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.

#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

#175; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Stephanie Chang

This episode’s guest is Dr. Stephanie Chang, Surgical Director of Lung Transplant at NYU Langone Transplant Institute. Listen as co-hosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Cherie Erkmen explore how Dr. Chang’s childhood dream of teaching evolved into a career in surgical precision and innovation. She reflects on the moment a college biology class sparked her fascination with CABG, the mentorship that shaped her during training at Washington University in St.

45 min

#174; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Gianluigi Bisleri

In this episode, hosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Cherie Erkmen talk with guest Dr. Gianluigi Bisleri to reflect on his early training in Italy, a once-imagined path in music, and his fellowship at Columbia University. He shares insights from leadership roles across Europe and Canada, discussing his work advancing minimally invasive valve and atrial fibrillation surgery, training as a left-handed surgeon, and building programs from the ground up.

42 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.

Thinking Thoracic with Dr. Rene Petersen

#20, S2 Advancing ERAS and the Evolution of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, podcast hosts Hari Keshava, MD, and Erin Gillaspie, MD, talk with René Petersen, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital, about the latest developments in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols.

As a longtime leader and pioneer in the field, Dr. Petersen shares insights from his extensive experience advancing recovery practices. The conversation covers the broader evolution of minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including video-assisted approaches, and how these developments inform patient selection for tubeless procedures.

35 min

#19, S2 Breathing New Life into Emphysema Care

In this episode of Thinking Thoracic, podcast hosts Hari Keshava, MD, and Erin Gillaspie, MD, talk with J. W.

40 min.

#18, S2 New Advances in Thoracic Surgery at STS 2026

In the season two premiere episode of Thinking Thoracic, cohosts Drs. Erin Gillaspie, Hari Keshava, Jeff Yang, and Jane Yanagawa review the latest thoracic surgery research presented at the 2026 STS Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

38 mins