On today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Yalini Vigneswaran and Dr. Kayla (Polcari) Councell about bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery. We discussed the impact of these surgeries on patient health, as well as some of the barriers our patients face in accessing these surgeries. We delve into some of the new weight loss medications on the market, and how patients can figure out what is best for them.

Yalini Vigneswaran, MD, MS, is an advanced minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgeon at the University of Chicago who specializes in esophageal and gastric disorders, including motility disorders, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers, reflux disease and paraesophageal hernias. She has specific clinical expertise in esophageal surgery, including minimally invasive esophagectomy for both benign and malignant disease. Additionally, Dr. Vigneswaran has expertise in bariatric surgery and performs various weight loss procedures. Dr. Vigneswaran conducts clinical and translational research and is committed to improving outcomes for patients with gastroesophageal disorders and patients undergoing weight loss surgery.

Kayla (Polcari) Councell, MD, MPH, is a general surgery resident at the University of Chicago. She obtained her BS from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN. She then completed medical school and her public health training at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. She is expected to complete her general surgery residency training in 2027.

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago, which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Renaise Kim.

A special thanks this week to Beth Gabryszak. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. Additionally, you can find more information at our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/.

In this episode, Dr. Chelsea Dorsey and Dr. Brandon Baird share their stories as physician trailblazers, including their path to medicine and how they are paving the way for others now. Together, they explore the intersectionality of medicine and the importance of fostering diverse and inclusive healthcare environments that not only enhance physician-patient relationships but also aid in addressing health disparities in Chicago’s Southside.

Together, they explore the intersectionality of medicine and the importance of fostering diverse and inclusive healthcare environments that not only enhance physician-patient relationships but also aid in addressing health disparities in Chicago’s Southside.

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey is an Associate Professor of Surgery at UChicago Medicine and an Associate Dean at the Pritzker School of Medicine. She runs the Vein Clinic at UChicago Medicine as director. She has a particular interest in complex aortic conditions and limb salvage therapy. As a committed educator and mentor, Dr. Dorsey regularly teaches medical students, residents and fellows about vascular disease management.

Dr. Brandon Jackson Baird is a laryngologist at the University of Chicago. He specializes in a wide range of throat diseases with an emphasis on medical and surgical management of voice and swallowing disorders. His expertise includes treating traumatic vocal cord lesions and throat cancer amongst other conditions. He also provides care for performing and professional voice artists while performing as a trained singer himself.

“Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago...which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Renaise Kim.

A special thanks this week to Beth Gabryszak. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. Additionally, you can find more information at our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/

In today’s episode, we hear Dr. Russell Reid, a plastic surgeon at the University of Chicago, and Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld, a family medicine physician, talk about their experiences caring for the migrants who have come to Chicago over the past year. They share challenges they’ve seen and improvements they hope for, as well as the importance of collaborations between primary care physicians, specialists, and other providers in offering comprehensive care. Our guests also discuss the importance of listening to patients, approaching people without assumptions and with a willingness to learn.

Dr. Russell Reid is a pediatric plastic surgeon at the University of Chicago. An accomplished author, Dr. Reid has published book chapters and several peer-reviewed journal articles on a variety of topics, from craniofacial surgery techniques to wound healing.

Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld is a compassionate family medicine physician dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages in Chicago, IL. With a focus on preventive medicine and health promotion, she emphasizes building long-term relationships with patients and their families to address their healthcare needs over time.

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our guest host for this episode was Tony Liu. Our regular host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. Our cover art is from Renaise Kim.

A special thanks this week to our guests, Dr. Arielle Hirschfeld and Dr. Russell Reid. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. Additionally, you can find more information at our website, deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

To learn more about Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, you can visit their website: https://www.freshstart.org/.

On this episode of Deep Cuts, one of our most powerful and personal episodes yet, our guest is Dr. Abdullah Pratt, Assistant Professor and Emergency Medicine Physician at the University of Chicago Medical Center and Faculty Director of Community Engagement at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Pratt shares how his experiences as a lifelong resident of the South Side of Chicago have shaped his career as a physician at the University of Chicago’s level one trauma center. He discusses the systemic roots of violence and the inequities in how solutions to violence are funded. He also describes the grassroots community violence prevention initiatives he leads, working to inspire more youth to become leaders as well.

Known as “Dee,” Dr. Pratt’s goal has always been to have a career advocating for underserved communities and addressing systemic healthcare disparities. As an Emergency Medicine physician, he continues to vigorously work to improve health literacy and emergency preparedness through teaching South-Side residents how to properly respond to cardiac arrests, penetrating traumas (gunshot victims), and strokes prior to the arrival of medical assistance.

To learn more about and support MEDCEEP, you can visit their website at medceep.com.

“Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records.

A special thanks this week to our guest, Dr. Abdullah Pratt. We’d also like to thank all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery. You can also learn more about our podcast and team at our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/.

In this episode of Deep Cuts, Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers on how to understand and begin to tackle gun violence in the United States. We’ll discuss the factors that perpetuate gun violence, which individuals are at highest risk, and what interventions might look like to curb gun violence. We’ll also discuss the ways Dr. Rogers finds meaning amidst this challenging work.

Dr. Selwyn O. Rogers Jr.is a widely respected surgeon and public health expert. He is the founding director of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center, and has built an interdisciplinary team of specialists to treat patients who suffer injury from life-threatening events, such as car crashes, serious falls and gun violence. His team works with leaders in the city's trauma network to expand trauma care on the South Side of Chicago.

