about the
podcast
Surgery 101 was created in 2008 by Dr. Jonathan White. and Dr. Parveen Boora. It began with a simple idea: to use digital technology to make high-quality surgical education freely accessible to anyone, anywhere. This idea would allow us to support learners with practical, engaging resources that could be accessed beyond the classroom.
where we started
From our early days, building Surgery 101 has been a collaborative effort. involving surgeons, educators, students, and a small team committed to experimenting with new ways of teaching. The project began with the creation of podcast episodes designed to explain core surgical concepts in a clear, approachable format, making complex topics easier to understand and review. Over time, the resource expanded as more faculty, students, and contributors became involved, bringing new expertise, ideas, and perspectives to the project.
Surgery 101 podcasts can be listened to while commuting, exercising, or preparing for an exam, allowing learning to become part of everyday life. For educators, the resources provide a valuable complement to traditional teaching, offering students an additional way to review core concepts and prepare for clinical experiences.
Over the years, Surgery 101 has grown from a small podcast project into a global open-access surgical education resource covering the entire surgical curriculum. As technology and medical education have evolved, so has the project, expanding to include a growing collection of over 400 podcasts, videos, and other learning resources. What has remained constant is our commitment to making surgical education accessible, engaging, and relevant to learners wherever they are. Our goal remains the same: to share knowledge, inspire curiosity, and help the next generation of healthcare professionals learn the art and science of surgery.
Podcast internship
The project has also become a collaborative learning community, bringing together surgeons, educators, students, and contributors with diverse areas of expertise. Students have the opportunity not only to learn from the content but, in many cases, to become the creators. Through researching topics, developing educational content, recording podcasts, and working with experts, learners can build communication, collaboration, and content-creation skills while contributing to a resource that supports students around the world.
more fun & more learning
At the heart of Surgery 101 is the belief that learning can—and should—be fun. Our model encourages students to explore topics through engaging conversations, stories, clinical examples, and accessible explanations rather than simply memorizing facts. By combining education with creativity and a sense of curiosity, we hope to make challenging surgical concepts easier to understand and more enjoyable to learn.
want to get involved?
Interested in contributing to Surgery 101? We welcome collaborators from a wide range of backgrounds and enjoy mentoring students throughout the educational resource development process.
If you have an idea for a new podcast episode or educational resource, our team will work with you every step of the way—from content development and instructional design to editing, production, and connecting you with subject matter experts when needed.
Whether you have a fully developed idea or are just getting started, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to our team at surgicaleducator@gmail.com to start the conversation.
Sponsorship and Support
Surgery 101 is produced with the help of a number of generous sponsors and supporters.
We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of a large number of friends who have helped us on the Surgery 101 journey. These include Douglas Berquist, Cheryl Dalmer, Eileen Bulger, Jeff Allen and Cindy House. We also wish to acknowledge the time and expertise generously provided by the surgeons and residents in Edmonton and all of the students and administrators who have assisted us with this project.
The Tom Williams Chair in Surgical Education
The Department
of Surgery
Alberta Health
Services
The Royal
Alexandra Hospital
Elevtives
Our Surgical Education Elective provides students with an opportunity to develop practical skills in surgical education, instructional design, and online teaching. Based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital or remotely, students explore foundational principles of curriculum and instructional design, develop effective learning objectives, and apply strategies to engage learners through digital platforms. Students gain hands-on experience creating educational resources such as podcasts, videos, and virtual learning materials, including developing and producing a podcast on a surgical education topic. Through faculty mentorship, content development, technology-supported teaching, and critical reflection, the elective prepares students to design, deliver, and evaluate innovative educational experiences for junior medical learners while strengthening their own communication, teaching, and leadership skills. Apply here.
Clinical electives are also available here.