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.
No Snooze, Low-Volume ORs, and Greeting the Dog
Snooze or no snooze?
No snooze.
Breakfast of choice, especially before a big day?
Something I add blueberries to — I took that from one of Dr. Oz’s recommendations to get those antioxidants.
First thing you do when you get to work:
I open up my laptop and start checking emails.
Do you have any pre-op rituals or routines?
No.
Is there music in your OR?
Generally not. Sometimes the nurses will have stuff playing, but I’m not the person who asks for it.
If it’s on, I keep it low level. I don’t like rooms where the noise level is high and communication is impacted.
Favorite shoes for long days standing in the OR:
I wear Skechers.
Favorite part of your day?
It’s probably getting back home and having a glass of wine with my wife.
What’s always in your lab coat pocket or bag?
Oh, lab coat pockets tend to be pretty empty.
Any non-medical habit that helps you stay focused?
I think with aging, in order to maintain a surgeon’s daily lifestyle, fitness is important. So I do the best I can to make sure I’m exercising.
I try to do a mix. I do a lot of cardio. I should do a little bit more muscle and weight training, but I do a lot of cardio.
Most underrated part of your job?
Gosh, underrated. I think there’s probably still a public underappreciation for healthcare providers in general.
The expectations people have regarding outcomes, the healthcare system, and what we as providers are able to accomplish, the demands are increasing. I think that results in growing dissatisfaction with healthcare in general, which often gets directed, unfortunately, at the providers.
When you finally get home, what’s the first thing you do?
Greet the dog. Or she greets me, so...
If one of your patients saw you outside the hospital, they’d be surprised to see you…
I guess not surprised, but they often make comments like, “Oh, interesting seeing you in street clothes.” That would be a more common response.
It happens to my wife, too. We live in a small town, so she’ll often run into people. She tells a story where she’ll be standing in line at some checkout and someone will ask her last name. Then someone within earshot will say, “Oh, you’re Mrs. Gorenstein. Are you married to Dr. Gorenstein?”
More routines:
James Lee, MD
Chief of Endocrine Surgery
Abe Krikhely, MD
Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery
Roshni Rao, MD
Chief of Breast Surgery
John Chabot, MD
Chief of GI/Endocrine Surgery
Executive Director of the Pancreas Center
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
Vincent Pierre Duron, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Thomas A. Imahiyerobo, MD
Director, Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery
Section Chief, Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Francisco Guzman, MD
Bariatric Surgeon
Beth A. Schrope, MD, PhD
Pancreatic Surgeon
Director, Autologous Islet Cell Transplantation Program
Katherine Fischkoff, MD
Chief, Division of General Surgery
Executive Vice Chair for Operations, Department of Surgery