The Making of a World-Class Surgeon with Dr. Michael Maddaus

12 Geniuses Podcast

When Michael Maddaus came home from school as a boy, he never knew what would be on the inside of his apartment door. It could have been his intoxicated mother, his abusive stepfather, or any degree of chaos in between. As he got older, he avoided being at home. Instead, he broke into homes, stole cars, experimented with drugs and alcohol, and escaped his home life in any way he could.

After 24 arrests as a juvenile, his options were becoming clearer - prison or worse. Maddaus joined the US Navy for a reprieve. When he got out a few years later, a fortuitous encounter with a mentor changed his life forever. With the mentor’s guidance, Michael Maddaus, the juvenile delinquent, transformed into Dr. Michael Maddaus, the world-class surgeon.

In this interview, Dr. Maddaus talks about his difficult youth, how it helped him develop his resilience, and how that resilience prepared him for life as a surgeon. Dr. Maddaus also talks about how to create a Resilience Bank Account™ and he gives some very emotional advice for young people who may be struggling to find their way in life.

After Dr. Michael Maddaus completed seven years of clinical surgical residency and three years of research, he joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota medical school. Over a 20-year career, Dr. Maddaus developed a robust clinical practice in complex and advanced minimally invasive surgery of the lungs and esophagus. He also became a full-time professor and vice chair of the Department of Surgery where he held the Garamella-Lynch endowed chair. Then, he stepped into his role as program director of the Department of Surgery’s general surgical training program. Now Dr. Maddaus coaches physicians to turn their demanding schedules into fulfilled lives.