Sharon L. Stein, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a colorectal surgeon and professional development coach. She previously worked as a Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine and was awarded the Murdough Master Clinician in Colorectal Surgery for outstanding contributions to her patients and University. She currently works at MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio. She has served as the President of the Association of Women Surgeons, as Chair of the American College of Surgeons Women in Surgery Committee and on the Executive Council of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She has worked for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) as a surgeon in both South Sudan and Haiti.
As an academician, Dr. Stein has published over 150 articles, editorials and chapters on a variety of topics from minimally invasive surgery to diversity in surgery. She has written extensively on minimally invasive surgery, colorectal cancer and enhanced recovery protocols as well as gender disparities in surgery including pay equity, pregnancy in surgery, and intimate partner violence. In recognition of her contributions to scholarship, she has been invited to serve as a reviewer for several prestigious journals, to write several book chapters, and has published a book on laparoscopic colectomy. She has been invited to deliver hundreds of CME lectures and contribute to scientific publications both nationally and internationally. She was the first women to receive an Honorary Fellowship from the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.
Additionally, Dr. Stein has a passion for professional development. She regularly leads professional development programs for institutions, and societies nationally. She ran the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Surgical Leadership Institute Program, leads the Association of Women Surgeons Coaching program, and has conducted resident programs for programs such as Washington University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She completed a certificate coaching program at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and has trained in Intentional Change Theory, Positive Intelligence Theory and Positive Psychology. She is the host of the Intentional Surgeon Podcast, the podcast that explores the people, institutions and ideas that are changing the culture of surgery and offers 1:1 coaching and leadership development programming for institutions through The Intentional Surgeon.
Selected publications from PubMed
The Use of Holistic Review in Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Applications.
Khan SZ, Stein SL, Steinhagen E
Am Surg. 2025 Jun;91(6):984-990 doi: 10.1177/00031348251329478.
Optimal Pouch Training: Investigating Operative and Nonoperative Needs Study.
Steinhagen E, Stein SL, Ofshteyn A, Sherman KL, Miller-Ocuin JL, Fennern EB, Bordeianou LG, OPTIONN Expert Consensus Panel
Dis Colon Rectum. 2025 Jun 1;68(6):764-775 doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000003685.
The impact of nonoperative management of rectal cancer on colon and rectal surgery residents in the United States.
Brady JT, Wright JP, Davids JS, Kelley SR, Alavi K, Stein SL, Monson JRT, Xu Z
Colorectal Dis. 2025 May;27(5):e70125 doi: 10.1111/codi.70125.
Who is the "Ideal Surgical Trainee?": A Qualitative Analysis of Letters of Recommendation to Subspecialty Surgical Fellowship.
Abelson JS, Jabri AA, Bhat H, Breen EM, Kuhnen AH, Stein SL, Steinhagen E, Saraidaridis JT
J Surg Educ. 2025 May;82(5):103479 doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2025.103479.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Is Associated with Improved Survival for Stage III Colon Cancer When Initiated Beyond 8 Weeks.
Ahmed FA, Wu VS, Kakish H, Rothermel L, Stein SL, Steinhagen E, Hoehn R
J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Sep;27(9):1913-1924 doi: 10.1007/s11605-023-05748-z.
Healthcare professionals, especially surgeons and physicians, often work in high-pressure environments where psychological safety is crucial but frequently overlooked. The fast-paced nature of the field can create situations where individuals feel unable to express concerns or seek support without fear of judgment. This lack of safety impacts personal well-being, patient outcomes, and team dynamics. This session brings together experts to discuss the importance of psychological safety, strategies to navigate challenging situations, and actionable tools to protect and support oneself and others, equipping healthcare professionals with the tools to thrive in their roles.
With Association of Women Surgeons
Published
Jan 2025
The intersection of historical systemic policies and healthcare disparities has yet to be fully explored. In this two part-series, the causal link of identity-based historical systemic policies resulting in health care disparities will be explored followed by a discussion of targeted solutions aimed to dismantle and eliminate those disparities to achieve health equity among surgical patients.
With American College of Surgeons
Published
Jul 2023
As the word “resident” implies, doctors at this stage may find themselves practically living at the hospital. Depending on the specialty and where one is in the world, during residency a doctor may be expected to work anywhere from 50-80 hours a week. The toll of this is often noticeable when it comes to health in general, and mental health in particular. Anxiety, depression and insomnia, are just a few of the side effects related to burnout. While work-life balance in the context of residency may sound paradoxical, to survive this period choices do have to be made. What kind of sacrifices will be necessary? What kind of time management strategies might come in handy, and what insight can be gleaned from those who have gone through it? We have gathered a panel of expert doctors who will discuss these very topics in the next session of our Resilient Resident Series.
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Aug 2022
Welcome and Introduction –Dr. KMarie King (USA), Dr. Sharon L. Stein (USA) and Dr. Steven D. Wexner (USA) Statement of the Problem and AAMC Data – Dr. Tracy Wang (USA) It's more than a Gender Problem: Race/Ethnicity and Compensation – Dr. Anthony Watkins (USA) Reality and Pay equity, Why it doesn’t Balance – Dr. Herb Chen (USA) How RVU's Affect the System – Dr. Caprice Greenberg (USA) Market forces in Pay Equity & Recruitment – Keith A. Delman (USA) The Path Forward –Dr. Callisia Clarke (USA) Discussion – Dr. KMarie King (USA) and Dr. Sharon L. Stein (USA)
Published
Oct 2021
Program Association of women surgeons – Dr Sharon Stein (USA) Society of Black Academic Surgeons – Dr Andrea Hayes-Jordan (USA) Society of Asian Academic Surgeons – Dr Quan-Yang Duh (USA) Ensuring educational opportunities – Dr Carla Pugh (USA) The role of journals in achieving diversity – Dr Melina Kibbe (USA) Health Equity and the Role of the Private Sector – Dr Pierre Theodore (USA) Discussion – All faculty moderated by Dr Steven Wexner (USA), Dr Patricia Turner (USA) and Dr Mariana Berho (USA)
With Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Published
Mar 2021
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