In this episode of Deep Cuts, we hear from Dr. Courtney Cripps, a surgeon who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Chicago. Dr. Cripps details her journey to surgery, and specifically surgery in gender-affirming care. In talking to Dr. Anthony Douglas, she discusses how gender-affirming care encompasses medication, surgery, and psychological therapy, which allows it to be a continually evolving field. Dr. Cripps also discusses the immediate impact that gender-affirming care can provide people, and considers the intersection of policy within her medical practice. Dr. Courtney Cripps is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is a renowned expert in head-to-toe gender affirming care, and is invested in the complete intellectual, social, and emotional aspects of caring for her patients. In addition to this expertise, she performs cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries of the breast, face, and body. 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 editors are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editorial team includes Megan Teramoto, Elizabeth Yearsley, Faiza Shaik, and Azeem Saifee. Our senior producer is Nihar Rama. Our production team includes Krupa Hegde. 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 Ethan Epstein. Special thanks to Dr. Tony Liu, our founding producer/editor. If you’ve liked this podcast, please leave a rating, comment, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Please reach out to us as well — let us know what have you most enjoyed about our podcast, and where you see room for improvement. You can reach out to us on Instagram @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

What happens when the patient and the surgeon sit down together? In this episode of Deep Cuts, we hear from Chloe, a gun violence survivor, and Dr. Ken Wilson, the trauma surgeon at UChicago medicine who fought to save her life. Their conversation is raw, honest, and deeply human — a reminder that behind every statistic is a name, a story, and a community that feels the weight of gun violence every single day. Kenneth Wilson, MD, has more than a decade of experience as a trauma, acute care and critical care surgeon for both adult and pediatric patients. He treats all related conditions, including giant ventral hernias, a condition that can occur after abdominal trauma and requires an extremely complex surgical approach. Dr. Wilson is an active researcher, and has been widely published on topics including military trauma and trauma surgical outcomes. He is interested in the association between race and socioeconomic status on trauma-related health outcomes. 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 editors are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editorial team includes Megan Teramoto, Elizabeth Yearsley, Faiza Shaik, and Azeem Saifee. Our senior producer is Nihar Rama. Our production team includes Beryl Zhou and Krupa Hegde. 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 Ethan Epstein. Special thanks to Dr. Tony Liu, our founding producer/editor. If you’ve liked this podcast, please leave a rating, comment, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Please reach out to us as well — let us know what have you most enjoyed about our podcast, and where you see room for improvement. You can reach out to us on Instagram @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

In this episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, Dr. Brandon Baird provides an overview of ENT, or ear, nose and throat surgery. We discuss key aspects of the specialty, from management of polyps to advanced head and neck cancers. We also touch on disparities in cancer care and the importance of speech and swallow pathologists. Finally, we examine which populations lack access to ENT care and the reasons behind these barriers. Brandon Jackson Baird, MD, is a laryngeal surgeon specializing in a wide range of laryngeal diseases with an emphasis on medical and surgical management of voice and swallowing disorders. He completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Stanford University and fellowship at Harvard University – Massachusetts General Hospital. As a trained singer himself, Dr. Baird understands the importance of expert laryngeal care, and he has the skill and experience to treat professional voice artists for voice conditions. Dr. Baird has a subspecialty focus in medical and surgical management for singers with phonotraumatic vocal fold pathology, like nodules and polyps. While at Massachusetts General Hospital, he also trained under Dr. Steven Zeitels, the laryngeal surgeon credited with treating professional performers Steven Tyler, Sam Smith and Adele. As a dedicated researcher, Dr. Baird is identifying and developing novel biotechnology within the field of laryngeal surgery. Additionally, Dr. Baird is evaluating and investigating minimally invasive treatment options for early laryngeal cancer. 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 production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our production team also includes Beryl Zhou and Daniel Correa Bucio. Our senior editors are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editorial team also includes Megan Teramoto and Ria Sood. 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 Leia Chen. Special thanks to Tony Liu, our founding producer/editor. If you’ve liked this podcast, please leave a rating, comment, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Please reach out to us as well — let us know what have you most enjoyed about our podcast, and where you see room for improvement. You can reach out to us on Instagram @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

