Practice Tips and Efficiency
The DermSurgery Digest Podcast
By Jeffrey F. Scott, MD, FACMS
Within the expanding landscape of medical podcasts, the DermSurgery Digest podcast emerges as a premier resource for Mohs surgeons wishing to stay abreast of the latest practice trends, techniques, and research in the field. Hosted by Dr. Naomi Lawrence, the DermSurgery Digest podcast features concise reviews of journal articles from each month’s issue of Dermatologic Surgery. The podcast began in 2022 with an average of 100-200 listeners per episode - it now attracts over 500 listeners per episode and is readily available for free subscription on Apple and Spotify. Whether you are commuting to the office, enjoying lunch, or relaxing, the DermSurgery Digest podcast offers Mohs College members a unique and convenient platform to consume educational material “on-the-go.”
I recently had the opportunity to discuss the origin of the podcast with Dr. Lawrence and highlight how it is beneficial to members of the Mohs College. Dr. Bill Coleman, editor of Dermatologic Surgery, appointed Dr. Lawrence to the multimedia editor position about six years ago. She began by producing podcasts on interesting articles published in the journal, but she describes that it was difficult to gain momentum and awareness of these early isolated podcasts because the content was not released on a regular basis. The turning point occurred when Dr. Lawrence was studying for the Mohs board exam, and she listened to Dr. Thomas Knackstedt’s excellent podcasts based on the Mohs College’s study guide. This reminded her “that podcasts are a great way to take in information and augment learning.” Dr. Lawrence discussed the idea of producing a regularly occuring podcast containing monthly summaries of articles in Dermatologic Surgery with her fellow at that time, Dr. Michael Renzi, and he “enthusiastically agreed to coedit and recruit a group of reviewers who had expertise in surgery and oncology, or in cosmetic procedures.” The first DermSurgery Digest podcast was published in February 2022.
The podcast format features an expert reviewer who summarizes three or four articles, primarily from Dermatologic Surgery, but it has evolved over the past couple of years. Dr. Lawrence’s next fellow, Dr. Yesul Kim, “had the idea to cover surgical articles of interest outside of the Dermatologic Surgery journal.” The goal was to “create a repository that made it easy for people to keep current on all surgical literature,” and the initial “beyond” Derm Surg content was incorporated into the main podcast episode in November 2022. In March 2024, the “beyond” content was separated out as standalone bonus content. More recently, after sharing a session with Dr. Ashley Elsensohn at an ASDS meeting, Dr. Lawrence “came up with the concept for our third podcast focused on dermatopathology pertinent to the practice of Mohs surgery.” The inaugural bonus content issue of “At the Microscope” was published in February 2024, and Dr. Lawrence now anticipates this new content to be released quarterly.
Central to the success of the DermSurgery Digest podcast are Dr. Lawrence and the wide variety of engaging hosts, whose expertise and charisma infuse each episode with energy and insight, creating an enjoyable and memorable listening experience for Mohs College members. Drawing from their own experiences in practice, the podcast’s hosts comprehensively review the literature, skillfully guide conversations, pose probing questions, and ensure that listeners glean valuable information from each episode. Moreover, the podcast boasts an impressive lineup of guests, ranging from seasoned Mohs surgeons to Mohs fellows and early-career Mohs surgeons. These guests bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives to the podcast, enriching discussions of the literature and offering listeners a multifaceted view of dermatologic surgery.
With a growing audience, an expanding roster of guests, and the innovative vision of its creator, the DermSurgery Digest podcast is posed to remain a valuable educational resource for the Mohs College. By fostering collaboration and promoting evidence-based practice within our field, the podcast is an example of how digital media can be used to improve surgical practice and strengthen the Mohs community.