VSPC 25-01 Sarah Boston

Episode 1: Surgical Oncology, Canadian Identity, Keynotes & Comedy with Dr. Sarah Boston. In this fun and thoughtful reboot of the Global Veterinary Surgery Podcast, Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn welcomes his first guest: the brilliant and hilarious Dr. Sarah Boston, a veterinary surgical oncologist, author, and stand-up comedian.They kick things off with Jolle’s confession about ghosting his own podcast for a year (he blames only himself… and maybe podcasting burnout), and how a passionate resident fan reignited his commitment to bringing it back.Topics covered include:

• Surgical Oncology: Dr. Boston talks about her career, her work at Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital in Ottawa, and her passion for innovation in surgery.
• The “Boston Plasty”: A clever, simplified approach to managing distal radial osteosarcoma in dogs using carpal arthrodesis—designed to be accessible, cost-effective, and practical.
• Being a Proud Canadian: With humorous takes on being from Canada, a sovereign country that never will be the 51st state, Sarah brings her signature wit while making a case for strong Canadian veterinary voices.
• Preparing for Keynotes: Jolle and Sarah discuss the emotional rollercoaster of preparing for big talks, from imposter syndrome to storytelling strategies (spoiler: PowerPoint slides with only photos and no words might be the way to go).
• Failures & Real Talk: Sarah shares insights from her “failure bio” and emphasizes the importance of being open about setbacks to inspire younger vets.
• Cats, Comedy & Ethics: Her keynote on feline-centered stories and the lessons they taught her takes center stage, and we learn how stand-up comedy can co-exist with clinical compassion (even when someone says “vagina” at a symposium).

They wrap with favorite articles: Dr. Boston highlights a pivotal paper on mitotic index and mast cell tumors, as well as her own groundbreaking study on radical mandibulectomy in cats—despite the spicy letter to the editor it once earned.

The Veterinary Surgery Podcast is a first of its kind podcast that focuses on surgical advance in veterinary medicine with host Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn. Jolle is a diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgery and has lots of experience in veterinary surgery. Jolle will interview fellow surgeons, review articles that are recently published and will discuss 2 books he will be working on in the near future. You can also follow Jolle on his Global Veterinary Surgery Facebook or Instagram pages.