Welcome to another episode of Everyday Oral Surgery! Joining us in conversation today is Dr. Suzanne Stucki-McCormick, a surgeon practicing and teaching in California. Join us today to hear about Dr. Stucki-McCormick’s journey through research and practice, starting with working for NASA while she was still in high school. Hear how she followed her passion for cleft lip and palate surgery, and contributed to early research on triple A bone, after helping to discover a new strain of actinomyces while pursuing her masters studies. Today’s listeners will learn why she believes that oral surgeons are uniquely positioned to be leaders in the ERAS space, and how she integrates natural care into her surgery practice. Dr. Stucki-McCormick has also researched opioid usage and genetics, finding that certain patients are simply non-metabolizers, leaving the conundrum of trying to identify which patients are drug-seekers. She shares the story of being appointed to the dental board by Arnold Schwarzenegger, before sharing her favorite topics to teach today, and why she recommends using the phrase ‘patient agrees’. Thanks for tuning in to hear all this and more from this inspiring surgeon today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A warm welcome to today’s guest, Dr. Suzanne Stucki-McCormick.
- Her background, starting with working for NASA in high school.
- The story of how she discovered a new strain of actinomyces during her masters studies in West Virginia.
- How she followed her passion for cleft lip and palate surgery.
- Her early research on triple A bone, known today as BMPs.
- Why she believes that oral surgeons are uniquely positioned to be leaders in ERAS.
- Her holistic approach to patient care, including natural options for anti-inflammatories.
- Dr. Stucki-McCormick’s research on opioid usage and genetics.
- Results reflected that only 30% of patients are normal metabolizers.
- Non-metabolizers, drug seekers, and the many avenues for research available.
- Why finding best practices is clearly what is important.
- What they can learn from bone cuts today.
- Her experience being appointed to the dental board by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- What she loves to teach today: describing the situation in detail.
- Her recommendation to add ‘patient agrees’ to the end of your notes.
- Ethical issues that surgeons are facing today.
- Dr. Grant Stucki’s issues in practice including patients coming in high on marijuana.
- Why documenting is such a helpful tool, especially when you are looking back.
- Pressures in oral surgery, including finances, expectations, and more.
- The beauty of elective surgery, and the importance of learning to say no.
- What she loves about oral surgery: you can choose what you want.
- The most helpful non-surgery thing she does that enriches her career: playing!
- Why she doesn’t know the names of any of the tools she uses.
- Her favorite film: the Godfather series!
- Why doing cleft surgery has been the most rewarding aspect of her career so far.
- Her quote to live by, about serendipity, and her lifelong love of purple.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Suzanne McCormick on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-mccormick-98845611/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059