This episode of the podcast is sponsored by PearsonRavitz Insurance. You can learn about them and schedule a consultation on my website at: https://pearsonravitz.com/surgicalergonomics/

Disclosure:

PearsonRavitz is a paid sponsor and the affiliate link above supports the podcast at no cost to you.

Episode details:

Dr. Linda Miller is the CEO and Founder of EWI Works International Inc., Western Canada’s leading ergonomics and wellness company. With more than 35 years of experience in ergonomics and occupational therapy, Dr. Miller continues to lead EWI Works into new territory, particularly in technology. She has extensive experience in healthcare ergonomics. Recently, Dr. Miller and her team developed a marker-less motion capture system called PoseChecker (TM) designed to analyze worker videos to determine the level of musculoskeletal injury risk associated with their work activities.

Dr. Miller’s also has a passion for education and empowerment which is reflected not only in EWI Works’ services and products, but also in her position as an Adjunct professor at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Department of occupational therapy where she is a part-time clinical lecturer.

In this episode, Dr. Miller

- Shares her journey of dual training in Occupational therapy and Ergonomics

- Delves into details regarding the goals of anti-fatigue mats, where they are typically used and how they can benefit workers, including health care workers in OR and procedural spaces

- Elaborates on the findings of a recent study showing reduced MSK symptoms from using anti-fatigue mats in the OR for up to 24 hours post-op and for all surgical personnel i.e. surgeons, assistants and scrub techs (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11775457/)

- Discusses the pros and cons of various types of footwear used in procedural areas such as running shoes and clogs and shares that the task they are going to be used for is what determines which footwear is usitable

- Provides tips for purchasing footwear and orthotics (if needed) and also considerations for when they should be replaced

You can read more about Posechecker (TM) here: https://ewiworks.com/posechecker/

You can reach Linda at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindalmiller/?originalSubdomain=ca

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook and please reach out to us if you have any suggestions regarding episode ideas and guests or if you'd like to be a guest on the show

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Q-optics: https://q-optics.com/pages/surgicalergonomics-drlal

Disclosure:

Q-optics is a paid sponsor and the affiliate link above supports the podcast at no cost to you. It also provides you with a discount, so we hope that it is a win-win!

Amanda Amin MD MS FACS FSSO is breast surgical oncologist and the Section chief of breast surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and co-director of the breast program in the Seidman Cancer Center. She is also the Nancy and Donald Maltby Master Clinician in Breast Health and holds the academic rank of Associate professor through Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.

In this episode Dr. Amin

- Shares her story of work-related neck pain and cervical disc herniation , which ultimately led to the need for surgical intervention

- Discusses the predisposing factors for work-related MSK injury among breast surgeons including awkward postures with minimally invasive procedures (especially nipple-sparing mastectomy) and use of headlights

- Discusses some of the adjustments that can help improve breast surgery ergonomics including using a light-weight headlamp attached to her glasses, using a cordless light model (with a battery), using lighted retractors and suction devices

- Re-iterates the importance of sharing our experiences and de-stigmatizing MSK injuries among surgeons

- Emphasized the importance of taking breaks and doing stretches during surgery and strengthening our bodies outside of the OR

- Outlines the emerging role of robot-assisted breast surgery with respect to ergonomics

Read about the ergonomic risks of nipple-sparing mastectomy compared to skin-sparing mastectomy here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31342398/

Learn more about robotics in breast surgery here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38220537/

You can reach Dr. Amin at amanda.amin@uhhospitals.org or social media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-amin-384689377/

X: https://x.com/amandaaminmd/status/1560201878444572672

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook and please reach out to us if you have any suggestions regarding episode ideas and guests or if you'd like to be a guest on the show

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Q-optics: https://q-optics.com/pages/surgicalergonomics-drlal

Disclosure:

Q-optics is a paid sponsor and the affiliate link above supports the podcast at no cost to you. It also provides you with a discount, so we hope that it is a win-win!

Paul W.M. Fedak, MD PhD, FRCS(C) is a cardiac surgeon and Director of the Libin Cardiovascular institute at the University of Calgary. He is also a scientist and physician-writer who leads at the forefront of medical innovation and academic medicine. His work explores the intersection of excellence, identity, and healing — especially the silent cost of high achievement in healthcare. Through his leadership, writing, and speaking, Paul invites a new conversation about moral injury, burnout, and the path from performance to presence, helping to reconnect medicine with its deeper purpose.

In this episode Dr. Fedak

- Shares how he started experiencing pain during the course of doing his job, ultimately leading to irreversible injury while operating

- Discusses how the culture of surgery (not showing weakness, accepting symptoms as a part of the job, lack of back up and redundancy in our medical systems) often prevents surgeons and other proceduralists getting the help they needed when they first start experiencing symptoms

- Acknowledges that fear of losing their livelihood and stigma attached to having physical limitations are huge barriers to surgeons reporting their symptoms

- Shares how the gap between his expectations regarding the results of his surgery and how his recovery actually went led to a mental spiral, clinical depression, shame and a loss of identity

- Explains how he found a new purpose and meaning in his suffering via writing and sharing his story

- Reminds us that we can take steps to reduce our risk of injury, but that workspaces within our institutions and instrument design also need to improve

You can reach Dr. Fedak via LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-w-m-fedak-md-b833b417a/?originalSubdomain=ca

You can learn about the Society of Surgical Ergonomics here: https://www.societyofsurgicalergonomics.org/

You can learn about work-related MSK injuries among cardiothoracic surgeons in this article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37659461/

Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook and please reach out to us if you have any suggestions regarding episode ideas and guests or if you'd like to be a guest on the show