The Surgical Soul with Red MD
The surgical soul is an area deep in the abdomen, about the size of a silver dollar, centered on the head of the pancreas and surrounded by multiple structures and several large blood vessels. Dr. Ken Mattox, an international leader in the field of Trauma Surgery, defines injuries to this area as "soul wounds" as they are often deadly to the patient and are very challenging for the surgeon to access and to manage. Inspired by its namesake, The Surgical Soul podcast dives deeply into the lives of surgeons, exploring their accomplishments and joy, as well as their struggles and pain. If you've ever been curious about the secret lives of surgeons, this podcast is for you.
The Surgical Soul with Red MD
Dr. Gerard Baltazar: Using Our Hands to Heal Patients Inside and Outside of the Operating Room
#005 - Join host Dr. Red Hoffman as she shares an honest, heartfelt and inspiring discussion with her friend and colleague, Dr. Gerard Baltazar, an osteopathic physician and trauma surgeon in New York. Gerard talks about his journey into osteopathic medicine, about how he was drawn specifically to the osteopathic philosophy because of its focus on using our hands to diagnose and treat patients, and about how he now utilizes osteopathic techniques to help trauma patients heal.
Gerard established an Osteopathic Manipulation for Trauma Program at a NY Level 1 Trauma Center. He shares that because the care provided in this clinic allows for more prolonged interactions, he is able to take a holistic approach in the treatment of trauma patients. As Gerard says, "there's more to trauma than just fixing the holes in things" and if we truly want our patients to thrive, we must address not only their physical wellbeing, but their emotional well being as well.
Gerard does not shy away from sharing about his personal journey with domestic violence, complex PTSD, and trauma and reminds us that it is worth doing the work to to heal these wounds, for the sake of our patients, our colleagues and ourselves.
Find more information on The Body Keeps the Score here and The Way of the Peaceful Warrior here.
For more information about osteopathic medicine here.
For more information on osteopathic surgery here.
You can find Gerard on X, on Instagram, and LinkedIn.
For more information on Dr. Red, check out her website and follow her on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Interested in surgery and palliative care? Listen to Dr. Red on the Surgical Palliative Care Podcast.
Learn more about the Surgical Palliative Care community here.
Learn more about the Surgical Palliative Care Society here and here.
Music by Chazz McConnell.
