SurgOnc Today

In this new episode of Speaking of SurgOnc, Dr. Rick Greene & Dr. Giorgos Karakousis discuss the article: "Assessing the Evidence for and Utility of Gene Expression Profiling of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma" from the March 2025 issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

After years of training and countless hours in the OR, the transition from fellowship to independent practice is one of the most challenging times in a surgeon's career. In this podcast episode produced by the Fellows and Young Attendings Committee, Dr. Kathrine Kelly is joined by Dr. Mura Assifi and Dr. Michael Wach to discuss the stressors of starting out as a surgical oncologist. This is an honest conversation about building a surgical practice, managing complications, and the unique challenges we all face in the care of the complex cancer patient.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, we will discuss the critical infrastructure and institutional support needed to successfully conduct surgical clinical trials. Host Dr. Christina Angeles, surgical oncologist at the University of Michigan and Chair of the SSO Research Committee, is joined by Dr. Hop Tran Cao, HPB surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Melissa Pilewskie, breast cancer surgeon at the University of Michigan – both actively engaged in clinical trials at their respective institutions. Together, they explore the unique challenges surgeons face when initiating and executing clinical trials, how institutional culture and resources shape the research environment, and what it takes to build the infrastructure needed to support high-quality surgical research. From dedicated surgical trials centers and multidisciplinary collaboration to investigator training and fellowship education, this conversation offers practical insights for surgeons at every stage of their career – whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen your institution's research program.

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah speaks with Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about strategies to improve clinical trial enrollment, expand access, and strengthen participation in surgical oncology research.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee interviewed attendees and faculty at the Society of Surgical Oncology 2026 meeting. Here, we present some of the most fantastic moments and give initial impressions of up and coming changes in care for patients with cancer. Thanks for listening, and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2027. As always, the Society of Surgical Oncology seeks to improve multidisciplinary patient care by advancing the science, education, and practice of cancer surgery worldwide.

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah interviews Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about why clinical trials fail, highlighting key challenges in trial design, patient accrual, execution, and adoption in surgical oncology.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Drs. Kostas Chouliaras and Laura Enomoto recap the highlights from the Advanced Cancer Therapies Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with Drs. Michael Lidsky, Jason Foster, and Mecker Moller.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today's Surgical Oncology Insight series, Dr. Brittany Barber discusses with Dr. Sid Puram his paper "Trends in incidence of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in the United States 2001-2019".

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, key components of the recently launched Patient Manifesto will be discussed by appendix cancer medical experts and advocacy organizations. The goal of the podcast is to educate the medical community and our patient community on this manifesto and how we can work together to advance these key initiatives.

In this new episode of Speaking of SurgOnc, Dr. Rick Greene & Dr. Mohammed Farooq discuss the article "Recurrence Patterns and Survival Outcomes in Clinical Stage IIB/IIC Melanoma: Can We Stratify Patients for Consideration of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy", from the January 2026 issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Drs. Cherif Boutros, Juliet Lumati, Sergio Aguilar, and Olusegun Alatise discuss the unique opportunities and challenges involved in launching and sustaining clinical trials in low-resource settings, with a spotlight on cancer care in Nigeria. Through a conversational format, the speakers will share personal experiences and lessons learned from building trial infrastructure, navigating ethics and regulatory hurdles, and ensuring data quality and patient retention in fragmented health systems. The session will also highlight strategies for securing funding, fostering local and global collaborations, and designing trials that are both scientifically rigorous and contextually relevant. Listeners will gain practical insights into how clinical research can drive health equity, and how global societies can support the next generation of investigators in low- and middle-income countries.

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, we discuss how early-career surgical oncologists can strategically approach 2nd contract renegotiations. Dr. Robin Schmitz is joined by Dr. Rajesh Ramanathan and Dr. Brett Ecker as they share contrasting perspectives, one having stayed and grown within the same institution, the other with a recent transition to a new academic center. Together, they discuss how to assess your value, understand leverage, and navigate decisions around compensation, academic advancement, clinical resources, and leadership opportunities. Whether you're planning to stay or considering a move, this episode provides practical insights to help you negotiate with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Ko Un (Clara) Park, MD and Andrea Abbott, MD, MCSR lead a discussion with Taiwo Adesoye, MD and Kevin Hughes, MD to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools are revolutionizing clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in surgical oncology. Real-world applications such as pathology image analysis, assistance during tumor board, and utilizing "ambient scribing" to reduce documentation burdens are discussed.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Lily Saadat is joined by Dr. Austin Williams and Dr. Mackenzie Shindorf to discuss negotiating your first contract as a surgical attending. This podcast is geared towards trainees who are preparing to transition from training to independent practice and will cover what matters most in a contract, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to best advocate for yourself during this process.

On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Flavio Rocha, Professor and Division Head of Surgical Oncology at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, leads a discussion about engagement of surgeons in the National Clinical Trials Network cooperative groups with Sepideh Gholami, Associate Professor and Director of Translational Research in Surgical Oncology at Northwell Health, and Michael Lowe, Associate Professor and Director of the Melanoma Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. They discuss the impact that surgeons can have on the design and implementation of NCI-sponsored clinical trials and offer insights on ways for surgeons to engage with the cooperative groups.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today®, Drs. Bonci, Boughey & Adesoye review the most important breast cancer management updates from the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Expert breast surgical oncologists discuss new findings on axillary surgery and when less invasive approaches may be safely considered, the role and impact of preoperative MRI in newly diagnosed breast cancer cases, and emerging strategies for the non-surgical management of DCIS. This episode focuses on what surgeons need to know now - and how these studies may guide patient care moving forward.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today®, Drs. Jason Liu and Sonya Khan will demystify the risks of thyroid cancer and the use of GLP-1s. They will also provide practical advice for surgeons by answering real questions that their patients have asked.

In this new episode of Speaking of SurgOnc, Dr. Rick Greene & Dr. Jamie Rand discuss the article: Omission of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Patients with pT0-2 ER+/HER2− Breast Cancer with 3–5 Positive Lymph Nodes Undergoing Adjuvant Systemic Therapy and Radiation Does Not Impact Overall Survival: A Cancer Database Analysis, from the February 2026 issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, join Dr. Ana Refinetti and Dr. Shruti Zaveri as they interview Dr. Iryna Jacinto, a recent SSO ICDE participant who is spearheading breast cancer care programming in Angola.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee with their integral connection to the Society's governance structure, interview the new CEO, Ms. Patti Stella.