Coffee & Conversations: Balancing Parenthood and a Career in Surgery

1. Understand options for fertility preservation and when deciding to start a family.
2. How to deal with challenging family situations while maintaining excellence in surgical career.
3. Understand how to build allyship with your non-physician partner. 

Robert Amajoyi, MD, FACS, FICS, FASCRS
Robert Amajoyi, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon and serves as director of the Rectal Cancer Program at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute. Dr. Amajoyi provides evidence-based clinical and surgical care at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, and Saint Luke’s South Hospital. He also serves as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri Kansas city School of Medicine. He provides holistic surgical care and specializes in treating rectal ;  colon, and anal cancer; anal dysplasia, sigmoid diverticulitis; rectal prolapse; surgery for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis; J-pouch surgery; re-do rectal surgery; and re-operative abdominal and pelvic surgery. An active participant in research and advancing colorectal surgery, Dr. Amajoyi has authored many articles, book chapters, abstracts, and reviews. He is a leader in his field, presenting scientific talks at local, national, and international meetings. His clinical interests include robotic and minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery; multidisciplinary rectal cancer care; colon cancer surgery; organ preserving transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS); multivisceral pelvic organ resection surgery; and providing care to the underserved, such as the LGBTQ community. Dr. Amajoyi is also the International college of surgeons United States section Specialty Group Chair of Colorectal Surgery. Dr. Amajoyi Serves as a member of the DEI committee for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and International College of Surgeons. When he is not performing surgery, he is coaching young physicians through his Unstucklifestyle Coaching and  Elite Mentoring company, volunteering or spending time with his family on the soccer field.

Desiree McCarthy-Keith MD

Emma Austenfeld, MD, MPH
Dr. Austenfeld is a senior rheumatology fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed her pediatrics residency at MCW, and she earned degrees in medicine and public health from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Her academic interests include medical education and clinical quality improvement. She co-founded the Solidarity in Medicine Committee for the pediatric residency program at MCW, which develops programming with the following mission statement in mind: to encourage residents to advocate effectively for self and colleagues as we pursue personal fulfillment and develop our professional identity in a more equitable medical field. 

Jarita Hagans, M.D.

Erin King-Mullins, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Dr. Erin King-Mullins is a double board-certified general and colorectal surgeon. She graduated summa cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana. After obtaining her medical degree at Emory University in Atlanta, she completed her internship and residency in general surgery at the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Florida. Her fellowship training in colorectal surgery at Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates concluded with her joining the practice and serving as Faculty/Research Director for the fellowship program until her transition into private practice with Colorectal Wellness Center. She has a husband with whom she shares an amazing, blended family of 4 daughters. The kids keep them pretty busy, but their favorite times are spent on warm sunny beaches.

Sharon Stein MD
Sharon L. Stein, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a colorectal surgeon at University Cleveland Medical Center (UH) and Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. She is also the Director of Univ. Hospitals Surgical Outcomes Center: UH RISES and the Murdough Master Clinician in Colorectal Surgery for outstanding contributions to her patients and University. She has served as the President of the Ass. of Women Surgeons and currently serves on the Executive Council of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Program Chair of the 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Izi Obokhare MD
Izi Obokhare is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Amarillo TX, specializing in Colorectal Surgery, advanced laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. He received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and finalized a general surgery residency at the Case University of Hospitals in Cleveland OH. He completed a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery Research at the Ochsner clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Obokhare is the associate Dean for Faculty Development at TTUHSC Amarillo and is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition to numerous leadership, academic awards and scholarships, Dr. Obokhare has presented his research at several scientific meetings and has been an invited speaker for several events. His research has been published in several journals. He is the Principal investigator for a Cancer Prevention grant totaling over 3.5 Million dollars that is focused on reducing colorectal cancer in the Texas Panhandle.

Ebere Azumah MD 
Ebere Azumah, MD, MPH, ACC, FACOG is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, trained Doula, Public Health Professional, Community Health Educator, Social Entrepreneur, Non-Profit organization founder and leader, she is also the Chair of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas DC-MD-VA chapter. She is a Certified ICF Life Coach, trained Project Manager, trained Media Public Relations Personnel, Organizational Consultant, an International Professional Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Blogger. She is the Co-Founder and President of Love your Menses, Inc a global organization that provides menstrual education, empowerment and healing to those who have undergone Period Trauma. Love Your Menses, Inc is a global organization in 8 countries including the United States. She is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Azumah Solutions LLC and the Founder and Executive Director of another nonprofit called Healthy and Uplifted, Inc Dr. Azumah is a three-time author of the following books: The Warrior Women Project: A sisterhood of immigrant women and a Barnes and Noble Bestseller; Mya Learns about Menstruation a menstrual education book for young menstruators and Jonathan and the Hole in his Shoes a book that discourages bullying in schools. She has received several awards including the Always Period Heroes 2022 for her work in decreasing global period poverty through her organization, and an Executive Coaching Award for being a phenomenal Executive Coach from the CEO magazine in 2022. Dr. Azumah has many interests but one mission, to empower and to motivate people especially people of color (including herself) to flourish through life unapologetically. 

Philip Kondylis MD
Dr. Philip Kondylis obtained his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in Boston.  He graduated medical school from the University of Massachusetts before completing his General Surgery Residency at Yale University in New Haven, CT.   Dr. Kondylis completed his Colorectal Surgery Residency training at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie, PA.  He then returned to his training program and served as a core faculty member, Research Director, and ultimately Program Director for the Colorectal Surgery Residency Program during his 12 year tenure. He subsequently originated and has served as the Greater Orlando Consortium Surgery Program Director for the last 6 years. He is now returning to the Colorectal Surgery teaching faculty at St Vincent hospital the Erie Program. 

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