A surgeon’s life is defined by long hours, exacting focus, and countless critical decisions that impact the lives of others. They go through years of training to develop a stamina that can sustain the deepest, complex pressures. But just like the rest of us, they rely on small rituals and routines to keep their days steady, mind sharp, and energy plugging along.
In Routine Procedures, we’re taking a closer look at the daily habits—from breakfast choices to favorite shoes—that shape our surgeons’ work and life.
5 a.m. alarm. Snooze once or twice. Coffee twice, worn-in running shoes, and a calm playlist many years in the making.
Vincent Pierre Duron, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
What time does your alarm go off in the morning?
Five in the morning usually.
Snooze or no snooze?
Yeah, snooze once or twice.
Breakfast of choice (especially before a big day)?
Definitely coffee. One cup when I wake up and another one on my way to work. Breakfast varies. Anything from a granola bar to a bagel.
First thing you do when you get to work:
I guess I'll put down my bag, sign the consents, and write my notes.
Do you have any pre-op rituals or routines?
For a big case, I'll review the radiology just before the case, so it's fresh in my mind.
Is there music in your OR?
Yeah, there is.
Who picks the playlists?
If a good playlist is on, then it stays on. Otherwise, I have a very evolved playlist that's evolved over many years, and it goes from 90s pop rock, U2, to blues. We even have some Teddy Swims in there and some more modern stuff, but usually it's pretty calm without, you know, any crazy crescendos.
Favorite shoes for long days standing in the OR:
Sneakers. Yeah, usually I wear old running shoes. Any brand, as long as they're worn in.
Favorite part of your day:
The favorite part of the day is when I have time to see patients for social rounds or just to check in and say hello. And what else? I think saying hi to my staff and research assistant is fun in the morning.
What’s always in your lab coat pocket or bag?
Mm, a lot of papers. I'm still an old soul, so I like to read things on paper.
Any non-medical habit that helps you stay focused?
I guess trying not to be reactionary and pausing before having a reaction, I think, helps me quite a bit.
Most underrated part of your job:
The administrative, writing notes.
When you finally get home, what’s the first thing you do?
I drop off my bag, take off my coat, change, and say hi to the kids and my wife, and then usually end up doing homework, you know, or dinner.
If one of your patients saw you outside the hospital, they’d be surprised to see you…
I treat my patients like regular people in the way I speak with them. So, I think they could visualize me as somebody outside the hospital, but it's always a surprise when you see somebody out of context.
More routines:
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Roshni Rao, MD
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John Chabot, MD
Chief of GI/Endocrine Surgery
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Jason Hawksworth, MD
Surgical Director, Adult Liver Transplantation
Chief of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Division of Abdominal Organ Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Emile A. Bacha, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery
Surgeon-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center
Virendra I. Patel, MD, MPH
Chief of Vascular Surgery
Co-Director of Aortic Center
Christine H. Rohde, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery
Chief of Microvascular Services