Welcome to Scrubcast, the official podcast of the Stanford Department of Surgery! Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of surgery, where we spotlight the groundbreaking research, innovations, and stories shaping the future of medicine. Scrubcast features candid interviews with distinguished surgeons, insightful discussions on new surgical techniques, and conversations that highlight important issues in surgical practice and education. Whether you’re a medical professional, student, or simply curious about the surgical field, Scrubcast offers an engaging and accessible exploration of
Clinical Trials, DCIS, and the Future of Breast Cancer Care with Dr. Irene Wapnir
In this episode of Scrubcast, breast surgeon and surgical oncologist Dr. Irene Wapnir discusses the evolution of breast cancer care, from the widespread use of mastectomy to breast-conserving approaches. Wapnir discusses what drew her to the field, including its emotional and psychological dimensions, and explains how clinical trials have shaped her career and advanced the understanding of breast cancer treatment.
The conversation explores Wapnir’s work on the CALOR trial, the ongoing NORDIS trial for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, and research examining whether wider surgical margins reduce local recurrence following lumpectomy and radiation. She also explains why further research is needed for patients with local or regional recurrence, reflects on the influence of pioneering surgeon Bernard Fisher, and shares the advice and music that have accompanied her career.
Link to article in JAMA SURGERY: “Lumpectomy Margins and Local Recurrence in DCIS” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2850854
*Music by NastelBom*
31 Aug 2026
Improving Cancer Immunotherapy with Dr. Alma Cepika
On this episode of Scrubcast, Dr. Alma Cepika, assistant professor in the Division of General Surgery and chief of its new Surgical Sciences Section, explains how regulatory T cells help prevent the immune system from causing unnecessary damage. She introduces the differences between FOXP3 regulatory Tcells and type 1 regulatory T cells, or TR1 cells, and makes concepts such as multi-omics, transcription, epigenetics, and in vivo research accessible through everyday analogies.
The conversation explores her team’s research identifying TR1-like cells in human cancers and investigating whether these cells may suppress antitumor immunity or contribute to resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Dr. Cepika also discusses the complex role of TR1 cells in transplantation and persistentinfection.
Finally, she shares how advice from a movie helps her keep her calm, reveals her preference for punk rock in the lab, and describes opportunities for researchers and trainees to join her growing laboratory.
Link to article in Science Advances. (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aec6358)
*Music by NastelBom*
31 Jul 2026
Optimizing Surgical Care Through Clinical Trials with Dr. Shipra Arya
In this episode of Scrubcast, host Rachel Baker sits down with Dr. Shipra Arya, a professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery at Stanford University, to discuss her journey into vascular surgery and her groundbreaking clinical trials. The conversation first delves into her recent PAUSE trial, which focuses on improving outcomes for frail patients undergoing surgery by fostering multidisciplinary collaboration. As she prepares to share her findings, Dr. Arya expresses her passion for advancing health services research and optimizing patient care.
The discussion also explores Dr. Arya's new WARRIORS trial, which will address the critical issue of sex-specific screening guidelines in vascular health particularly abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in women. Dr. Arya emphasizes the need for tailored research to better understand the risk factors for women, citing the inadequate application of existing male-centric data. With an insightful commentary on leadership in surgery and personal growth, Dr. Arya shares her commitment to making meaningful contributions to her field while leading with a team-oriented approach.
Learn more about the WARRIORS Trial: https://warriorstrialusa.stanford.edu/
*Music By Nastelbom*
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
2,524,607
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
49
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
27
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