Season 1, Episode 2: Mentor of the Month Interview with Dr. Thomas Aloia

In this edition of SSAT's Mentor of the Month, Dr. Heather Lillemoe of the SSAT Resident and Fellow Education Committee interviews Dr. Thomas Aloia.

Dr. Aloia is a professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and the institution's Chief Quality Officer. He received his medical degree from University of California – Los Angeles Geffen School of Medicine and completed his surgical training at Duke University Medical Center. After residency, he completed two clinical fellowships in surgical oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, France. He recently obtained a masters in Healthcare Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

He discusses his philosophy on leadership and will provide some advice related to building a practice.

The questions answered in this month's Mentor of the Month Video:

1. What are the key skills that allow someone to be an effective leader?
2. What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
3. Can you discuss the importance of goal-setting as it relates to leadership and success in general?
4. Can you discuss the importance of emotional intelligence to leadership?
5. Shifting gears to building a practice: what would you say is the most important thing?
6. What should someone look for in their first job?
7. Particularly evident right now in the difficult times we are experiencing, burnout can take its toll on a practicing surgeon. What are your tips for avoiding burnout?