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Artwork for Surgeons with Purpose

Surgeons with Purpose

Hippocratic Collective
Mental Health
Surgeons
Imposter Syndrome
Anxiety
Burnout
Medical Training
Self-Doubt
Martyrdom
Patient Care
Perfectionism
Purpose
Self-Care
Surgeon Self-Concept
Surgery
Operating Room
Swan Theory
Three Businesses
Duality
Otolaryngology
Healthcare System

A podcast for surgeons who feel like they are languishing in a career that didn't turn out to be as fulfilling or as prestigious as they expected. Dr. Mel Thacker, an ENT surgeon and coach, takes you on a journey to help you understand why you are feeling dissatisfied, burnt out, and stuck. With this newfound insight, you'll be able to reframe how you see your experience, rediscover who you are un... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes97Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Mental HealthHealth & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for Surgeons with Purpose

Latest Episodes

Learn more about Love and Science Fertility here.

Learn more about the Norway retreat here. Get on my calendar for an interview for a spot here.

Join Empowerd Surgeons here.

Infertility is shaping the lives of female physicians, and we need to tal... more

Surgeons, join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group today.

In this episode, Dr. Karen Leitner and I explore the hidden thought patterns that keep women physicians stuck. And how to break free!

We cover:

• Why charting paralysis happens (and the thou... more

Interested in our retreat to Norway? Get on my calendar for an interview here.

What does it really take to survive and succeed in a system that wasn’t built with you in mind?

In this episode, I explore that question with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sony... more

Join Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Learn more about what's inside ESG here.

In the perfectionist surgeon's mind, either we get a perfect outcome or we fail. But in the realm of humans, perfection is impossible. And we don't always have full contro... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Erica Bove
Double board certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, CEO/founder of Love and Science, Thriving Through Infertility
University of Vermont; Love and Science Fertility
Episode: #94 Solving for the Infertility Crisis in Surgery with Dr. Erica Bove
Karen Leitner
Coach for women doctors; specializes in negotiation and ADHD-informed practice
Karen Leitner MD
Episode: #93 Negotiating Our Worth with Dr. Karen Leitner
Sonya Sloan, MD
Orthopedic surgeon, author of The Rules of Medicine
Orthopedic Surgeon, Sloan STEM nonprofit
Episode: #92 The Rules of Surviving Surgery with Dr. Sonya Sloan
Brian Nwannunu
Orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement
Texas Joint Institute
Episode: #90 Serving the Patient Not the Ego with Dr. Brian Nwannunu
Dr. Cornelia Griggs
Triple board certified pediatric surgeon, critical care specialist, assistant professor in surgery at Mass General Hospital
Mass General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
Episode: #87 Women are Leaving with Dr. Cornelia Griggs
Dr. Raymund King
A head and neck surgeon, healthcare attorney, and performer who has transitioned from medicine to various forms of entertainment.
Episode: #86 Magician to Physician to Attorney to Actor with Raymund King, MD, JD
Tiphany Kane
A patient with extensive experience dealing with medical professionals and a medical mystery
Episode: #85 From Gaslighting to Real Care: A Patient's Perspective with Tiphany Kane
Dr. Ivan Capobianco
General surgeon and creator of STITCHES, a general surgery newsletter
STITCHES
Episode: #84 From OR to AI with Dr. Ivan Capobianco
Dr. Mandy Rice
General surgeon specializing in hormone replacement therapy for women
Direct Surgical Care
Episode: #82 Becoming a Surgeon on Her Own Terms with Dr. Mandy Rice

Host

Dr. Mel Thacker
Host of Surgeons with Purpose

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • Perfection

    Exactly what this community needs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kate Buh.
    United States7 months ago
  • Incredibly inspiring

    Incredibly inspiring and courageous podcast. Valuable information that fills a void that so many in our profession are uncomfortable speaking about. Highly recommend for all surgeons and physicians.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KY West Highland Way
    United States9 months ago
  • Wonderfully Inspiring Podcast

    Love Dr. Mel Thacker. She’s an inspiration and really an important voice and role model for all fields of medicine. I hope she goes on to a broader leadership role in public health and public policy!!!!! A WONDERFUL LEADER!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doc Lady USA
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thanks for befriending my imposter

    It’s funny how I initially downloaded the episode and then was resistant to listen… like I wanted to keep this part of me hidden. I know it’s there. What’s the point of belaboring it?

