This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Sunoptic Surgical. You can learn about them and schedule a demo via https://sunopticsurgical.com/surgicalergonomics/

Disclosure:

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

Dr. Deborah Kacmarynski, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Iowa, working at Stead Family Children’s Hospital as a pediatric otolaryngologist and a cleft and craniofacial surgeon with co-directorship for the cleft and craniofacial team. Her research focuses on biomedical collaborations with oral cleft and craniofacial surgical problems including craniofacial airway, tissue engineering solution development, outcomes research and patient-centered outcomes research collaboratives. Prior to medicine, she worked as a biomedical engineer in process and product development at 3M Company which continues to influence her approach to improving patient care, surgeries and processes.

In this episode, Dr. Kacmarynski:

- Shares her journey from being an engineer at 3M to becoming a pediatric otolaryngologist

- Describes how her interest in surgical ergonomics evolved very early in training and practice due to a combination of her attention to safety as an engineer, underlying conditions and her desire to preserve her function through the rigors of surgical training

- Shares how she ensures that her trainees understand the importance of basic interventions such as attention to changing posture, taking breaks and stretches inside and outside the OR

- Provides her routine for good ergonomics - setting cases up differently, adopting deflection loupes, physical therapy exercises, massage therapy etc.

- Shares how learners and surgical leaders can take the lead on driving increased attention to physical being and ergonomics in procedural workspaces

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