Dr. Rogers has also served in leadership capacities at health centers across the country, including most recently as vice president and chief medical officer for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, as the chair of surgery at Temple University School of Medicine, and as the division chief of trauma, burns and surgical critical care at Harvard Medical School.

If you have questions or topics you’d like to hear us discuss, please reach out to us via Instagram or X @deepcutssurgery. You can also learn more about our podcast and team at our website, deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

“Deep Cuts” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records.

Special thanks this week to all of our listeners for supporting the show. Let us know -- what have you most enjoyed about our podcast? Where do you see room for improvement? You can reach out to us on Instagram or X at @deepcutssurgery.

In this episode of “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery”, Dr. Jana Richards and Dr. Lateia Taylor discuss racial disparities in maternal mortality and the different ways we can change this picture.

We’ll get into the reasons why disparities exist when it comes to race and matters of maternal life or death. We’ll also talk about how medical schools can help and what work is being done at the University of Chicago to improve outcomes. Dr. Richards and Dr. Taylor also discuss what these disparities mean to them personally.

Dr. Jana Richards is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago with over 15 years of obstetrics and gynecology experience. She delivers comprehensive women’s care that includes annual exams, preventive care, pregnancy and childbirth medicine, and more. She also works with her patients to create personalized treatment plans that meet each patient’s individual healthcare goals.

Dr. Lateia Taylor is a 4th year Obstretrics & Gynecology resident at the University of Chicago. She is originally from Jackson, Mississippi and completed medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Her research explores how we can fill gaps in medical provider knowledge about infertility among Black women.

If you have questions or topics you’d like to hear us discuss, reach us at zoom-colo-gen@bsd.uchicago.edu.

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago, which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. His new album is Diagnosis.

A special thanks this week to Dr. Mathews, Dr. Posner, Shane Semmens, and Beth Gabryszak for supporting us in the work we do.

You can find more about our podcast at our website https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/ or or on Instagram and X @deepcutssurgery.

Note: During the podcast, Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric otolaryngologist, was accidentally referred to as a pediatrician. We apologize for the error.

In today’s episode, Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, Deanna Bassette, Maureen Wilson, and Dr. Chase Corvin discuss the Bloodless Heart Surgery Program at the University of Chicago Medicine. We hear about the individualized, comprehensive cardiac surgical care they provide to Jehovah’s Witnesses and other patients who cannot or choose not to receive blood products. The Bloodless Heart Surgery team also shares what they’ve learned about caring for Jehovah’s Witnesses, combining respect for people’s religious beliefs with surgical expertise.

Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam specializes in the surgical management of heart failure, and is an expert in high-risk cardiac surgery. He  has received national attention for his skill in performing bloodless cardiac surgery, which requires the use of precise surgical techniques to minimize blood loss during the procedure — sparing the need for a blood transfusion.

Deanna Bassette is the Bloodless Advanced Practice Nurse Coordinator for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Deanna started as a registered nurse on the Cardiothoracic Surgical Floor in 2016 and transitioned to her role as Bloodless APN Coordinator in 2021. In this role, she serves a provider whose patient population consists of patients who are unable to take blood transfusions, even in life-or-death situations.

Maureen Wilson has over 25 years in healthcare, starting off as a paramedic then nursing.  Her nursing experience includes working as an RN in multiple level one trauma centers as well as case management and currently as a Bloodless Coordinator at the university of Chicago hospital.

Dr. Chase Corvin is the chief resident of General Surgery at the University of Chicago. Next year, he will begin his training in heart and lung surgery. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Corvin has degrees in economics and business administration. 

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine. Our host is Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers and editors include Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, Nihar Rama, and Chuka Onuh. Our podcast cover art comes to you from Pombie Silverman, episode art from Sam Higgins, and music from Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. 

A special thanks this week to our guests, Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, Deanna Bassette, Maureen Wilson, and Dr. Chase Corvin. To send us questions or comments or find out more about our work, visit our website, https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. You can also follow us on Instagram and X at @deepcutssurgery. 

To learn more about the Bloodless Heart Surgery Program at the University of Chicago Medicine, visit their website: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/heart-vascular/heart-surgery/bloodless-heart-surgery

Today, we discuss community health advocacy on the southside of Chicago, including what work is being done in and around UChicago Medicine to promote community health and how people can get involved. We also discuss some of the barriers to achieving the goals of more equitable care for all. 

Our guest today is Doriane Miller, MD. Dr. Miller has been providing care to under-served minority populations for more than 20 years. In addition to her role as a primary care physician, she has a special interest in behavioral health. Under her leadership, physicians, educators and community members work to improve population health outcomes for residents on the South Side of Chicago through community-engaged research, demonstration and service models. Dr. Miller's research focuses on the intersection of health disparities and race. She has served as the project director for several studies designed to augment care by promoting collaboration among physicians, patients and families. Dr. Miller's work in the area of improving asthma outcomes through school and community interventions was noted by the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology with a 2006 Special Recognition Award.

Prior to joining the University of Chicago in January 2009, Dr. Miller served as national program director of New Health Partnerships, a demonstration project funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation on collaborative self-management support.

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at UChicago Medicine. Our hosts are Dr. Jen Vigneswaran and Dr. Anthony Douglas. Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producer and editors include Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, Chuka Onuh, and Nihar Rama. Our podcast cover art comes to you from Pombie Silverman, episode art from Sam Higgins, and music from Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. 

A special thanks this week to Dr. Doriane Miller. Find more about our work at https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu. You can also follow us on Instagram and X at @deepcutssurgery.