The Pursuit of Mastery: Why I'm Still Learning How to Operate
From Fem MD · 22:42
Show by Hippocratic Collective
What happens to your learning once residency and fellowship are over?In this solo episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd reflects on returning to a hands-on surgical course five years after completing formal training and why she believes one of the most dangerous things a surgeon can do is assume they already know enough.Lauren breaks down how her approach to continuing surgical education has changed as an attending, from traditional conferences and lectures to cadaver labs, live surgery, small-group courses, and one-on-one observation with surgeons she admires.She explains why watching an expert perform an entire operation can teach you things no textbook or lecture can, especially the tiny decisions that happen in real time: why a surgeon chooses one maneuver over another, how they respond to unexpected anatomy, how their team works together, and how judgment evolves over years of practice.Lauren also reflects on returning to the same course three years later and realizing how much her own confidence had changed. What once felt like a room she barely deserved to sit in became a place where other surgeons were approaching her for advice.But confidence comes with its own warning: never let success get in the way of improvement.From choosing better mentors to spending money on education, observing surgeons who practice differently, and focusing on judgment rather than simply collecting techniques, Lauren shares the lessons she wishes she could give herself five years ago.Her goal is simple: get 1% better every day.Host: Dr. Lauren UmstattdConnect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_mdProduced by: The Hippocratic CollectiveSee more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com
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