798 The Scalpel and the Soul (Archive)

Surgeons, especially neurosurgeons, have incredible technical skills that can help patients survive in difficult circumstances. Sometimes, though, they find they need to look a bit beyond their usual abilities to figure out how to proceed. We talk with a neurosurgeon about hope, hopelessness, and why he pays attention to omens. He also describes training surgeons to reduce the likelihood of surgical error.
Guest: Allan Hamilton, MD, was previously chief of neurosurgery and chairman of the department of surgery at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. He is currently a professor of neurosurgery and a clinical professor in the departments of radiation oncology and psychology at the Arizona Health Sciences Center. He is the executive director of the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center, a medical think tank that seeks to improve surgical techniques and reduce operating room errors. He is the author of The Scalpel and the Soul: Encounters with Surgery, The Supernatural, and the Healing Power of Hope.
www.AllanHamilton.com
The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. Podcasts can be downloaded for free for six weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.