Dueling Scalpels

Abhishek Parmar and Corey Campbell
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Semiweekly

Two surgeons' authentic takes on random things, and sometimes it's funny.

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 21. Palliative Care and the Human Side of Medicine with Dr. Anjali Grandhige

    Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Corey Campbell sit down with Dr. Anjali Grandhige, a palliative medicine physician in Atlanta and medical director for palliative care medicine, to unpack what palliative care actually is and why it matters across medicine. The conversation focuses on aligning treatment with a patient’s goals, improving communication in high-stakes care, and how clinicians can avoid turning medicine into a purely procedural exercise. Dr. Grandhige also discusses the tensions between aggressive treatment, quality of life, and the realities of healthcare systems, staffing, and reimbursement. Finally, the hosts and guest explore the idea that medicine has a “dual mandate” - prolong life and preserve quality of life. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome and introduction 01:45 — What palliative care really means 03:25 — Quality of life versus simply prolonging life 07:23 — Making medical decisions around a patient’s goals 10:43 — Prognosis, hospice, and uncertainty 12:14 — Spiritual care and supporting families 14:43 — When to begin end-of-life conversations 16:58 — How surgical communication is changing 19:12 — Misconceptions about palliative care 22:05 — Asking patients what “better” looks like 24:26 — Language clinicians should avoid 34:29 — Leading a palliative-care team 45:09 — Demoralization, purpose, and making a change 57:18 — Compassion as an antidote to burnout Links Best Case, Worse Case Article Connect with the Guest: ·         Anjali Grandhige - LinkedIn Connect with the Hosts: ·         Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn ·         Douglas Corey Campbell - X

  2. Oct 13

    Episode 20. Why Surgeons Are So Angry: When High Standards Turn Into Rage

    Why do surgeons have a reputation for being angry—and when does pressure become harmful? In this episode, Abhishek and Corey unpack the emotional reality of surgery: urgency, perfectionism, flawed systems, and the high-stakes expectations that can push people toward anger. They debate whether intensity can drive better outcomes, why rage is different from productive frustration, and how a surgeon’s behavior can shape the entire room long after a blowup. Along the way: the “squeaky wheel” problem, missing equipment, operating-room flow, military-style standards, and the lasting legacy of one very memorable Foley incident.  Chapters  00:00 Opening banter: weddings, Washington, and a five-year-old’s take on history  02:13 Why surgeons get angry  07:09 Perfectionism, training, and switching out of operating-room mode  11:42 Time, flow, and the pressure to stay in control  14:06 Can anger improve a broken system?  19:12 The scrub-cap argument and the squeaky-wheel effect  21:29 Different kinds of surgeon anger: flow, fear, and catharsis  24:15 Why unanswered questions can trigger a blowup  31:00 Anger versus rage  34:44 High standards, competitiveness, and being “the jerk”  39:37 Rapid fire: yelling, missing equipment, sarcasm, and standards  45:30 The Foley story—and why anger lingers with a team   Connect with the Hosts:  Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn Douglas Corey Campbell - X

  3. Oct 6

    Episode 19. Purposeful Misery: Rethinking Surgical Training and Burnout

    Abhishek and Corey examine what surgical training should demand—and what crosses into needless harm—through burnout data, resident wellbeing, patient ownership, fatigue, and the small forms of support that make hard work sustainable. They unpack a national study on surgical resident burnout, suicidal ideation, and what makes training feel meaningful versus merely miserable. They mix humor with a serious discussion of how surgical education shapes resilience, professional identity, and patient responsibility. Content note: the conversation includes discussion of resident suicide and suicidal thoughts. Key topics In this episode, Abhishek introduces a national study of 6,567 general surgery residents across 301 programs and highlights the alarming finding that 4% reported suicidal ideation in the prior year.Corey and Abhishek discuss how duty hour violations, blame-oriented responses to adverse events, low operative autonomy, bullying, and sexual harassment all contribute to burnout.They debate the difference between necessary hardship and gratuitous suffering in residency, especially when training feels disconnected from patient care or growth.Corey argues that early residency is disorienting because the system stops being built around the trainee and starts centering the patient, which forces adaptation and resilience.Abhishek reflects on how meaningful suffering in training came from taking ownership of a patient, staying when complications happened, and learning that the case was yours.They talk about the role of purposeful misery versus hazing, especially when residents spend hours on documentation and other tasks that may build discipline but can also feel demeaning.Connect with the Hosts: Abhishek Parmar - LinkedInDouglas Corey Campbell - X

  4. Sep 29

    Episode 18. The Genetic Future: Screening, Therapy, & Who Gets to Decide with Dr. Amitha Ananth

