What Patients Wish Their Surgeons Explained Before Surgery
The Questions Patients Do Not Always Ask After years as a surgeon, I have noticed something that happens in exam rooms every week. I explain the diagnosis. We talk about the operation. I discuss the risks, the benefits, and the alternatives. Patients nod along. They ask a few questions. We shake hands and move forward. […]
The Art of Surgical Preparation: Why Great Outcomes Begin Long Before the Patient Enters the Operating Room
The Operation Starts Earlier Than Most People Think People often picture surgery beginning when the patient is wheeled into the operating room. From the outside, that makes sense. That is the part everyone sees. From where I stand, the operation usually begins days earlier. It starts with reviewing records, studying imaging, talking with the patient, […]
Why Great Surgeons Think Like Psychologists
When people hear that I studied psychology before going to medical school, they are often surprised. Many assume psychology and surgery exist on opposite ends of the healthcare spectrum. One focuses on the mind, while the other focuses on the body. Over the years, however, I have come to believe that my psychology background has […]