Send us a text

Dr. Martha Zeiger is an internationally renowned endocrine surgeon at the National Cancer Institute, NIH, and is an expert in the molecular aspects of thyroid cancer. She is the Founder and Dean of Endocrine Surgery University and has served as President of both the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the American Thyroid Association. In this episode, Dr. Zeiger shares her inspiring journey as a pioneering woman in surgery, discussing her early experiences in medical school without female role models, and her rise to leadership. She reflects on her time in the Navy, her unique surgical experiences, and the challenges and triumphs along the way. Dr. Zeiger also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and leadership in medicine, as well as her efforts in developing programs for surgeon-scientists, while offering her vision for the future of surgical leadership.

Takeaways

• Her love for science and helping people drove her to medicine.
• She was the first woman to graduate from her surgical residency program.
• Her first surgical patient was a gooney bird.
• Dr. Zeiger served as the only woman surgeon on an aircraft carrier.
• She was part of the surgical team during President George HW Bush's inauguration.
• She discusses her framework for conceiving and implementing new programs at a national level.
• Dr. Zeiger encourages aspiring surgeons to embrace their careers with passion.