicine at Stanford University, to explore his groundbreaking research in cardiovascular disease. 

Dr. Leeper shares his lab's unique "hypothesis-free" methodology, where they analyze the entire genome to uncover genetic variants associated with heart disease. Additionally, Dr. Leeper highlights his collaborations with experts outside the School of Medicine to develop treatments straight out of science fiction.  Read Leeper’s Article in Nature Communications: 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11399336/

Throughout the episode, Dr. Leeper emphasizes the importance of perseverance in research, drawing inspiration from Drs. Norm Shumway and Ron Dalman.

Revolutionizing Vascular Health with Dr. Nick Leeper

In this episode of Scrubcast, we sit down with Dr. Arash Momeni, an associate professor at Stanford University’s Department of Surgery, to discuss the latest advancements in reconstructive microsurgery.  From his recent clinical trial—an anticoagulant head-to-head—to the integration of augmented reality (AR) technology in surgical practice, he is always looking for new ways to enhance precision, safety, and patient comfort. Dr. Momeni also provides a comprehensive overview of the emotional and logistical complexities faced by patients diagnosed with breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of empathy and education in the surgical process.

Additionally, Dr. Momeni discusses his unique path to Stanford (completing residency TWICE) and his experiences with the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgeons (ASRM) as the 2023 Godina Fellow and now Secretary.

PRSJournal video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfLv2vogk5A
Godina Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kPPUy7vLM
Clinical Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40327806/


Empathy and Innovation in Microsurgery with Dr. Arash Momeni

Clinical Professor Dr. Janey Pratt shares her passion for working with children and discusses the pressing issue of childhood obesity. As an adolescent bariatric surgeon, Dr. Pratt emphasizes that obesity is a disease. Although GLP1s — like Wegovy and Ozempic — offer some help, Dr. Pratt describes a multitude of evidence indicating surgery is a safe and more effective solution. In addition to surgery, Dr. Pratt also sheds light on Stanford’s comprehensive preoperative process for adolescent bariatric surgery, including necessary testing and evaluations to ensure patient safety as well as diet and exercise education for the whole family. 

Adolescent Obesity and Bariatric Surgery with Dr. Janey Pratt

On this episode of Scrubcast, we speak with Dr. Fred Dirbas, the John and Ann Doerr Faculty Scholar of Breast Surgery and chair of the breast disease site working group for the Society for Surgical Oncology. 

Rather than ascribing to a particular set of screening recommendations, Dr. Dirbas advocates for personalized screening strategies, particularly for women with a family history of breast cancer

He discusses his innovative work in FLASH radiotherapy, which aims to minimize side effects typically associated with traditional radiation, and his research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), focusing on identifying subpopulations of TNBC stem cells through molecular profiling. 

Advancements in Breast Cancer Treatment with Dr. Fred Dirbas

On this episode of Scrubcast, episode of Scrubcast features Dr. Jeong Hyun, an assistant professor in the division of pediatric surgery at Stanford University, discusses his journey to becoming a surgeon scientist. Hyun’s research is focused on Crohn's disease and how strictures develop in the intestines. Shout out to MD/PhD candidate Khristian Bauer-Rowe, who he collaborated with on the September article in Cell looking at the role of creeping fat and CTHRC1+ fibroblasts.

The episode also touches on Dr. Hyun's personal interests, including his unexpected love for country music, which he developed while working in Kansas City. The discussion concludes with Dr. Hyun acknowledging the uncertainties in research funding and the importance of vulnerability and resilience in both personal and professional life.

Link to article: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)01018-9

Crohn's Disease and Creeping Fat with Dr. Jeong Hyun

This episode features Stanford Professor and transplant surgeon Dr. Stephan Busque. He discusses his extensive experience in the field of tolerance in transplantation, particularly focusing on advancements over the past 20 years. Dr. Busque highlights the significance of his team's work on translating research into clinical practice and mentions that they have the largest experience globally in this field.

Additionally, Dr. Busque shares exciting news about Stanford's first allogenic islet cell transplantation for a patient with type one diabetes, indicating a collaborative effort that brought together a multidisciplinary team to achieve this milestone. He reflects on the journey of making islet cell transplants more accessible and expresses hope for new beginnings in this area. 

The episode wraps up with a lightning round where Dr. Busque discusses the qualities he admires in skilled surgeons, emphasizing the importance of being a well-rounded doctor who not only excels in technical skills but also demonstrates a deep understanding of patient care and connection. Going forward he’s excited for the development of protocols for various transplant scenarios, including open liver transplant tolerance, and indicates that patients with less-than-perfect matches are the next target group for improvements in transplantation techniques


20 years of Improving Transplant Tolerance with Dr. Stephan Busque

The Department of Surgery at Stanford University

How to Navigate the Digital Health Ecosystem with Dr. Oliver Aalami

StanfordSurgery