The STS Podcast Channel

STS podcasts feature conversations with member surgeons and expert influencers that shine a light on the most pressing issues and opportunities in CT surgery, leadership, and surgeon wellness. Discover new ideas. Hear different perspectives. Find connections.

Listen to The Resilient Surgeon; Same Surgeon, Different Light; and Thinking Thoracic here or subscribe to STS podcast channels on your favorite podcast app.

The Resilient Surgeon

Hosted by Dr. Melanie Edwards, the Resilient Surgeon offers captivating and sincere conversations with some of the most influential and insightful experts in personal wellness and organizational leadership. Find practical strategies and scientifically proven practices to help you perform at your very best in and out of the OR. Listen here or subscribe to The Resilient Surgeon podcast channel on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or other popular listening platforms.

#176, S5 The Multitasking Myth: Attention, Errors, and the Surgeon’s Mind

In a new episode of The Resilient Surgeon, host Melanie Edwards, MD, sits down with cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Smilek of the University of Waterloo’s Vision & Attention Lab to explore how attention and perception shape performance. Their conversation dives into the realities of everyday multitasking, examining how it contributes to lapses in attention, cognitive errors, and mind wandering. Smilek connects this research directly to surgical practice and surgeon well-being. Listen today.

50 mins.

#175, S5 Choosing a Life That Fits

Season 5 starts here! Join Dr. Melanie Edwards, new host of The Resilient Surgeon, for the kick-off of season five with a “Live from #STS2026” episode. Hear from Drs. Jamie and Ross Ungerleider about work-life integration, and making choices that contribute to more fulfillment, joy, and authenticity in life. Listen today.

40 min.

#174, S4 Becoming A High-Performing Surgeon Leader

Laurie Baedke, executive coach, founder and CEO of Growth Edge Holdings, and best-selling author, talks with Dr. Michael Maddaus about “stepping outside your comfort zone” to grow professionally and personally in this episode of The Resilient Surgeon. They address the challenges of promoting high performers into leadership roles without equipping them with critical skills like communication, accountability, and influence. Listen today.

1 hr

Same Surgeon, Different Light

Same Surgeon, Different Light demystifies CT surgery by revealing the men and women behind their surgical masks. New hosts Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira uncover the backstories of cardiothoracic surgeons from different backgrounds and career stages. It's a fascinating look at the powerful and personal stories about their career journeys. Listen here or subscribe to the Same Surgeon, Different Light podcast channel on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or other popular platforms.

#178; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. J.W. Awori Hayanga

Cohosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Fatima Wilder are joined by guest Dr. J.W. Awori Hayanga—professor of cardiothoracic surgery at West Virginia University, director of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute ECMO Program, and a nationally recognized leader in transplantation, health policy, and artificial intelligence in medicine—for a wide-ranging conversation about mentorship, resilience, and purpose.

47 min

#177; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Ara Vaporciyan

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with Dr. Ara Vaporciyan, professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to explore a career dedicated to advancing surgical education and leadership.

60 min

#176; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Kazuhiro Yasufuku

In this episode, Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with Dr. Kazuhiro Yasufuku of the University of Toronto, a global leader in minimally invasive thoracic oncology, to explore a career shaped by discipline, innovation, and cross-cultural experience.

49 min

Thinking Thoracic

Hosted by Drs. Jeff Yang, Erin Gillaspie, Hari Keshava, and Jane Yanagawa, Thinking Thoracic offers candid conversations about the latest advancements and challenges in the field. Dive into critical topics, such as lung cancer screening advocacy, cutting-edge clinical trials, and debunking common medical myths. Listen here or subscribe to the Thinking Thoracic podcast channel on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or other popular listening platforms.

This podcast is generously supported by AstraZeneca.

#23, S2 The Year's Most Important Thoracic Oncology Papers, Part 2

In Part 2 of Thinking Thoracic's annual review of the year's most influential thoracic oncology research, Drs. Jeff Yang and Linda Martin examine practice-changing studies in perioperative care, lung cancer treatment, and multidisciplinary cancer management.

The discussion covers emerging evidence on cryoanalgesia, preoperative fasting, targeted therapies for EGFR-mutated lung cancer, and other key clinical trials and consensus recommendations that are influencing patient care today.

25 min

#22, S2 The Year's Most Important Thoracic Oncology Papers, Part 1

In Part 1 of this special Thinking Thoracic episode, Dr. Jeff Yang welcomes Dr. Linda Martin for a discussion of groundbreaking research spanning immunotherapy, lung cancer epidemiology, and screening. Together, they explore emerging organ-preserving strategies for mismatch repair-deficient cancers, the growing population of patients with lung cancer who have never smoked, and new data highlighting opportunities to improve screening eligibility and uptake.

55 min

#21, S2 Breaking the Stigma: Closing Gaps in Lung Cancer Care for Women

In recognition of National Women’s Health Month, this episode of Thinking Thoracic analyzes the evolving landscape of female-specific lung cancer care. Co-hosts Dr. Erin Gillaspie and Dr. Jane Yanagawa sit down with guest Dr. Leah Backhus to discuss a critical disparity: lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women, yet screening practices remain inequitable.

40 min