Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

This mini-series on Behind the Knife will delve into the technical aspects of the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, developed through the American College of Surgeons Cancer Research Program. This third episode highlights the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary cancer operative standard.
Hosts:
Eliza W. Beal, MD, FACS (X: @ElizaWBealMD) is a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgeon at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. She is also an associate professor of Oncology and Surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Morgan Jackson, MD is a general surgery resident at the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.
Daniel Nelson, MD, FACS, FSSO (X: @DWNelsonHPB) is a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgeon at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Chattanooga.
Hop Sanderson Tran Cao, MD, FACS (X: @HopSTranCao) is a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center. 
Guest:

Alice Wei, MD is a Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering and associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell School of Medicine. Dr. Wei contributed to the development of the operative standards for HPB surgery. 
Learning Objectives: The goals of this podcast are to provide education about the standards, generate discussion, and offer technical pearls to both oncologic specialists and general surgeons, to all of whom these standards apply. In this podcast we discuss the operative standards for liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, which includes that the surgeon should: (1) perform a thorough inspection of the liver and abdomen, either laparoscopically or open, including performing liver ultrasound, and (2) should resect all lesions to macroscopically negative margins, preferably with an anatomic resection. Our guest Dr. Wei also provides technical tips, pearls for improving skills performing and interpreting liver ultrasound, and discusses the role of lymphadenectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. 
References:
Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 3: Sarcoma, Adrenal, Neuroendocrine, Peritoneal, Urothelial, Hepatobiliary https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer-programs/cancer-surgery-standards-program/operative-standards-for-cancer-surgery/purchase/

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In this episode, we discuss all things abdominal wall reconstruction. What is this new developing field, just patching “holes” with meshes or something more? We delve into the impact of the robot in transforming this speciality in new ways. We also explore the reasons that make the field of abdominal wall reconstruction so special (the creativity in surgical planning and the unique patient-provider relationship). 
Joining BTK fellow Agnes Premkumar and ASGBI hosts Elizabeth McLennan and Gita Lingam are Dr. Conrad Ballecer and Dr. Akash Mehta.  Dr. Conrad Ballecer is an internationally renowned minimally invasive surgeon, focused on abdominal wall reconstruction. He currently works at Creighton University in Phoenix with complex hernias and frequently publicizes his surgical videos for education! Mr. Mehta is a consultant colorectal surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital in London, United Kingdom. He is interested in intestinal failure and rehabilitation surgery. He is also the lead for the region's abdominal wall multidisciplinary team and has successfully established a minimally invasive abdominal wall surgery program. 
This episode is dedicated to Professor Neil Smart, a visionary surgeon from the UK who was a lifelong advocate for hernia surgery and patients. His legacy lives on.  
Let us know what you think! And be on the lookout for more ASGBI/BTK collaborative episodes.
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  
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In this surgical endoscopy episode, the BTK team introduces endoscopic surgical procedures that are perhaps less well known. They cover primary endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal plication, intestinal resurfacing procedures, and magnet-assisted enteric anastomoses. Endoscopic options may be viable alternatives to surgical treatment, especially in case where the surgical alternatives may significantly increase morbidity.
Video: https://behindtheknife.org/watch/surgical-endoscopy-series-ep-5-novel-endosurgical-techniques
Hosts:
·      Dr. Sullivan “Sully” Ayuso, Minimally Invasive Surgeon, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX), @SAyusoMD (Twitter)
·      Dr. H. Mason Hedberg, Minimally Invasive Surgeon, Endeavor Health (Evanston, IL), 
·      Dr. Trevor Crafts, Minimally Invasive Surgeon, Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center (Denver, CO), @CraftsTrevor (Twitter) 
·      Dr. Zachary Callahan, Minimally Invasive Surgeon, The Surgical Clinic (Nashville, TN), @zmcallahan (Twitter)
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EPA Playbook: https://behindtheknife.org/course/epa-playbook
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ABSITE Review: https://behindtheknife.org/course/absite-2026-exam-review
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Digital surgery has morphed from buzzword into ubiquitous high-impact technology. In this episode, the BTK MIS team steps into the rapidly evolving ecosystem of cameras, sensors, robotics, and software that are turning surgical operations into structured, analyzable datasets. From AI segmentation to real-time telepresence, don’t miss this opportunity to catch up on what’s new and what’s next, what’s exciting and what’s terrifying, just on the horizon of your surgical career. 
Hosts: 
·      James Jung, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Duke University
·      Jacob Greenberg, MD, EdM, MIS Division Chief and Vice Chair for Education, Duke University
·      Zachary Weitzner, MD, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellow, Duke University, @ZachWeitznerMD
·      Joey Lew, MD, MFA, Surgical resident PGY-3, Duke University, @lew__actually
Learning Goals: 
By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:
·      Define “digital surgery” and describe its core components, including video capture, instrumentation, robotics, data analytics, and system connectivity. 
·      Discuss current and emerging applications of digital surgery in surgical education, including video-based self-assessment, procedural segmentation, and structured feedback models. 
·      Describe how digital tools can be used to improve OR efficiency and resource utilization, including instrumentation usage, operative time analysis, and workflow optimization. 
·      Summarize current telepresence and teleproctoring technologies and their clinical use cases, including augmented reality–based collaboration across institutions and geographic boundaries. 
·      Identify key ethical, legal, and operational challenges in digital and tele-surgery, including credentialing, cross-state licensure, liability, and trust in remote expertise. 
·      Discuss how digital surgery may reshape surgical training and competency-based assessment, including implications for autonomy, deliberate practice, and feedback frequency. 
·      Recognize future directions of digital surgery integration, including predictive analytics, simulation using patient-specific imaging, and AI-assisted intraoperative decision support.
References: 

