Speaking Up in Surgery: Effective Communication and Self-Advocacy in the OR and Beyond

Effective communication is a critical skill for surgical success, yet many surgeons face challenges when navigating interactions with administrative staff, multidisciplinary teams, and non-surgeon colleagues in the operating room. This webinar will explore practical strategies for clearly communicating expectations, managing administrative workflows, and advocating for the resources, time, and support needed. Panelists will discuss real-world scenarios, including working with OR staff, negotiating priorities with administrators, and addressing barriers to efficiency and respect. There will be an audience Q&A at the end of the discussion.

Register Now

Moderator

Kelly Dinnan, DO, FACS, FACOS

• Trauma Medical Director
• Glendive Medical Center
• Glendive, MT

Panelists

Jessica Burgess, MD, FACS

• Associate Professor
• Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences
• EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University
• Norfolk, VA

Sharmila Dissanaike, MD, FACS, FCCM

• Chair, Department of Surgery
• University of New Mexico

Kaitlin Zielaznicki, MPA

• President of the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators
• Breast, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery Division Administrator
• NYU Langone Health
• New York, NY