Gut Check

It's a changing of the guard at Gut Check! Join us as we bid a fond farewell to longtime hosts Drs. Sam Eisenstein and Biddy Das and welcome two new voices, Drs. Irlna Tantchou and Pavel Mazirka. We're looking back on favorite moments, sharing a few laughs, and passing the mic to the next generation of Gut Check hosts. Same great conversations, fresh perspectives, and plenty more to come! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, but what does it actually mean for surgeons? Drs. Ankit Sarin and Sean Langenfeld join Gut Check hosts to cut through the hype and talk about how AI is being used in surgery today, where it could take colorectal care next, and what surgeons and medical students need to know as the technology continues to evolve. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

In this episode of Gut Check, Meghana and Biddy discuss Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and how they translate to real-world colorectal surgery. They explore how guidelines inform clinical decision-making, when it may be appropriate to deviate from recommendations, and the role of surgeon judgment in applying evidence-based guidance to individual patients. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

A colorectal cancer diagnosis can force life-changing decisions fast—including ones about future family-building. In this episode of Gut Check, the hosts are joined by Dr. Arielle Kanters and Dr. Valery Vilchez, co-chairs of the ASCRS Women's Task Force, to discuss when fertility preservation should enter the treatment conversation, how surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation affect fertility differently in men and women, and the barriers many patients face when navigating these options. A practical, timely conversation on balancing cancer care with long-term quality of life. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

In this special live-recorded episode of Gut Check, your favorite hosts return to the mic from the ASCRS Annual Meeting in Tampa. Recorded in front of a live audience, the conversation captures candid reactions, audience questions, memorable moments from this year's meeting, and the topics everyone was talking about throughout the week. From standout sessions and unexpected takeaways to personal reflections and a few fun detours along the way, this episode brings the energy of the annual meeting straight to your headphones. Whether you joined us in Tampa or are catching up from home, tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at this year's meeting and the conversations that continued long after the sessions ended. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

In this episode of Gut Check, we explore how professional trajectories in colorectal surgery can differ for men and women—and what that means for the future of the field. Hosts Meghana and Biddy are joined by Dr. Jackie Turner and Dr. Melissa Chang of the ASCRS Women's Task Force for a candid conversation on career advancement, mentorship, and leadership. Together, they unpack the nuances between mentorship and sponsorship, examine where gaps still exist in areas like compensation, research opportunities, and visibility, and discuss how family planning and caregiving responsibilities can shape career paths. Whether you're a trainee, early-career surgeon, or established leader, this episode offers valuable insights into fostering equity and advancing careers in colorectal surgery. Don't miss the opportunity to continue this conversation at the 2026 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting in Tampa, Florida from May 9-12th. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.    

Jennifer Goldsack has built a career in digital medicine, and she's doing it while navigating late-stage cancer herself. As founder and CEO of the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), Jennifer is leading efforts to ensure digital health technologies are safe, effective, and equitable. In this episode, she shares how her journey as an Olympian, data nerd, and patient shapes her mission to transform health care. The hosts discuss the real-world challenges of implementing digital medicine, the policy landscape shaping innovation, and why patient-centered design must remain at the core of technological advancement. This conversation is both deeply personal and forward-looking; a powerful reminder that the future of medicine must work for the people it serves. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

The Gut Check hosts dive into one of colorectal surgery's debated management questions: Is laparoscopic (minimally invasive) lavage an appropriate strategy for acute diverticulitis? Once hailed as a promising alternative to emergent resection, lavage has had a turbulent journey through clinical trials, outcomes data, and real-world practice. Our hosts unpack the evidence, discussing when lavage may (or may not) make sense, and exploring why surgeons remain divided.  Got a topic you want us to tackle next? Case Controversies is listener-driven, and the hosts are taking suggestions for future debates. Send your ideas, tough calls, or clinical dilemmas to [email protected] and you might hear them in an upcoming episode.  Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

All of our hosts join for this episode of Gut Check for a deep dive into one of colorectal surgery's most challenging and debated topics: fistulas. We're joined by special guest Dr. Jeff Van Eps, whose expertise and real-world experience bring fresh perspective. From initial evaluation to surgical decision-making and long-term patient outcomes, this conversation blends evidence, nuance, and plenty of collegial debate. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.  

Our hosts dig into the realities, challenges, and triumphs of caring for patients in America's safety-net hospitals. Despite having no single, universally accepted definition, safety-net hospitals share common threads: they serve high volumes of Medicaid and uninsured patients, operate with limited resources, and play an outsized role in supporting the health of vulnerable communities. Listen in as hosts discuss the policy and funding structures that shape these hospitals, and the lived experiences of surgeons working within them. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the Gut Check podcast are those of the individual hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or clinical judgment.