DiepCJourney Podcast
In this episode of the I interview . She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of . April has an extensive background in writing and landed her first memoir-based magazine cover story at 16. She worked for her college newspaper and then the local newspaper in Santa Cruz, The Sentinel, following graduation. During the tech boom of the early 2000s April worked “over the hill” from Santa Cruz in Silicon Valley. However, in 2012, in the midst of this career, April was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at age 35. Four years later, while struggling to “go back to normal” and find others in...
info_outline Episode 65: Breast Reconstruction at Tucson Plastic SurgeryDiepCJourney Podcast
Are you aware of the value of the two-surgeon model in reconstructive microsurgery? Have you heard about the benefits to patients of ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol? I spoke with two board-certified plastic reconstructive surgeons who practice at to answer these questions and others on this episode of the . My guests are and . They met at the , a well-known yearly gathering of microsurgical specialists from around the world who present the latest techniques in flap surgeries. Their combined training in breast reconstruction microsurgery and aesthetic plastic surgery offers...
info_outline Episode 64: Microsurgery and Fat Grafting in Breast ReconstructionDiepCJourney Podcast
When you think about breast reconstruction do you only think about breast implants? If so, it is because many people are still choosing this option for reconstructing their breast after mastectomy. However, there are options. Using your own tissue is an option and the tissue, along with a blood source, can come from various parts of the body. Fat grafting to shape and form the breast is also an option many ask about but not all know about. This is our topic on this episode of the . My guest, , is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in Hopewell, New Jersey at the ....
info_outline Episode 63: Sensation and Sensibility in Breast ReconstructionDiepCJourney Podcast
Breast sensation, “sensibility,” is a topic I personally cannot talk enough about. Breast cancer patients want to be protected from burns. They want to feel the hugs from their children, grandchildren, partners, friends, and family. Sensibility refers to awareness, emotional response, and feeling so it makes perfect sense to use this word in our conversation on this episode of the . To be honest, the feeling of numbness that many feel after a mastectomy just feels odd. I speak from experience, and I listen to other survivors who tell me this. It felt odd for me, but I was fortunate to have...
info_outline Episode 62: Flap Neurotization in Autologous Breast Reconstruction - A Systematic ReviewDiepCJourney Podcast
This edition of the highlights a recently published paper in , an International Journal of Surgical Reconstruction. The title of the paper is: To our listeners, who may be patients, surgeons, or medical professionals we are going to explore the elements and details of this research paper and how it can be of benefit to you. I am pleased to have two returning guests who have collaborated across continents from Australia to the U.S. sharing their combined microsurgical skills to improve patient outcomes in sensate breasts. is an author of the paper and an internationally trained microsurgeon...
info_outline Episode 61: Microsurgery, Lymphedema, Neurotized Breasts, and RoboticsDiepCJourney Podcast
In this episode of the I am joined by another podcaster. What I am most excited about is that he is one of our international guests this year. We have known each other for some time. Not trying to age either one of us but I have enjoyed knowing him, having robust conversations, and learning so much about the world of plastic surgery and microsurgery from him. We will talk about these topics in the podcast in a cross-continental discussion with my guest . Notice I said, “Mister.” That is because he is a well-respected microsurgeon in the UK and rather than Dr. as we refer to physicians in...
info_outline Episode 60: Credibility in the Noise - Social Media, Breast Reconstruction, and Your ExperienceDiepCJourney Podcast
Consider a young person who has been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Add to the mix they are facing a mastectomy and exploring options for breast reconstruction. Let’s say they are someone who has grown up in the world of social media. The question arises, where do they connect and get their credible information? Breast reconstruction is a complex decisional process. Do they use a platform like TikTok based in thirty second increments or a more community-based platform like Meta/Facebook where patients can engage in more of a discussion about what they are facing after a horrible...
info_outline Episode 59: A Breast Cancer Patient Intent on Finding Access to a DIEP Flap SurgeonDiepCJourney Podcast
Access to medical care for those affected by breast cancer is crucial, and often life transformative. This personal story will give emphasis to the voice of an advocate, a woman of strength, and determined to find the best care available for her during her personal journey from diagnosis to recovery from reconstructive surgery. My guest on this episode of the is Dana Brown, a 54-year-old wife, mother, and educator. She has been married to her best friend and soulmate for 35 years. She was intent on finding a well-qualified microsurgeon to perform her DIEP flap breast reconstruction after...
info_outline Special Episode 58: Fathers, Mentors, and MicrosurgeryDiepCJourney Podcast
This is a special episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. It is one of the most touching interviews I have done to date. Originally recorded during the pandemic as a , I searched through my audio archives hoping I might find it to repurpose the interview. Thankfully, you can now listen to the interview as a podcast. I added a special tribute at the beginning of the podcast to honor my own Father and share the intrinsic value and meaning of the necklace I wear. Next, I honor the mentor, , who changed the trajectory of my work in 2016 encouraging me to open . The interview is a tribute to his own...
info_outline Episode 57: Proximie, Augmented Reality in Surgical EducationDiepCJourney Podcast
Imagine a world where a specialist surgeon on one continent could be virtually transported into any operating room of another surgeon specialist, anywhere in the world, to collaborate with one another visually and practically. That is now a reality with the system, an augmented reality telehealth platform and innovation in education and global surgery. if the Founder of Proximie. She shares the story of her childhood and the events that made a lasting imprint on her memory growing up in Lebanon. She learned a lot about community, people coming together and sharing and supporting each...
info_outlineHave ever been you curious about the networking, conversations, and education that happens among colleagues at medical conferences? Or are there topics you see online but are not aware of the stories behind the social media posts from these conferences?
I invite a returning guest to give you a behind the scenes look at one such conference, the annual conference of The American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. We chose a few highlights and topics from the conference to share our experience so you can learn more about these rich learning events.
Here to share the highpoints and a few of our favorite topics is one of the presenters at the conference himself, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. He is the current president of PRMA in San Antonio, Texas who works with a team of nine microsurgeons that perform primarily tissue-based breast reconstruction for those affected by breast cancer. He is a welcome returning guest to the DiepCJourney podcast.
In addition to his microsurgical prowess, he is an entrepreneur. Dr. Chrysopoulo founded Toliman Health and is the creator of Toliman’s flagship award winning app, Breast Advocate app, the first shared decision-making app for breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction.
He begins by highlighting the diversity of global skill represented at the conference sharing the moving moment when the “Best Case/Best Save” presentations were made. This is the most attended session at the meeting. It is a packed room. This year’s winner was an especially inspiring case of a young Ukrainian woman whose lower face was reconstructed due to a horrific shrapnel injury and repaired by Dr. Adam Maciejewski of Poland.
We touch on the keynote address from CEO and Founder of the Proximie Surgical Learning Platform System, Nadine Hachach-Haram. Dr. C points out the mission of the Proximie system is to expand surgical education and improve patient access to surgical expertise.
We revisit other topics like breast sensation, shared decision-making, and patient advocacy. Links to these topics can be found below.
Dr. C congratulates the ASRM team for putting together another impressive conference from global leaders in microsurgery. We are happy to share our experience.
Learn more about resources mentioned and topics related to the Podcast:
JAMA article on AI and chat box responses
Shared Decision-Making blog with Dr. Chrysopoulo
DiepCJourney podcasts on Breast Sensation
Connect with those mentioned in the Podcast:
Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo on LinkedIn
Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram (Plast) BEM on LinkedIn
American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery: Instagram