    Well, thank you Mel. You reminded me that it’s my minds way of protecting me. That I can embrace my imposter and reason through her.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BraveBadassSurgeonMom
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such an important topic to talk about!

    I recently was turned on to this podcast, and it sounded interesting, but oh my goodness, this is SO important to consider the medical practitioner angle, and what they are saying! These are heartbreaking stories from people who made a vow to care for people, and how the system is failing them, and with that, the patients. Thank you for providing these recounts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amybeth1126
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate candid conversations about burnout and coaching
Insightful and empowering for surgeons
Audience finds guest expertise and host leadership gratefully valued

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#92 The Rules of Surviving Surgery with Dr. Sonya Sloan
Q: What inspired you to write The Rules of Medicine, and what is the core message you want readers to take away?
The book grew out of years of personal experience with discrimination and the realization that many trainees lack practical, survival-oriented guidance. Its core message is to be strategic, protect oneself, seek mentorship and advocacy, and to transform trauma into empowerment by documenting, learning to play the game, and paying it forward to help others navigate the system.
#92 The Rules of Surviving Surgery with Dr. Sonya Sloan
Q: Tell us about your story and how you got into orthopedics, including any barriers you faced as a Black woman in your residency.
Dr. Sloan describes growing up around hospitals, seeing orthopedics as a potential path, facing a lack of representation for women of color, and navigating a hostile culture during residency. She discusses bullying, harassment, and the strategic ways she learned to document, advocate for herself, and persevere, ultimately leading to a career that combines clinical work with advocacy and writing.
#94 Solving for the Infertility Crisis in Surgery with Dr. Erica Bove
Q: So tell us a little bit about your story.
I'm a reproductive endocrinologist focused on IVF who realized that many patients struggle because they don't have coaching tools or emotional support; by combining coaching with scientific care I can help patients and physicians regulate their nervous systems and make better, more authentic decisions.
#90 Serving the Patient Not the Ego with Dr. Brian Nwannunu
Q: What lessons from residency and training shaped your philosophy of patient care?
Residency taught him to anticipate microaggressions and the demanding environment, but mentors and a focus on intrinsic motivation helped him keep patient-centered values at the forefront, reinforcing the importance of listening and seeing the patient as a person beyond the X-ray.
#90 Serving the Patient Not the Ego with Dr. Brian Nwannunu
Q: How did you decide on orthopedic surgery given your background and early experiences?
A natural fit emerged from playing sports, a childhood fascination with the human body, and a memorable orthopedic encounter during high school that showed how a great surgeon can fuse skill with a human-centric approach, leading to a lifelong commitment to the field.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Surgeons with Purpose

What is Surgeons with Purpose about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Surgeons with Purpose centers on helping surgeons who feel stuck, burnt out, or misaligned with their career. Conversations swing between burnout relief, leadership development, gender equity in medicine, and coaching as a practical path to regain meaning. Across episodes, guests range from surgeons and clinicians to coaches and researchers, all exploring authentic identity beyond the operating room and actionable strategies to improve well-being, career satisfaction, and patient care. The show often weaves personal journeys with system-level critique, spotlighting empathy, mentorship, and real-world steps toward a more purposeful medical career.

Where can I find podcast stats for Surgeons with Purpose?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Surgeons with Purpose. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Surgeons with Purpose and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Surgeons with Purpose get?

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What are the audience demographics for Surgeons with Purpose?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Surgeons with Purpose, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Surgeons with Purpose have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Surgeons with Purpose has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Surgeons with Purpose?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Surgeons with Purpose:

1. Freakonomics Radio
2. The Daily
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. This American Life
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Surgeons with Purpose are there?

Surgeons with Purpose launched 2 years ago and published 97 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Surgeons with Purpose?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Surgeons with Purpose?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Surgeons with Purpose from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Surgeons with Purpose?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Surgeons with Purpose. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Surgeons with Purpose?

Recent guests on Surgeons with Purpose include:

1. Dr. Erica Bove
2. Karen Leitner
3. Sonya Sloan, MD
4. Brian Nwannunu
5. Dr. Cornelia Griggs
6. Dr. Raymund King
7. Tiphany Kane
8. Dr. Ivan Capobianco

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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