Leading the Fight Against Cancer: Dr. Steven Hochwald at Mount Sinai

In this episode of the Driven: Unscripted Success Podcast with Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan, Dr. Steven Hochwald—Chief of Surgical Oncology and Director within the Mount Sinai cancer program—pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to move cancer care ahead. He shares why he chose to focus on complex GI cancers (stomach, esophagus, pancreas, liver), the power of pairing surgery with research, and how picking the right patient with the right tumor biology can be life-changing.

We dive into leadership lessons from the OR and the lab: building trust with high-performing physicians, communicating relentlessly, and creating a culture that chases “what’s next” instead of settling for status quo. Dr. Hochwald also opens up about staying physically and mentally strong for marathon-length surgeries, learning new tech and therapies through experts, and what it means to design patient-centered care—like Mount Sinai’s upcoming integrated cancer center that brings imaging, radiation, medical oncology, clinical trials, and supportive services together under one roof.

You’ll also hear a grounded take on career risk, program building, option-trading for personal passive income, and two leadership reads that shaped his approach: Who Moved My Cheese? and True North.

 

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