Ep. 47 - Ergonomics Do's, Don'ts, and Dangers for Breast Surgeons with Breast Surgery Ergonomics Expert Dr. Kate Kopkash

Is surgery taking a physical toll on your body as a breast surgeon? You're not alone. In this episode, the co-hosts welcome breast surgeon and ergonomics expert Dr. Kate Kopkash to discuss the physical toll breast surgery can take on the surgeon and how we can mitigate injury. It's a personal story-driven, honest eye-opening conversation about taking better care of the surgeon behind the surgery. SPECIAL GUEST

Dr. Katherine A. Kopkash, MD, FACS is Director of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at Endeavor Health and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. A nationally recognized leader in oncoplastic and robotic breast surgery, her research has helped establish U.S. clinical standards for robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, surgeon ergonomics, and oncoplastic training. As National Principal Investigator for both U.S. prospective multicenter trials of robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, she presented the findings at the 2026 ASBrS Annual Meeting and published the results in Annals of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Kopkash also pioneered research on breast surgeon ergonomics, developed the Exercise and OR Positioning Protocol (EOPP), and has led the development of the ASBrS Level I Oncoplastics Certification and national oncoplastic training curriculum. Her work has contributed to reducing reoperation rates following breast-conserving surgery, and she is an accomplished educator, researcher, and mentor with 36 peer-reviewed publications, six book chapters, and four trained oncoplastic fellows. She has received numerous honors, including the Annals of Breast Surgery Most Read Paper Award, multiple UChicago Excellence in Teaching Awards, Crain's Chicago 40 Under 40, and recognition as a Castle Connolly and Chicago Magazine Top Doctor. MEET THE CO-HOSTS

Michael Berry, MD is a breast surgical oncologist at the West Cancer Center in Germantown, TN. After practicing general surgery for 6 years, he completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas in 2002. Upon leaving Texas, he moved to the Memphis, TN area where he was the first fellowship trained breast surgeon in the region; and this is where he remains today. Dr. Berry has long taught breast ultrasound diagnosis, intervention and ablation. However, his particular interest is in education, as he currently serves on the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Committee, which oversees the fellowship programs in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Berry is currently the president-elect of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and will begin his term as president in May of 2025.

Susan K. Boolbol, MD, FACS is the system chief of breast surgical oncology and breast program at Nuvance Health. She is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeon and performs a variety of breast cancer surgeries including lumpectomies and mastectomies. She has a special interest in oncoplastic surgery and nipple-sparing mastectomy; she is also a Hidden Scar certified surgeon. Dr. Boolbol's personal mission is to diagnose and successfully treat breast cancer and breast conditions while caring for the whole patient – emotionally and physically – every step of the way. Dr. Boolbol is the immediate Past President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. She joined Nuvance Health after serving as chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center. She completed her breast surgery fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center after her residency in general surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. Dr. Boolbol earned her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine.

Carla Fisher, MD, MBA, FACS is the Division Chief of Breast Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Shawn Hanson Professor of Surgery. Dr. Fisher is also the director of the IU Dept of of Surgery Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylv