Joy, a Podcast. Hosted by Craig Ferguson Dr. Maija Cheung
May 13, 2025
Dr. Maija Cheung is a Yale surgeon and Chief Medical Officer of Kids Operating Room, dedicated to improving healthcare for children worldwide. In this discussion, she shares her groundbreaking work in building operating rooms for kids in Ukraine and collaborating with NASA for oxygen solutions in low-resource settings. The importance of sustainable care in conflict zones and the emotional toll of surgery in challenging environments are also explored. Dr. Cheung emphasizes the impact of accessible medical care on underserved communities and the balance between personal beliefs and modern medicine.
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Children's Long Journeys for Surgery
- In Uganda, many children travel long distances to reach surgical care, sometimes physically carried for years before treatment.
- After receiving surgery, children experience life-changing improvements such as joining local activities and living healthier lives.
Helplessness Motivates Surgeons
- Surgeons face helplessness when resources lack or patients arrive too late, impacting care outcomes.
- This drives their commitment to improving access and alleviating suffering despite emotional burden.
Collaborative Learning in Surgery
- Trust your surgical team and learn collaboratively from both successes and complications.
- Reviewing surgical performances collectively improves patient care quality and outcomes.