A family emergency gave Dr. Randy Lehman an unexpected perspective—from the waiting room instead of the operating room.

In this episode, he shares the story of his grandfather’s emergency gallbladder surgery and how that experience reshaped his approach to rural surgical care.

From the weight of urgent decisions to the strain of limited resources, Dr. Lehman reflects on how these events transformed his approach to pre-op communication and deepened his commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.

0:00 Intro

5:28 Grandpa's emergency

11:26 Resource limitations in small hospitals

18:30 Unexpected turn of events post-surgery

24:38 Lessons learned

38:13 Importance of rural surgeons

For Dr. Randy Lehman, “rushing to surgery” sometimes means taking to the skies.

In this episode, he shares how aviation became an unexpected solution to some of rural healthcare’s biggest hurdles: time, distance, and access.

From unforgettable landings to the real-world logistics of owning and flying a helicopter, Dr. Lehman gives us a front-row seat to how this unconventional approach is transforming his surgical practice in Indiana.

...and let’s be honest, flying is just plain awesome!

0:00 Introduction

1:58 Family Aviation Roots and Grandpa's Flying Legacy

12:47 Trading Long Drives for Short Flights During Residency

19:51 The Real Economics of Maintaining Three Aircraft

25:31 Robinson R44 Operations and Beating the Air into Submission

29:23 Why a Helicopter Provides Crucial Direct Hospital Access

34:03 Getting a Helicopter License in Just 54 Days

38:17 Landing at Hospitals, Schools and Family Farms

41:53 Transforming Friends Through Rural Peace After City Chaos

47:03 Weather Limitations and Always Having a Safety Plan B

52:24 When $400 Per Hour Flying Actually Makes Financial Sense

54:08 Small Minds vs. Creative Rural Transportation Solutions

59:09 Designing an Intentional Rural Surgical Practice

Resources Mentioned:

Cleveland Helicopters https://clevelandhelicopters.com/

One Six Right https://www.onesixright.com/

Join host Dr. Randy Lehman as he welcomes Dr. Rebekah Wever, a passionate young rural surgeon who returned to her Appalachia, Ohio roots after training in South Dakota.

In this episode, Dr. Wever shares candid reflections on her first independent cases while delivering a masterclass on the innovative Transversus Abdominis Release (TAR) technique for complex hernia repairs. She reveals how her dedication to building healthcare resilience in her underserved Appalachian hometown means the difference between life-threatening transfers and keeping critical care local.

Whether you're a healthcare provider considering rural practice or simply curious about delivering exceptional surgical care in underserved communities, discover why Dr. Wever believes returning home might be the most rewarding decision a surgeon can make.

0:00 Introduction

1:26 Dr. Wever's Background

7:01 Why Rural Surgery is Special to You

8:49 How I Do It: Ventral Hernia Repair - Transversus Abdominis Release

37:55 Resources for the Busy Rural Surgeon

39:27 Financial Corner

42:01 Classic Rural Surgery Story

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Hernia Surgery: Current Principles by Yuri W. Novitsky