SAGES Stories

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, hosts Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao sit down with Drs. Nova Szoka and Amin Madani to talk digital surgery, artificial intelligence, computer vision, telepresence, surgical decision-making, and the apparently revolutionary idea that technology should solve an actual problem before we bolt it onto the operating room. Nova and Amin get into the stuff that makes this more interesting than another “AI is coming” conversation: why situational awareness may matter more than technical skill, how computer vision can help keep a gallbladder dissection out of the danger zone, how enhanced visualization can make complex surgery a little less mysterious, and why good AI needs lots and lots and LOTS of diverse data. They also tackle ethics, governance, telepresence, sustainability, and SAGES’ role in helping establish some traffic laws before everybody starts driving. Also, Claude has opinions, ChatGPT is apparently too agreeable, and the producer continues to reserve the right not to edit out anything funny. Show notes: Defining Digital Surgery: A SAGES White Paper Risk and Liability in the Deployment of AI Systems for Surgery: a SAGES White Paper 2025 Gerald Marks Lecture – Sustainable AI and the Next Wave of AI Ethics for Healthcare TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 37, hosts Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao sit down with Darth Tigeris Dr. Edward Auyang, Sith Lord and Tiger Dad Professor of Surgery at the University of New Mexico, for a wide-ranging conversation about his unconventional path from biomedical engineering and computer science to minimally invasive surgery. Like, SERIOUSLY unconventional. Dr. Auyang discusses surgical ergonomics, practical ways to reduce physical and cognitive fatigue in the operating room, his approach to resident autonomy and surgical education, and lessons from his visiting professorship in Japan. He also shares his enthusiasm for Star Wars, music, whiskey, anime, and the professional community he has found through SAGES. Show notes: SAGES Stories Episode 17 – Nat Soper SAGES Ergonomics Task Force Videos SAGES Train the Trainers Course Information

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 36 we feature an in-depth, conversational, and engaging conversation with Dr. Bethany Slater, a first for the podcast as she is the first pediatric surgeon to be featured! Hosts Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao welcome Dr. Slater to discuss her unique career path, the nuances of pediatric minimally invasive surgery (MIS), her role as chair of the SAGES Guidelines Committee, and the value of an MBA for physicians. Show notes: APSA – American Pediatric Surgical Association IPEG – International Pediatric Endosurgery Group SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN) GRADE Working Group website. SAGES Guidelines Fellowship Job Description SAGES Guidelines

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 35 which should have been episode 34 if the webmaster had learned how to count properly, our bodacious hosts talk the coolest bourbon lover (and hernia surgeon) on the planet. Dr. Todd Heniford joins us to discuss bourbon, charities, math, football (the American kind, not the good kind), the value of learning from failures, being the best mentor one can be, and why Jenny was his favorite fellow of all time. Show notes: Barrel Aged Charities – Fighting Prostate Cancer W.L. Weller Antique – Buffalo Trace Distillery Nashville Barrel Company George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey 2017 Old Carter Whiskey Company

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 34, our most excellent hosts talk to TWO! TWO! guests (ah ah ah). Drs. Grace Kim and Linda Zhang join us to discuss the SAGES Go Global program and the experience of volunteering in low resource environments. This is one of the more consequential programs that SAGES sponsors and this is a good listen as we begin a new year. SAGES Go Global Go Global Accomplishments GLAP Program

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In episode 33, our intrepid hosts talk to surgeon, educator, international man of mystery, possible MI6 operative, and Third Culture Kid Adrian Park, MD, FRCS (C) FACS. As a man from nowhere and everywhere, Dr. Park talks about his peripatetic upbringing, bringing advanced laparoscopy into the developing world, and how SAGES affected his career path during the early years of MIS. Dr. Park has one of the more interesting stories of any SAGES Member. This episode is well worth your time! Third Culture Kid SAGES Go Global Initiative SAGES Guidelines Fellow Job Description

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this continuation of President Episodes™, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao chat with the current president of the EAES, Nicole Bouvy, MD, PhD. Our intrepid podcasters cover lots of topics with Dr. Bouvy including the difference in training between the US and Europe, how surgery impacts the environment and why we need to pay attention to sustainability efforts, changes in roles of women in surgical leadership positions, and sheep. Yes, sheep. European Association for Endoscopic Surgery SAGES Sustainability in Surgical Practice

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Jenny Shao chat with Brent D. Matthews, MD, the 2025–2026 President of SAGES. We trace how he first got involved with the society and how SAGES has quietly but steadily helped shape his surgical career from fellowship(s) to his presidency!

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Dr. Jenny Shao talk to the one and only, the man, the myth, the legend: Manabu Yamamoto, MD. The founder of SAGES Far East and co-writer of “We Are The World, We Are The SAGES” joins us and talks about, well, just about everything. We cover early language acquisition, SAGES in the 80s, being one of the first Japanese SAGES members, how song bridged a gap and helped launch a career, and much, much more. This is an episode you will want to bookmark and save. Dr. Yamamoto is a singular personality within SAGES and has one of the best stories we’ve heard to date. Editor’s Note: We apologize for the audio quality on this one. We were recording live at the 2025 SAGES Meeting and the microphone was not the best. The quality improves about three minutes in but because of the directional nature, when two people talked at once or when there was laughter (which was often), the sound faded out a bit.

Welcome to the SAGES Stories Podcast! In this episode, Drs. Kevin El-Hayek and Dr. Jenny Shao talk to the one and only doyenne of SAGES – Executive Director Sallie Matthews. Sallie shares stories about how she got into the Executive Directoring business, how SAGES has transformed over the years, and what it means to be a successful woman in the field of surgery. This is not our typical podcast but it’s interesting, heartfelt, and inspiring. LISTEN! Links from the pod: SAGES 2025 Meeting A Conversation With Sallie Matthews, Director of SAGES for 25 Years