S03E06: Lessons in Leadership with Dr. Daniel Eiferman

S03E06: Lessons in Leadership with Dr. Daniel Eiferman

From The Intentional Surgeon with Sharon L. Stein, MD by Sharon L. Stein, MD

March 30, 2026 · 32 min · Season 3 · Episode 6

About this episode

Dr. Sharon Stein interviews Dr. Daniel Eiferman about leadership lessons in surgery and the importance of managing oneself.

In surgery, we are taught the mechanics of saving a life, but rarely the mechanics of managing ourselves. In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein sits with Dr. Daniel Eiferman, a trauma and critical care surgeon at The Ohio State University and author of the new book, Cut Open: A Surgeon's Stories of Loss, Resilience, and Growth. They dive into the "black book" of stories Danny kept for a decade, the lessons he has learned as a surgeon and a leader. In This Episode, We Discuss: Resulting : How deciding to change a process (such as a surgical technique) because of results can end up with worse outcomes. Time as the Ultimate Currency: Time —not money or status—is our most precious resource as a surgeon, and how we choose to spend it defines us. The Power of Curiosity : Why asking "Tell me more about that" is the No 1 trait of a high-performing healthcare provider. Building the "Perfect" Team : Lessons on how to create psychological safety in the OR through two specific behaviors: Ostentatious Listening : Showing the team that their voice is worth your time. Conversational Turn-Taking : Ensuring the scrub tech and the medical student feel safe enough to speak up Featured Guest: Daniel S…

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