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

What happens when a surgeon suddenly finds himself on the other side of the patient–doctor relationship?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.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.This candid conversation explores physician vulnerability, returning to medicine after serious illness, and why health, family, and a trusted support system must come first.HuMed: Human Medicine reveals the human side of healthcare through honest conversations with physicians, patients, and healthcare leaders.