Dr. Sturm hosts Dr. Theda Kontis, a pioneering facial plastic surgeon, former AAFPRS president, and injectables expert, to discuss thriving in a male dominated field. Dr. Kontis shares her journey from personal rhinoplasty at age 14 to 30 years in private practice with partner Ira Papel. Listeners learn how passion for work, male mentorship, and leadership roles like academy presidency pave paths for women surgeons. Key insights cover family legacy in medicine, patient transformations, and advice against self criticism.

Learn more about Dr. Kontis here.

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Key Takeaways

1. Passion for daily work sustains long careers in private practice and leadership, turning challenges into fulfillment across roles like motherhood and surgery.​

2. Personal rhinoplasty experiences foster deep patient empathy, transforming pre op discomfort into post op excitement over before and after results.​

3. Male mentors often provide crucial support in male dominated fields, while addressing queen bee dynamics among women builds stronger professional networks.​

4. Long term partnerships succeed through mutual respect, open communication, and shared patient consultations despite differing views.​

5. Choosing a niche like injectables allows expertise development without direct competition, enabling teaching and leadership among peers.​

Timestamped Overview

01:48 Passion for work balances private practice, motherhood, and leadership.
03:06 Daughter pursues ENT residency despite parental warnings.
06:00 Personal rhinoplasty story inspires career in facial plastics.
07:43 Patient joy in before after photos shows transformation power.
10:34 Male mentors propel women forward in facial plastics leadership.
12:07 Pioneering as AAFPRS second woman president opens doors.
14:10 30 year practice partnership thrives on respect and teamwork.
16:09 Academy presidency challenges slow processes but drives change.
17:51 Fighting insurance policy win via personal connections.
21:15 Queen bee effect hinders women more than male barriers.
22:54 Injectables niche carves expertise without rhinoplasty competition.
24:57 Advice to younger self: Avoid self criticism and embrace strengths.

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