Episode Title: From Flaps to Facelifts – Dr. David Hidalgo: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Former Chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering (#27)

Guest: Dr. David Hidalgo, MD, FACS | Former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering | Aesthetic Innovator, New York City

Podcast: The DIEP End

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode of The DIEP End, hosts Dr. Saїd Azoury and Hank Davis welcome Dr. David Hidalgo, an internationally acclaimed plastic surgeon celebrated for groundbreaking reconstructive techniques and aesthetic innovations. Dr. Hidalgo shares his unique journey, detailing his pioneering contributions to reconstructive microsurgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering and his subsequent transition to aesthetic surgery in his New York City private practice.

Listeners will discover how Dr. Hidalgo’s blend of surgical precision, academic rigor, and artistic sensibility have defined his career. He discusses his groundbreaking work with the fibula free flap for mandibular reconstruction and provides insights into maintaining excellence in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgical realms.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

● How Dr. Hidalgo transitioned from pioneering reconstructive surgery to leading high-end aesthetic surgery

● Behind-the-scenes insights into developing the fibula free flap technique for jaw reconstruction

● The critical role artistic sensibility plays in achieving exceptional surgical outcomes

● Strategies for navigating career transitions from academia to private practice

● Key lessons in balancing technical mastery with aesthetic harmony and proportion

● Why persistence and disciplined innovation are essential for sustained surgical excellence

Quotable Moments:

"Persistence and perfectionism are key—you keep going until it's exactly right."

"Plastic surgery is fundamentally visual; artistic skills significantly enhance your surgical outcomes."

"There's no shortcut to surgical excellence—it’s about being meticulous every time."

SEO Keywords: David Hidalgo podcast, plastic surgery, fibula free flap, microsurgery pioneer, Memorial Sloan Kettering plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery New York, Manhattan plastic surgeon, surgical innovation, artistic plastic surgery, DIEP End podcast, reconstructive to aesthetic surgery transition

Follow Dr. David Hidalgo:

Instagram: @drdavidhidalgo

Learn more: Dr. Hidalgo’s Practice

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Instagram & YouTube: @thediependpodcast

Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The DIEP End

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Hosted by passionate trainees exploring the future of plastic surgery—one story at a time.

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Guest: Dr. Kevin Chung, Professor and Hand Surgeon at University of Michigan | Editor-in-Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | Editor, Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery

Podcast: The DIEP End

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The DIEP End, Dr. Said Azoury sits down with Dr. Kevin Chung, a world-renowned hand surgeon, outcomes researcher, and editorial leader. Dr. Chung discusses his journey from clinical excellence to academic leadership, shaped by a Master’s in Health Services Research and a career of combining surgical mastery with innovation.

As Editor-in-Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Editor of Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery, Dr. Chung reveals his vision for academic publishing that’s inclusive, rigorous, and globally impactful. This is a must-listen for aspiring academic surgeons, educators, and anyone passionate about the future of plastic surgery.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

● The mindset of a successful surgeon-scientist

● How to balance editorial leadership with clinical excellence

● What mentorship really looks like in academic medicine

● The difference between innovation and evidence

● How Dr. Chung is shaping the future of PRS and global plastic surgery

Quotable Moments:

● "Curiosity is the most important trait of a great surgeon."

● "Your job as a mentor is to build people up—then get out of their way."

● "The journal is not mine—it belongs to the specialty. My job is to guide it with clarity and purpose."

Keywords (SEO-Driven): plastic surgery podcast, Kevin Chung PRS, academic plastic surgery, surgical mentorship, PRS journal editor, Grabb and Smith editor, DIEP flap, Said Azoury podcast, plastic surgery innovation, evidence-based surgery, publishing in PRS, global plastic surgery leadership, Dr. Kevin Chung interview

Follow Dr. Chung:

● Learn more: PRSJournal.com

Follow The DIEP End:

● Instagram & YouTube: @thediependpodcast

● Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The DIEP End

Leave Us a Review: If you loved this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It helps more listeners like you discover these incredible stories and expert insights.

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Episode Title: Breaking Barriers in Surgery & Leadership with Dr. Julie Freischlag

Guest: Dr. Julie Freischlag, Vascular Surgeon & CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Podcast: The DIEP End

Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode of The DIEP End, we’re joined by trailblazing vascular surgeon and healthcare leader Dr. Julie Freischlag. From growing up in a working-class family in Illinois to becoming the first female chief of vascular surgery at UCLA and eventually the CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Dr. Freischlag shares a powerful story of grit, leadership, and innovation.

She reflects on the mentors who shaped her, the barriers she broke through as a woman in surgery, and how she’s shaped institutions like Johns Hopkins and Wake Forest. With humor and heart, Dr. Freischlag gives listeners a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and leading with purpose in academic medicine.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How early encouragement from family fueled her confidence and career
• The pivotal moments that led her to vascular surgery
• Behind-the-scenes stories of becoming chair of surgery at Johns Hopkins
• Advice for navigating leadership as a woman in medicine
• The power of mentorship and opening doors for others
• How she’s transformed academic institutions through inclusion and innovation
• What it means to build a legacy beyond the operating room

Quotable Moments:

• "When a door closes, you’re not supposed to beat it down. Just find another door."
• "You can’t do any of it unless you’re a good surgeon first."
• "It doesn’t take much to make someone feel seen—and that can change everything."

Keywords (SEO-Driven): surgical leadership podcast, Dr. Julie Freischlag, women in surgery, vascular surgeon CEO, Wake Forest Baptist, Johns Hopkins surgery, academic medicine trailblazer, mentorship in medicine, female medical leaders, surgical innovation, the DIEP End podcast, DEI in surgery, American College of Surgeons president, National Academy of Medicine, thoracic outlet syndrome expert

Follow Dr. Freischlag:

• Wake Forest Baptist Profile: www.wakehealth.edu

Follow The DIEP End:

• Instagram & YouTube: @thediependpodcast
• Spotify & Apple Podcasts: The DIEP End

Leave Us a Review: If you loved this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It helps more listeners like you discover these incredible stories and expert insights

(Recorded on February 26, 2025)

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