Surgery, shaped by listening.

Surgeons bear witness to moments of profound vulnerability. Making space for healing — for patients and families — requires more than technical skill and sound clinical judgment: listening, attunement, and the courage to be present in uncertainty.

Surgery is defined not only by what we do, but by how it is experienced. As a general surgeon and palliative care physician, and founder of #ILookLikeASurgeon, this work sits at the intersection of surgery, communication, and human experience — with a focus on how systems, culture, and decisions shape that experience for physicians, patients, and their loved ones.

I aim to strengthen how we listen, lead, and are supported to do this work — so that decisions are shared, trust is built, and inequities are named and addressed. This requires innovation not only in technique, but in culture, communication, and the structures that shape our work.

Whether you're a clinician, a patient, a trainee, or someone who has simply felt that care could be more human — if this resonates, you're in the right place.

Dr. Heather