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Welcome to Women in Surgery, Houston Methodist's new YouTube series that explores the inspiring journeys of female surgeons who have shattered glass ceilings in traditionally male-dominated specialties. Join us as we delve into the lives, challenges and triumphs of exceptional women who have risen to become top surgical leaders at one of the largest hospital systems in the nation.

In this first-ever episode, Dr. Shlomit Schaal, chief physician executive at Houston Methodist and a renowned vitreo-retinal surgeon, interviews Dr. Kathleen Kobashi, chair of the Department of Urology at Houston Methodist and a national expert in pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, about her career, raising two daughters and how her mission to attract more women to the field of urology is going so far.

Notable topics covered:

• What attracted Dr. Kobashi to urology, a field with less than 10% women at the time.
• Raising daughters while rising through the ranks as a surgical leader.
• How changes in the specialty have resulted in more female applicants to urology programs.
• Dr. Kobashi's approach to communication, mentorship and conflict resolution as a department head.
• How attending a women's college, Wellesley, influenced Dr. Kobashi's career trajectory.