Balvardi S, Semsar-Kazerooni K, Kaneva P, et al. Validity of video-based general and procedure-specific self-assessment tools for surgical trainees in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc. 2023;37(3):2281-2289. doi:10.1007/s00464-022-09466-6 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36307525/]

Hospital Utilizes Intraoperative Idle Time Metrics to Improve Surgical Safety and Efficiency. Theator | The Surgical Intelligence Company. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://theator.io/customer-story/hospital-utilizes-intraoperative-idle-time-metrics-to-improve-surgical-safety-and-efficiency/

Campbell KK, Abreu AA, Zeh HJ, et al. Using OR Black Box Technology to Determine Quality Improvement Outcomes for In-situ Timeout and Debrief Simulation. Ann Surg. 2026;283(1):122. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000006438 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38317208/]

Al Abbas AI, Meier J, Daniel W, et al. Impact of team performance on the surgical safety checklist on patient outcomes: an operating room black box analysis. Surg Endosc. 2024;38(10):5613-5622. doi:10.1007/s00464-024-11064-7 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39069926/]

Proximie’s telepresence platform helps surgeons across the globe grow and exchange experience in real-time. World Health Expo Insights. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/insights/telemedicine/proximie-s-telepresence-platform-helps-surgeons-across-the-globe-grow-and-exchange-experience-in-real-time

Hassan AE, Desai SK, Georgiadis AL, Tekle WG. Augmented reality enhanced tele-proctoring platform to intraoperatively support a neuro-endovascular surgery fellow. Interv Neuroradiol. 2022;28(3):277-282. doi:10.1177/15910199211035304 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34538166/]

SAGES Digital Surgery Working Group; Ali JT, Yang G, Green CA, Reed BL, Madani A, Ponsky TA, Hazey J, Rothenberg SS, Schlachta CM, Oleynikov D, Szoka N. Defining digital surgery: a SAGES white paper. Surg Endosc. 2024 Feb;38(2):475-487. doi: 10.1007/s00464-023-10551-7. Epub 2024 Jan 5. PMID: 38180541. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38180541/]

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen
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Navigating the path to becoming a surgeon in the US as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) can definitely have its hurdles. In this episode we sit down with Professor of Surgery, Dr. Ourania Preventza about her journey as an IMG, and how to break down the barriers in one of the most competitive surgical subspecialties. Dr. Preventza teaches us why sponsorship is invaluable, and how we as a surgical community can help support this vulnerable group of providers. With years of experience to offer, both as an IMG herself, and now as a fierce advocate and mentor for trainees, this interview with Dr. Preventza is not one to miss.
References:
https://www.jtcvsopen.org/article/S2666-2736(25)00059-2/fulltext
The current landscape and challenges facing international medical graduates in cardiothoracic surgery training
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39886768/
International Medical Graduates in Academic Cardiothoracic Surgery
https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S2666273625002840?returnurl=https:%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2666273625002840%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&referrer=https:%2F%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F
A career in cardiothoracic surgery in the United States: Guidance and resources for international medical graduates 
https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/38164/html
US women in Thoracic Surgery: Reflections on the Past and Opportunities for the Future
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen
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EPA Playbook: https://behindtheknife.org/course/epa-playbook
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ABSITE Review: https://behindtheknife.org/course/absite-2026-exam-review
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