    What can genetic testing actually tell us—and what happens when the science advances faster than our ability to interpret, afford, and govern it? Pediatric neurogeneticist Dr. Amitha Ananth joins Abhishek and Corey for a wide-ranging conversation about the uncertainty behind genetic testing, the promise and ethical complexity of newborn screening, and why a genetic finding is not always a diagnosis. They explore privacy, disability, direct-to-consumer testing, gene therapy, and the difficult question at the center of all of it: just because we can know something, does that mean we know what to do with it? Along the way, Amitha shares how conditions such as Rett syndrome and spinal muscular atrophy are reshaping the future of pediatric care—and why access to treatment matters as much as the technology itself.  Chapters  00:00 Introducing Dr. Amitha Ananth 04:12 Gattaca, genetics, and the “designer baby” question 06:57 Why genetic testing is full of uncertainty 13:52 Exome vs. genome sequencing 16:51 Can AI solve genetics? 20:31 Rett syndrome and the challenge of prediction 26:17 Newborn screening: promise, limits, and policy 33:18 Autism, disability, and what society calls “normal” 39:31 Direct-to-consumer testing and genetic privacy 45:02 Access, affordability, and the ethics of early diagnosis 47:51 Gene therapy and the changing future of pediatric neurology  Connect with the Guest:  Amitha Ananth – UAB   Connect with the Hosts:  Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn Douglas Corey Campbell - X

  5. Sep 22

    Episode 17. The Robots Are Coming For Us

    Abhishek and Corey take on robotic surgery from the surgeon’s side: what the technology actually does, why patients often misunderstand it, and where it delivers the most value. They trace its unusual origins, question “center of excellence” marketing, and debate whether better ergonomics and precision justify the cost. Finally, they look ahead to imaging-guided surgery, autonomous robots, and whether a household robot is comforting—or terrifying. Chapters 00:05 — Cold open: EV guilt and plastic bags03:48 — Why talk about robotic surgery?04:34 — Are “centers of excellence” meaningful?05:39 — What robotic surgery actually is06:12 — The history of surgical robotics09:02 — Adoption across surgical specialties10:44 — The real value question: usefulness versus cost13:38 — Choosing the right tool for the job15:47 — What does “game changer” actually mean?18:04 — Why hernia repair may be robotics’ best fit21:01 — Should any robotic procedures be off-limits?22:12 — Robotics and surgical education26:16 — The economics of buying and upgrading robots27:54 — The next frontier: information, not just dexterity30:01 — Rapid fire: AI, autonomous surgery, and the future33:25 — If you needed a hernia repair, would you choose robotic?34:28 — Would you trust a robot at home?Key takeaway ·         Robotic surgery is neither a cure-all nor a gimmick. It can make certain operations more manageable and expand what surgeons can do comfortably, but its value still depends on cost, training, access, and whether the technology improves decisions—not just mechanics.   Connect with the Hosts: Abhishek Parmar - LinkedInDouglas Corey Campbell - X

  6. Sep 15

    Episode 16. Hernia Mesh: Why Technique Matters and It’s Not as Bad as Mosquitos

    Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Corey Campbell dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of hernia surgery: mesh. They break down what a hernia actually is, why mesh is usually used, why complications often get blamed on the wrong thing, and how minimally invasive technique changes the risk profile. They also branch into sports hernias, biologic mesh, mesh allergy, and the broader problem of medical myths sticking harder than the facts. Mesh is not as bad as mosquitos.  Key topics  In this episode, Dr. Parmar explains hernias as holes in the abdominal wall and why the tissue is never as strong as it was before the defect formed. Mesh is described as an intentional foreign body that triggers scar tissue, which is the mechanism that helps close and reinforce the defect. The hosts argue that most mesh-related problems are more often tied to technique and patient optimization than to the mesh itself. Dr. Parmar makes the case that chronic pain is a major issue in groin hernia repair, and that suturing can increase nerve injury risk. They compare tissue repair versus minimally invasive mesh repair and discuss why MIS can reduce nerve exposure. The conversation pushes back on the public fear of mesh, noting that bad outcomes are memorable while successful repairs are forgotten. Sports hernia is discussed as a misnomer, often better understood as athletic pubalgia or groin pain in athletes without a true fascial defect. The episode closes by debating biologic vs. bioabsorbable vs. synthetic meshes, highlighting how mesh design has improved over time, especially with macroporous and coated materials, while emphasizing that placement and technique still matter most.  Timestamps  00:00 - Opening banter and guest-style disclaimer jokes  01:50 - Who the hosts would invite as a dream medical guest  03:41 - Why expertise should stay in its lane  06:49 - Today’s topic: hernias and mesh  10:37 - What a hernia is and why mesh is used  11:24 - Why the body reacts to mesh on purpose  12:19 - Why patients compare hernia repair to patching clothing  13:44 - Why groin hernia pain is often the real issue  15:44 - Why chronic pain is usually about nerves and technique  17:52 - The problem with vilifying mesh as the default villain  20:21 - Why mesh got a bad reputation over time  22:55 - Negativity bias and why bad outcomes dominate memory  25:06 - Sports hernia: what it is and what it is not  27:14 - Athletic pubalgia, imaging, and physical therapy first  28:41 - Why some surgeons consider adductor release  31:31 - The sham surgery study and why outcomes can be deceptive  33:32 - What happens if mesh disappeared tomorrow  34:15 - How hernia culture would change without mesh options  39:53 - Rapid-fire opinions on synthetic vs biologic mesh  45:28 - The most important mesh innovation in the last 20 years  46:34 - Coated mesh and why placement matters  48:13 - Robots, mesh placement, and future hernia repair topics  49:25 - Irish goodbye and the end of the episode    Connect with the Hosts:  Abhishek Parmar - LinkedIn Douglas Corey Campbell - X

