Ep 207 Emotional capacity is the key to success (or downfall) of your surgery career

In this episode, Dr. Amy Vertrees—general surgeon, coach, and founder of the Boss Surgeons coaching community—dives into one of the most overlooked competencies in surgical training: emotional capacity.

Surgeons are taught how to operate under pressure, handle emergencies, and constantly pursue excellence. But very few are ever taught how to feel the intense emotions that come with the job, let alone process and recover from them. As a result, emotional capacity—rather than building over time like technical skill—often shrinks, quietly eroding confidence, performance, and well-being.

This episode breaks down what emotional capacity truly is, why it matters, and how surgeons can intentionally rebuild and expand it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Emotional capacity defined—and why surgeons need it

Emotional capacity is the ability to feel, process, and recover from emotions. It is essential for longevity in surgery, yet rarely discussed in training programs that focus almost exclusively on skill and knowledge.

• The emotional challenges surgeons face daily

Regret, worry, fear, insecurity, and self-doubt aren’t signs of weakness. They’re part of the job. When they go unprocessed, they create burnout, impulsivity, and emotional blunting.

• Why emotional capacity can shrink over time

Unlike surgical skill, emotional capacity declines if neglected. Unprocessed emotions accumulate and begin to drive behavior, often without awareness.

• How to recognize and name emotions with clarity

"You cannot process what you cannot name." Dr. Vertrees shares how using the example of regret during a case transfer can transform shame or resentment into motivation and learning.

• Managing intensity without being overtaken by it

Surgeons constantly shift between high-intensity events and routine interactions. This requires compartmentalization—but too much compartmentalization leads to emotional numbness.

• Breaking the prolonged stress cycle

Chronic stress signals the body that it is unsafe. Dr. Vertrees explains how simple techniques like box breathing help return the nervous system to safety and restore capacity.

• Releasing unrealistic responsibility

Surgeons are trained to "own everything," which often leads to carrying burdens far beyond what is reasonable or controllable.

• Reconnecting with yourself

Disconnection from one’s own needs is one of the earliest and most dangerous signs of burnout. Reconnection is essential for restoring emotional bandwidth.

• How to rebuild emotional capacity

You’ll hear practical strategies including:

• Identifying and allowing emotions without judgment

• Creating micro-pauses

• Noticing the thoughts generating feelings

• Allowing joy, gratitude, and celebration to expand capacity

• Understanding that confidence comes from acting with difficult emotions, not from eliminating them

• Coaching as a tool for building emotional strength

Dr. Vertrees shares how coaching can help surgeons process emotions effectively, reconnect with themselves, and reclaim confidence.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00:02 — Introduction to Emotional Capacity in Surgery

• 00:01:29 — Understanding Regret as an Example

• 00:03:34 — Emotional Capacity vs. Skills and Knowledge

• 00:05:57 — Expanding Emotional Bandwidth Under Pressure

• 00:08:05 — Managing Intensity Without Being Overtaken

• 00:09:44 — Recovery and Compartmentalization

• 00:11:36 — Self-Regulation and the Prolonged Stress Cycle

• 00:14:04 — Managing the Load of Responsibility

• 00:16:05 — Staying Connected with Yourself

• 00:18:47 — Rebuilding Emotional Capacity

• 00:26:07 — Conclusion and Coaching Opportunities

Action Items for Surgeons

• If you’re feeling overwhelmed or burned out, reach out to a coach who understands surgeon-specific challenges.

• Start a small gratitude practice to create space for positive emotions and prevent emotional saturation.

• Join the Boss Surgeons coaching group—signing up now grants the rest of 2025 free as we enroll for the 2026 program year.

• Visit bosssurgery.com to learn more about 1:1 coaching, the Boss Surgeons group, and upcoming programs.