On today’s episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, we have a conversation with Dr. Annie Polcari, Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay, and Violence Recovery Specialist Kenny White about the Trauma Violence Recovery Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. We discuss historical factors that have contributed to inequity in our community, what victims of traumatic injury experience in the hospital, and what opportunities for growth there still are for the program. Throughout, we highlight the importance of community contributions to the recovery journey of our patients. Dr. Annie Polcari is a graduate of the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Chicago. She received her Medical degree and Master’s Degree in public health from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She also received a Master’s Degree in Global Health from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Polcari is looking forward to a career in trauma and acute care surgery and is now pursuing her fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the University of Michigan. Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay is the executive director for community and external affairs for the Urban Health Initiative at the University of Chicago, and he is the former director of the Center for Youth Violence Prevention. He studied at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he received his Master’s and Doctorate degrees. He focuses on implementing prevention programs and building community connections. Kenny White is a Violence Recovery Specialist at the University of Chicago and a Qualified Mental Health Professional. He also serves as a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant with US2 Consulting, and has done extensive work accompanying families and victims after they have suffered intentional violence. 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 editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our senior producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our production team includes Megan Teramoto and Ria Sood. Our editorial team includes Beryl Zhou and Daniel Correa Bucio. 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 Leia Chen. If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts. And 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 @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

In today’s episode, we join Dr. Martin Uwah, a skilled colorectal surgeon, and Dr. Edwin McDonald and Dr. Ross McMillan, expert gastroenterologists, as they discuss gastrointestinal health, including colorectal surgery and colorectal cancer. Some of the questions they answer include: what are some risk factors for colon cancer, and what can you do to decrease your risk? What does a colonoscopy really involve, and who should get one? Why are there disparities in colon cancer rates and deaths, by race/ethnicity and between neighborhoods in Chicago? And what is happening here at UChicago to address these disparities?

In this episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, Dr. Ross Milner and Kathy Kaluhiokalani on what patients can expect before, during, and after surgery. We’ll also explore new ways technology may be able to support patients when it comes to accessing necessary surgeries. Our executive producer is Tony Liu. Our senior producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our production team includes Megan Teramoto, Ria Sood, Ishaan Kumar, and Daniel Correa Buccio. Our senior editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our editorial team also includes Beryl Zhou. 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 Leia Chen.

In this episode of Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery, Dr. Carmelle Romain and Dr. Kylie Callier provide an overview of the field of pediatric surgery. We cover key aspects of pediatric surgery, from common pediatric conditions to the factors that attract surgeons to the subspecialty. We also examine which populations of children lack access to surgery, and the reasons behind these barriers. Finally, we highlight what the University of Chicago is doing to improve access for children and parents in Chicago’s South Side. Dr. Carmelle Romain is a pediatric surgeon and Assistant Professor in the Department of General Surgery. She attended medical school at Brown University and completed her residency and fellowship training at Vanderbilt University and Miami Children’s Hospital. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Romain is an active researcher examining how telehealth can expand access for pediatric patients. Dr. Kylie Callier is a 3rd-year surgery resident at UChicago Medicine and a fellow at the Maclean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. She is an aspiring pediatric surgeon and attended medical school at Texas Tech University. Her research interests include pediatric trauma and pediatric ECMO, a life-supporting treatment for critically ill children with heart and/or lung failure. 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 executive producer is Tony Liu. Our senior producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our production team includes Megan Teramoto, Ria Sood, Ishaan Kumar, and Daniel Correa Buccio. Our senior editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. Our editorial team also includes Beryl Zhou. 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 Leia Chen. A special thanks this week to Dr. Jeffrey Matthews — for his leadership, vision, and commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities. 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 @deepcutssurgery. Find out more about our work at deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu.

In today’s episode, Dr. Mitchell Posner, Dr. Sarah Shubeck, and Dr. Jelani Williams discuss the University of Chicago Medicine’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center. Scheduled to open in 2027, the new center is a seven-floor, 575,000-square-foot building planned to have 80 private beds and 90 consultation and outpatient rooms. At the moment, the center is anticipated to see 200,000 outpatient visits and 5000 inpatient admissions annually. This would be the city of Chicago’s first freestanding cancer pavilion. How will we ensure that this new center prioritizes the community’s needs? In Chicago’s South Side, cancer death rates are twice the national average, and cancer is also the second-leading cause of death on the South Side behind heart disease. In this conversation, you’ll hear about the center’s development, what patients can expect, and most importantly, the Department of Surgery’s commitment to ensure the cancer center supports those who are most vulnerable.

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.

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. 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/.