The Hidden Cost of Being a Surgeon: What Exposure to Suffering Does to Us (by Dr. Grant Stucki)

In this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki discusses something many oral and maxillofacial surgeons experience but rarely talk about: the emotional weight of caring for patients who are in pain, injured, or facing life-changing diagnoses. He explores how repeated exposure to trauma can lead to compassion fatigue, emotional detachment, and secondary traumatic stress, with effects that often extend beyond the workplace into personal relationships. Dr. Stucki also examines the concept of moral injury, describing what happens when surgeons know the right course of action but feel constrained by the realities of the healthcare system. While emotional distancing can be a necessary way to stay focused during difficult cases, he explains that it can gradually develop into cynicism if left unaddressed. Throughout the episode, he encourages surgeons to move beyond the culture of simply "pushing through," recognize the emotional challenges of the profession, and seek support through honest conversations and connection. **Key Points From This Episode:** - What listeners can expect from today’s episode with Dr. Stucki. - He unpacks some research findings closely related to today’s topic of discussion. - What makes emotional distancing dangerous to practitioners. - Dr. Stucki breaks down compassion fatigue and its effects on practitioners. - He looks at another important concept: secondary traumatic stress. - How the concept of second victim syndrome works and why it matters. - Different experiences surgeons may have after facing serious complications. - A classic burnout domain and protective mechanism: depersonalization. - Suffering a moral injury: functioning in a broken system. - Dr. Stucki explains some of the recurring long-term changes that show up in practitioners. - Why this conversation is important. - Honest questions practitioners should be asking. - He shares steps practitioners can take to bring healing to the healers. **Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:** ‘Second Victim Syndrome Among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of Interventions and Outcomes’ – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145115/ ‘From Moral Injury Vulnerability to Protective Equity: The Voyage Every Surgeon Must Take’ – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39692009/ ‘Moral injury: An unspoken burden of transplant surgery’  – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39159721/ ‘Surgeons’ Emotional Experience of Their Everyday Practice - A Qualitative Study’  – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4657990/ ‘Surgeon Burnout and Relationships: A Missing Component in the Ongoing Conversation’ – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11803599/ Jim Rohn — https://www.jimrohn.com/  Rachel Hollis — https://msrachelhollis.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/  Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/  Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/ Dr. Grant Stucki Email — [grantstucki@gmail.com](mailto:grantstucki@gmail.com) Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059