  7. Sep 8

    Episode 15. From Rural Practice to Academic OB-GYN with Dr. Lindsay Frederick

    In this episode, Abhishek and Corey welcome their longtime friend and former medical school classmate, Dr. Lindsay Frederick, an OB-GYN whose career has taken her from private practice in rural Alabama back into academic medicine.  The conversation quickly turns into a funny, personal, and career-focused chat about how she found her way into obstetrics and gynecology. The episode covers her path from chemical engineering to medicine, why she chose a hands-on specialty, and what she loves about delivering babies, surgery, and long term patient relationships. Connect with our Guest: Sara Frederick Connect with the Hosts: Abhishek Parmar - LinkedInDouglas Corey Campbell - X

  8. Sep 1

    Episode 14. College Football, NIL, and Why the Drama Never Gets Old

    Dr. Abhishek Parmar and Dr. Corey Campbell keep things loose in this episode as they move from podcast housekeeping to a spirited conversation about college football. They dig into why the sport is so entertaining, how NIL has changed the landscape, and why the chaos around rankings, transfers, and conference realignment keeps fans hooked. Abhishek learns it N-I-L and not “nil.” Key topics·       In this episode, Dr. Parmar and Dr. Campbell make the case that college football is uniquely entertaining because it is easy to follow, has fewer games than baseball, and creates higher emotional stakes with fewer data points. ·       Dr. Campbell argues that the sport works because it is a drama machine - full of heroes, villains, and college kids making high-pressure mistakes on a national stage. ·       They discuss how college football functions as a transitional space where young athletes are thrust into adulthood, pressure, and public scrutiny before they are ready. ·       The conversation contrasts college football with the NFL, where the talent level is higher but the outcomes can feel more predictable. ·       They move into NIL, explaining the basic idea that athletes should be able to profit from their name and likeness, while also noting that the system currently feels chaotic and underregulated. ·       They debate possible fixes for the current system, including standardized contracts, transfer rules, and whether a salary cap would make the sport more fair or just entrench the blue bloods. Timestamps00:00 - Podcast intro, compliance jokes, and why physician podcasting is unusual  03:16 - Struggling to find topics and comparing their show to long-running podcasts  05:36 - Why college football is the greatest sport in America  08:52 - Selling college football to non-fans and why fewer games make it easier to follow  09:19 - College kids making mistakes and the appeal of pressure-packed moments  12:08 - Watching young athletes transition into adulthood under public scrutiny  13:55 - College football versus the NFL and why the stakes feel different  17:20 - NIL explained and why it changed the sport  21:11 - Texas Tech as the clearest example of NIL money reshaping a program  24:49 - Should college football use standardized contracts or a residency-style match system?  26:18 - The case for and against a salary cap in college football  27:46 - Transfer portal chaos and the wild west of player movement  30:17 - Nick Saban versus Bear Bryant and what Saban would be like as a surgeon  31:41 - Meeting Nick Saban and the difference between football stakes and surgical stakes  34:56 - Watching kids compete, fail, and rise to the occasion in youth sports  36:19 - Why sports are entertaining: conflict, obstacle, and resolution  39:01 - Conference realignment and why it hurts non-revenue sports  41:58 - Rapid fire: best rivalry, best stadium atmosphere, most hated team  44:04 - Preseason rankings, committee logic, and why rankings still matter  46:21 - Indiana’s surprising ranking and the volatility of preseason expectationsConnect with the Hosts: Abhishek Parmar - LinkedInDouglas Corey Campbell - X

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About

Two surgeons' authentic takes on random things, and sometimes it's funny.

Information

  • Creator
    Abhishek Parmar and Corey Campbell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Abhishek Parmar and Corey Campbell
  • Show Website
    Dueling Scalpels