Cold Steel: a podcast for surgeons

07 Feb, 2024

There’s a podcast for everyone. From political discussions to lessons in meditation, podcasts are increasingly a popular way for people to learn and explore new ideas. For surgeons, one of the top podcasts is co-hosted by Queen’s colorectal surgeon Dr. Ameer Farooq. His podcast and YouTube channel, Cold Steel offers virtual guidance for clinical techniques, but also delves into the more humanistic side of being surgeon – from ergonomics and burnout to managing relationships beyond the OR.

Podcasts offer a more mobile approach to learning, and are especially popular with the younger generation of healthcare professionals. A survey of emergency medicine residents reported that up to 89% of specialty trainees have used podcasts as a way to enhance their training and learn new skills.

Dr. Farooq co-founded the Cold Steel podcast in 2019 with his colleague Dr. Chad Ball. “I was a resident at the time and loved listening to podcasts,” he says. “Chad asked if I was interested in starting one, and I immediately said yes.” Dr. Farooq immersed himself in learning about audio and video editing and together the pair began recruiting guests for their show.

Today, Cold Steel has over 113,000 downloads and continues to attract new listeners. Dr. Farooq has also added a YouTube channel to enhance his interviews. “The YouTube channels expands on the audio format, giving our guests the opportunity to demonstrate techniques and new ideas,” he says. They are also working on developing a series of 2-3 minute video clips to capture specific surgical procedures.

“Cold steel is meant to be a conversation, a way to virtually hang out with a fellow surgeon,” says Dr. Farooq. “At first, we thought it would be very clinical, but quickly realized that we could broaden the topics to all aspects of being a surgeon, from ergonomic issues and burnout to AI-related surgical techniques.” Episodes have included wide ranging discussions around music in the operating room, social media for surgeons, finance, and even difficult subjects such as divorce. A number of Queen’s surgeons have been featured on the podcast, including Drs. Rob Bechara, Hugh MacDonald and Sunil Patel.

Dr. Farooq says that the podcast has surpassed his expectations and ignited a real passion for developing creative methods for learning and collaborating. “This has been so fulfilling for me,” he says. “I’ve learned so much, and it’s helped me realize how important it is to explore your interests and see where they take you.”

Cold Steel: a podcast for surgeons

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