When the Doctor Becomes the Patient: Dr. Adam Bitterman On His Open-Heart Surgery

<p>What happens when a surgeon suddenly finds himself on the other side of the patient–doctor relationship?</p><p></p><p>Dr. Adam Bitterman—orthopedic surgeon, educator, and chair of orthopedic surgery at Huntington Hospital—joins Dr. David Spiro to discuss being diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and undergoing urgent open-heart surgery.</p><p></p><p>Dr. Bitterman shares the fear of preparing for a seven-hour operation, the atrial fibrillation that required a second procedure, and the challenge of stepping away from his patients, colleagues, and family responsibilities. He also explains how becoming a patient transformed his approach to clinical care, physician health, work-life boundaries, and after-hours calls from frightened patients.</p><p></p><p>This candid conversation explores physician vulnerability, returning to medicine after serious illness, and why health, family, and a trusted support system must come first.</p><p></p><p>HuMed: Human Medicine reveals the human side of healthcare through honest conversations with physicians, patients, and healthcare leaders.</p>