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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.

Oscar London was the pen name of a local internist, the late Dr. Arlen Cohn, who practiced in Berkeley, California for over 40 years. His 1987 book, Kill as Few Patients as Possible, is the crown jewel of medical satire.

Most medical textbooks are just full of hubris. London, in contrast, gave us a mission statement that was achievable, humble, and refreshingly honest. He didn't say heal all, he said please, for the love of God, just try not to kill too many.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: patients don't want arrogance, they want honesty. Oscar London insisted that patients remember how you made them feel, not your board scores. Curiosity is the first diagnostic test. Your job is to listen, make eye contact. If you're judging the patient, you've stopped listening.

What steps does Rich suggest we take to show up how we want to for patients?

• Step 1 - Be humble and approachable. Listen more than you talk, and make eye contact when you do.
• Step 2 - Have a life outside of work. Master the subtle art of doing nothing.
• Step 3 - Accept imperfection and embrace growth.

Most importantly, PRACTICE your version of “light reading”!

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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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!

Send us a text

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!