Surgical Hot Topics

#23, S2 The Year's Most Important Thoracic Oncology Papers, Part 2

In Part 2 of Thinking Thoracic's annual review of the year's most influential thoracic oncology research, Drs. Jeff Yang and Linda Martin examine practice-changing studies in perioperative care, lung cancer treatment, and multidisciplinary cancer management.

The discussion covers emerging evidence on cryoanalgesia, preoperative fasting, targeted therapies for EGFR-mutated lung cancer, and other key clinical trials and consensus recommendations that are influencing patient care today.

#22, S2 The Year's Most Important Thoracic Oncology Papers, Part 1

In Part 1 of this special Thinking Thoracic episode, Dr. Jeff Yang welcomes Dr. Linda Martin for a discussion of groundbreaking research spanning immunotherapy, lung cancer epidemiology, and screening. Together, they explore emerging organ-preserving strategies for mismatch repair-deficient cancers, the growing population of patients with lung cancer who have never smoked, and new data highlighting opportunities to improve screening eligibility and uptake.

Hear expert analysis of the studies shaping the future of thoracic oncology and what these findings mean for surgeons and patients alike.

#178; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. J.W. Awori Hayanga

Cohosts Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. Fatima Wilder are joined by guest Dr. J.W. Awori Hayanga—professor of cardiothoracic surgery at West Virginia University, director of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute ECMO Program, and a nationally recognized leader in transplantation, health policy, and artificial intelligence in medicine—for a wide-ranging conversation about mentorship, resilience, and purpose.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Hayanga reflects on the profound influence of his lawyer parents, especially his mother, whose pioneering work in microfinance and women’s empowerment shaped his worldview and commitment to service. He shares the challenges of immigrating to the United States for medical training, navigating the uncertainty of visa status as an international medical graduate, and learning how relationships, mentorship, and persistence can open doors throughout a surgical career.

The conversation also explores the growing role of artificial intelligence and robotics in cardiothoracic surgery, along with candid insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, failure, and staying grounded through the demands of academic medicine.

Best of Lung Cancer Science 2026 - European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC)

Host Dr. Erin Gillaspie is back with a new season of the popular Best of Lung Cancer Science video podcast series. In this episode, featuring Dr. Jonathan Spicer, they break down key takeaways from the European Lung Cancer Congress, including evolving surgical approaches and how biology, AI, and real-world data are reshaping lung cancer care.

Onboarding a New Cardiothoracic Surgery Partner: Setting the Stage for Success

As part of the STS Career Development Blog series, Dr. Olugbenga Okusanya examines the art of onboarding a new partner. Although cardiothoracic surgeons develop many skills during training, some of the most valuable lessons—including how to successfully integrate a new colleague into a practice—are learned only after entering practice.

#21, S2 Breaking the Stigma: Closing Gaps in Lung Cancer Care for Women

In recognition of National Women’s Health Month, this episode of Thinking Thoracic analyzes the evolving landscape of female-specific lung cancer care. Co-hosts Dr. Erin Gillaspie and Dr. Jane Yanagawa sit down with guest Dr. Leah Backhus to discuss a critical disparity: lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women, yet screening practices remain inequitable. 

 

This timely episode moves beyond smoking history to examine the rise of lung cancer in never-smokers and Asian women. From the "stigma" of a diagnosis to innovative solutions like co-scheduling screenings with mammograms, providing a powerful call to action for more inclusive, biomarker-driven care. 

#177; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Ara Vaporciyan

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, cohosts Dr. Cherie Erkmen and Dr. Sara Pereira sit down with guest Dr. Ara Vaporciyan, professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to explore a career dedicated to advancing surgical education and leadership. 

Dr. Vaporciyan reflects on his path from an early fascination with heart transplantation to becoming a nationally recognized educator and institutional leader. He discusses the evolution of thoracic surgery, the demands of academic medicine, and his belief that expert surgeons must become “consciously competent” to effectively teach trainees. 

Grounded in mentorship, negotiation, and “teaching to the gap,” he offers thoughtful insights on curriculum design, leadership, and preparing the next generation of surgeons.

#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.

• Resources referenced in the discussion:
  Bidelman, G. M., & Feng, S. (2025). Familiar music reduces mind wandering and boosts behavioral performance during lexical semantic processing. Brain Sciences, 15(5), 482.
• Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010). A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science, 330(6006), 932-932.
• Kiss, L., & Linnell, K. J. (2021). The effect of preferred background music on task-focus in sustained attention. Psychological research, 85(6), 2313-2325.
• Seli, P., Risko, E. F., Smilek, D., & Schacter, D. L. (2016). Mind-wandering with and without intention. Trends in cognitive sciences, 20(8), 605-617.
• Watson, J. M., & Strayer, D. L. (2010). Supertaskers: Profiles in extraordinary multitasking ability. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 17(4), 479-485.

#176; S6: Same Surgeon, Different Light w/ Dr. Kazuhiro Yasufuku

In this episode of Same Surgeon, Different Light, 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.

He reflects on his surgical training in Japan’s rigorous, hierarchical system and his academic journey in North America, sharing how these environments informed his approach to patient care and research. Dr. Yasufuku discusses the development of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), from early prototypes to worldwide adoption, transforming lung cancer staging. He also offers insights on perseverance, leadership, mentorship, and the future of increasingly minimally invasive, patient-centered care.

#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.