Three miles outside a Michigan town of 4,000 people, Dr. Wood grew up on his family’s farm. In high school, a biology teacher saw promise and encouraged him to apply for a National Science Foundation summer program for high school students.
“I spent the summer between my junior and senior year at Purdue University with 40 other students; 38 were from east coast prep schools. They were talking about their SAT scores—I didn’t know what the SATs were,” Dr. Wood said.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Wood pointed to that summer as a transformational time in his life, responsible for opening his eyes to broader horizons than he would have considered coming from a town of 4,000. When applying to college, there were two on the list: Michigan State and Harvard.
“My parents said Harvard was too ambitious, but I applied in secret. In retrospect, it was audacious, but I didn’t know any better. I was lucky and got in, so I went to Harvard,” he said with a smile.
Boston Experience
“It was life-changing in terms of learning from the incredible people around me—of course my professors, but also my classmates,” he continued. “This was definitely a well-deserved imposter syndrome, but an enormous opportunity for growth.”
While at Harvard, Dr. Wood made the rowing team that became three-time national champions and gold medalists at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.
The relationships he forged with his teammates and their work together became, outside of academics, one of his most formative experiences. “Those eight guys are still my best friends, and the teamwork I forged with them as college athletes has been an example of how to develop teams as a surgeon and as a leader.”
While at medical school at Harvard, Dr. Wood knew he wanted to be a surgeon, specifically a cardiothoracic surgeon. During his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, he also knew he wanted a year to experience an environment outside of Boston.
He traveled to Australia, where he became a surgical registrar at the Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney.
“It was healthy for me to get outside of Boston and outside of Harvard,” he said. “My Sydney experience was also transformative and helped me think more broadly about my career and my future life.”
While chief resident at Mass General, Dr. Wood was recruited to UW by Edward Verrier, MD, FACS, who offered an opportunity to develop a new lung transplant program at UW.
“UW was a great institution, and I was inspired by the vision and enthusiasm of Dr. Verrier. He was committed to growing a world-class CT program and was trusting me to lead general thoracic surgery and initiate a new program,” he said. “I decided to take the chance because there was need and opportunity in Seattle.”
Surgery in Seattle
The lung transplant program was operational when he arrived at UW, and his first operation as an attending was a lung transplant, launching a new program and a new phase of Dr. Wood’s career.
“I’m fortunate to have the mentors I’ve had and great support. We were able to grow the general thoracic program by 1,500%. We added faculty and strengthened our training program. We now have an integrated CT residency, a traditional fellowship, a congenital cardiac fellowship, as well as fellowships in advanced cardiac and transplantation. And currently, 70% of our trainees are women,” he said.
As Dr. Wood’s surgical career continued, he was content with his clinical practice and growing his involvement in the ACS, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and other medical associations.
“I didn’t need to be a chief. I felt very fulfilled with my patients, my team, and my involvement in our national organizations. I realized that I was happy—with my work, my colleagues, where I live, and my family. I was asked to look at leadership positions in other places, but I wasn’t looking,” he continued.
Over time, as mentors retired or moved on to other roles, he became the division chief of CT surgery at UW. There was a brief consideration to become the chair of surgery when the University of Sydney came calling, but it ultimately wasn’t the right move.
When ACS Past-President Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, FACS, and one of Dr. Wood’s most important mentors, stepped into a different role at UW, Dr. Wood became interim chair of surgery. Then, after a year-long national search, he was offered the position permanently.
“I stumbled into being chair; it was an accident,” he said. “That may not sound very inspiring to others who may have had a more intentional path to leadership, but I was lucky to have mentors and supporters like Drs. Verrier and Pellegrini. And lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I’m an example of the adage, ‘It’s better to be lucky than good!’”
Navigating Today’s Challenges
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent struggles within healthcare in recent years, he noted that modern surgical leadership is challenging.
“It’s stressful to be a leader—it can be lonely. There is a lot now that undermines our system,” Dr. Wood said.
His resilience and integrity during periods of immense change required a support system. Other chairs of surgery, such as members of the SSC and department chairs at UW, became key players in helping him manage the emotional challenges of leadership.
“I’ve become better at showing my own vulnerability. But I also recognize the people I serve in my department or the school count on me to be uplifting and describe how we’re going to successfully manage something that’s being imposed upon us,” he said. “I often feel like I need to be the cheerleader in tough times, and count on my peer leaders to lean on as confidants.”
Today, Dr. Wood notes that his greatest pleasure comes from being able to leverage his position and privilege to support others.
“Those are the really good days of being a chair,” he said. “When one of our residents gets the fellowship they wanted, or a faculty get promoted or a grant funded—those are the brilliant moments when being a chair really shines bright.”
To help give back to others who have taken a non-traditional path into surgery, Dr. Wood has endowed a fellowship at UW for creating professional opportunities in surgical education and leadership.
“Being able to help even one person is truly meaningful. It’s a high-five moment when they succeed,” he said.
SSC members have come to their positions in a multitude of ways. Dr. Wood’s path is proof that success is sometimes a surprise and a cumulative influence of mentors, supporters, and a good amount of luck.
