Ep. 48 From Weird to Wonderful: An Interview with Theator Founder Dr. Tamir Wolf

In this episode, Drs. Aaron Fritts and Eric Gantwerker interview Dr. Tamir Wolf, a trauma surgeon and founder of Theator, an artificial intelligence company that links intraoperative decision making with patient outcomes.

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EARN CME

Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/WxyvKG

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SHOW NOTES

Dr. Wolf describes how his experience as a trauma surgeon with the Navy SEALs shaped his perspective on high acuity situations and surgical guidance. He realized that augmented decision making in trauma settings could help him and others perform better. Additionally, he had experiences with seeing family and coworkers undergoing the same procedure, but with drastically different outcomes due to variability in surgery and clinical management. With these ideas in mind, he started Theator. The company offers a software that seamlessly integrates into existing operating room video technology in minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic procedures. The technology captures data over decision points and key milestones that have eventual impacts on patient outcomes. The data is then analyzed to find patterns and translated to best practices.

Dr. Wolf hopes that this aggregate of video data from multiple surgeons and institutions can provide evidence-based training for surgeons to operate at a safer level. Dr. Wolf emphasizes that Theator’s overall mission is to increase transparency in the operating room and break out of the traditional surgical apprentice training model. Ideally, trainees who are preparing for surgeries could draw on the experiences of thousands of surgeons in different places. Additionally, hospitals could gain information about their internal processes and address inefficiencies and safety gaps.

We discuss challenges in implementation, such as surgeons’ reluctance to be recorded, competition within the artificial intelligence space, and limitations for implementation in fluoroscopic imaging. Dr. Wolf also outlines Theator’s trajectory and the single most important factor to its success— the company culture. He emphasizes the need to hire competent and trustworthy people who can innovate and self-direct.

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RESOURCES

Theator:

https://theator.io/

Dr. Tamir Wolf LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamirwolf

OR Black Box & Trauma Black Box:

https://www.surgicalsafety.com/

Disparities in Access to High-Volume Surgeons Within High-Volume Hospitals for Hysterectomy:

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2021/08000/Disparities_in_Access_to_High_Volume_Surgeons.7.aspx

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention: https://www.amazon.com/No-Rules-Netflix-Culture-Reinvention/dp/1984877860

BackTable Innovation Ep. 7: Improving Access to Stroke Care Using AI with Dr. Chris Mansi: https://www.backtable.com/shows/innovation/podcasts/7/vizai-improving-access-to-stroke-care-using-ai