There is often a gap between what happens in the laboratory and what happens with patients in clinical practice. Yet both experiences are required to advance patient outcomes. This is why we need more doctors like Robert Starke. Dr. Starke is a clinician scientist at the University of Miami with over 700 operations and just as many academic publications in his young career. Join me as I sit down with Dr. Starke to discuss the secrets to his extraordinary success, the grant writing process, and future pathways for the development of clinician scientists in the field of neurosurgery.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Getting to know Dr. Starke, his clinical practice, and his research [0:36]
• Dr. Starke’s evolution into a productive clinician scientist and the challenges of pursuing both basic and clinical science [4:34]
• Dr. Starke’s current research setup and how he chose his area of focus [9:38]
• How Dr. Starke innovates, where his funding comes from, and the story of his first major grant [16:59]
• Choosing a faculty position that allows you to thrive and how to build a balanced life [24:58]
• Dr. Starke’s paper writing process and the publications he’s most proud of [29:18]
• The role mentors have played in Dr. Starke’s career and what he would do differently [32:15]
• The importance of training clinician scientists and future pathways for development [37:05]
• Dr. Starke’s three secrets to an extraordinary neurosurgery career and his advice to struggling clinician scientists [40:12]
• The magic wand question [44:33]

Connect with Dr. Robert Starke

• Dr. Robert M. Starke
• Follow Dr. Starke on LinkedIn 

Connect With Maxwell Boakye

• https://maxwellboakye.com/podcast 
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• DrMaxBoakye (at) Gmail.com

In the quest to optimize spine surgery outcomes, we need better information and better research. This means better clinical trials and more funding. Join me, as I sit down with Dr. Zoher Ghogawala to discuss his thoughts on clinical trial design, developing the evidence for spine surgery, improving patient outcomes, and the results of his most recent research.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Getting to know Dr. Ghogawala, his clinical practice, and his research [0:37]
• Discussing Dr. Ghogawala’s clinical trials on spondylolisthesis and cervical spondylotic myelopathy [4:07]
• Dr. Ghogawala’s work on improving clinical trial design [15:15]
• Exploring roadblocks to PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) funding [24:33]
• The most important things learned from the N2QOD [28:12]
• Improving spine surgery outcomes [33:13]
• What Dr. Ghogawala wish he knew 15 years ago and the magic wand question [34:46]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Laminectomy plus Fusion versus Laminectomy Alone for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis 
• Effect of Ventral vs Dorsal Spinal Surgery on Patient-Reported Physical Functioning in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
• www.nidusai.com

Connect with Dr. Zoher Ghogawala

• Zoher Ghogawala, MD 
• Follow Dr. Ghogawala on LinkedIn 

Connect With Maxwell Boakye

• https://maxwellboakye.com/podcast 
• Like on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter
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• DrMaxBoakye (at) Gmail.com

There are few names as recognizable as Dr. Edward Benzel in the field of spine surgery. He quite literally wrote the book on it. On this episode, I have the distinct privilege of sitting down with Dr. Benzel to discuss a myriad of topics including his experiences in spine surgery and the lessons he’s learned, his evolution as a spine surgeon, safety in spine surgery, and his thoughts on where the field is headed next.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Getting to know Dr. Benzel and his current clinical practice [0:37]
• How to evolve as a spine surgeon [5:59]
• Improving your decision-making skills [11:38]
• How Dr. Benzel stays productive and relevant [14:48]
• Cognitive versus psychomotor development and advice for surgeons training the next generation [17:12]
• How to best minimize complications and the most common errors made by surgeons [20:18]
• Dr. Benzel’s seven cardinal sins for a spine surgeon [23:19]
• Addressing burnout in spine surgeons [25:44]
• Improvements in biomechanical knowledge from surgeons in training [28:14]
• What surprises Dr. Benzel the most about the evolution of spine surgery and the new technologies he is most excited about [31:19]
• Dr. Benzel’s take on current trends in spine surgery [34:55]
• Exploring the prevention and treatment of chronic back pain [37:56]
• The role mental health plays in the treatment of severe stenosis and spondylolisthesis [40:32]
• How Dr. Benzel treats cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) [41:37]
• Getting specific about laminoplasty [48:04]
• Dr. Benzel answers rapid-fire spine surgery questions and three things hospitals with spine programs can do to optimize their outcomes [50:06]
• Comparing global spine surgery rates and eliminating unnecessary operations [54:59]
• The magic wand question [56:41]

Connect with Dr. Edward Benzel

• Edward Benzel, MD | Cleveland Clinic 

Connect With Maxwell Boakye

• https://maxwellboakye.com/podcast 
• Like on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter
• Follow on LinkedIn
• DrMaxBoakye (at) Gmail.com