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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast retired orthopedic surgeon and leader, Dr. Richard Barry.

As surgeons, thoughtful introspection and honest communication are the keys to balancing our personal and emotional availability with our professional commitments.

Introspective communication refers to the practice of looking inward to examine one's thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It involves engaging in honest self-dialogue, which is crucial for understanding oneself and improving how we communicate with others. This form of communication can help clarify our intentions, desires, and values, leading to more meaningful interactions with others.

Starting in residency and continuing into practice, we need to regularly reassess our own behavioral patterns and make improvements where necessary.

Improved interpersonal communication is a teachable skill. We need to create wellness programs within our organizations that foster effective introspection and interpersonal communication skills.

What steps does Rich suggest we take to improve our introspection and communication skills?

• Step 1 - Reduce unspoken and unmet expectations.
• Step 2 - Be present and listen carefully.
• Step 3 - Encourage personal feedback.

Most importantly, PRACTICE introspective communication!

BIO

Rich Barry is a retired orthopaedic surgeon living in Northern California. Prior to medical school and residency, he served as an Air Force C-130 pilot on a combat tour in Vietnam. After serving in the Air Force, he was in private practice in Davis California for over 20 years. He served as a clinical faculty member for the U.C. Davis Department of Orthopaedics.Rich is a past-President of the California Orthopaedic Association and a past-Chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Board of Councilors. Rich and his wife remain active in the Lamplighters Orthopaedic Association, a leadership alumni group of Fellows and their spouses.He is married, and is very proud of their three children, and 4 grandchildren.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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In this episode of the SurgeonMasters Podcast, Jeffrey M. Smith, MD, FACS, PCC, and general surgeon and SurgeonMasters physician coach, Mindy Ho, MD, discuss their time at the 2025 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago, where SurgeonMasters had an exhibit booth.

Many physicians, residents, and medical students have questions about the coaching model that show their curiosity and desire to grow.

• What is the real difference between coaching and mentoring?
• Does coaching need to happen in person, or can it be just as effective virtually?

We heard from medical students and residents, wondering:

• Can coaching actually benefit me during training?
• Isn’t coaching more for mid-career or late-career physicians?

We heard from mid-career and late-career surgeons asking:

• What does the process look like?
• How long does it take?

As our careers evolve, we might be busy caring for patients or managing administrative responsibilities that we forget to focus on our own growth in other areas we care about or our well-being.

• Does coaching really work?
• How does coaching affect wellness?
• What actually happens in a coaching conversation?

Mindy and Jeff explore all of these questions — and more — in this episode of The SurgeonMasters Podcast.

Listen now to hear how coaching applies across every stage of a medical career, and how it can support you in finding clarity, growth, and purpose — wherever you are on your journey.

Subscribe to the SurgeonMasters Podcast!\

BIO:

Mindy Ho, MD, MBA

I am a board-certified General Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in medicine, working in both private practice and hospital employed settings. A native of the Midwest, I returned to Indiana after completing my residency in the Chicago area. While building a thriving career as a general surgeon, I concurrently pursued my MBA and embraced my most rewarding role yet, becoming a mother of three.

[Learn more about Mindy]

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified psychiatrist and performance coach, Ryan Davis, MD. Ryan works with elite athletes and high-level professionals, including professional golfers on the LPGA tour.

Routine is important.

Through the lens of a golfer, it's important to have a pre-shot routine and a post-shot routine. This means that every single time a golfer steps up to the ball, they do the exact same thing. After taking the shot, they also take the exact same actions while thinking about what they liked and didn't like about the shot. This allows for consistency, and helps tamp down intrusive thoughts.

This can be applied in the realm of medicine too. As surgeons, we sometimes go off script by doing things differently than normal for one reason or another. But when we can stick to our routines, that's when the best outcomes occur.

What steps does Ryan suggest we take to stick to our routines?

• Step 1 - Develop a routine and know what it is. Many people already have a routine without even knowing it. Identify the elements of your routine so you can make sure you implement those steps regularly.
• Step 2 - If you notice you're falling off your routine, ask yourself why. Sometimes there is a justifiable reason, but in most cases it's best to stick to that routine.
• Step 3 - Refine your routine over time to optimize your performance and achieve your best results.

Most importantly, PRACTICE your routine to reach peak performance!

BIO

Dr. Davis is a Harvard trained, board-certified psychiatrist with advanced performance coach training. While not at the office Dr. Davis is a 3-time marathon runner, die-hard University of Michigan and Detroit sports enthusiast, and most importantly, an obsessed golfer.

Dr. Davis helps his clients gain insight into their psyche as it relates to their sport and personal life. Dr. Davis’ background allows him to offer unique mental coaching, creating resilient and driven athletes who live more purposeful lives. Dr. Davis provides performance coaching for elite athletes, teams, as well as business executives.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!