Scalpel Meets Silicon: Exploring the Future of Surgery with Dr. Thomas Shin

Updated: Jul 19

A Q&A with Dr. Thomas Shin, MD, PhD

Article written by William Lain

In the first installment of VJM’s newest Expert Q&A series focusing on exceptional surgical faculty and surgeon-scientists, we sat down (virtually) with Dr. Thomas Shin, an Assistant Professor of Surgery at UVA and a rising voice in bariatric surgery, immunometabolism, and digital surgical innovation.

Dr. Shin brings a uniquely interdisciplinary background to the field: a BA in Economics from Dartmouth, a joint MD/PhD from Boston University, surgical training at the Cleveland Clinic, and a fellowship at Brigham and Women’s. Today, his work sits at the intersection of metabolic disease, immune signaling, and artificial intelligence, anchored by a belief that surgical care can be not just lifesaving, but transformative.

Long before he was designing neural networks, Dr. Thomas Shin was a third-year medical student sitting in a surgical oncology clinic—watching, listening, and realizing that surgery wasn’t just about technical skill. It was about trust, transformation, and the kind of connection that rewires a patient’s future.

On Choosing Surgery:

"What solidified my path was witnessing how surgical intervention could fundamentally transform a patient's life trajectory—not just treating disease, but restoring hope and functionality."

Drawn to the gravity of the surgeon-patient relationship, Dr. Shin described early experiences that shaped his view of what a career in surgery could be. That sense of responsibility—to meet patients in their most vulnerable moments and create lasting physical change—remains humbling, even as an attending physician.

“While I cannot speak for other specialties, the relationship and rapport surgeons have with their patients is truly special.”

On Research:

"We're building a research program that bridges bench science with cutting-edge computational approaches, creating opportunities for students interested in everything from molecular biology to artificial intelligence to contribute meaningfully to surgical innovation.”

In the lab, Dr. Shin studies the inflammatory mechanisms behind weight regain after bariatric surgery. On the clinical side, he’s building deep learning models that link intraoperative surgeon behavior with outcomes and skill development, ushering in the future of surgical evaluation and training within the field of robotic general surgery.

“What excites me most is how these seemingly disparate research areas actually complement each other—both involve understanding complex biological and behavioral systems to optimize patient outcomes.”

While his research bridges molecular biology and machine learning, Dr. Shin’s approach to mentorship is refreshingly grounded. For him, the best collaborations aren’t defined by hierarchy—they’re built on mutual curiosity and shared goals.

On Mentorship:

"The most successful mentorships I currently have are those where the emphasis is not on the asymmetry of experience, but rather on striving toward understanding each other's goals, determining how both individuals can synergize toward them, and having joint ownership and investment in the mentor-mentee relationship.”

Regardless of a student's background, Dr. Shin values mentees who bring intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the courage to challenge established dogma. Some of his most rewarding collaborations, he says, have come from outside traditional surgical circles, with students who challenged him and made him second guess his assumptions.

“I'm always looking for team members who are excited about pushing boundaries and aren't afraid to tackle ambitious projects that might fail, because that's often where the most significant breakthroughs occur.”

On the Next Generation:

"The future of surgery lies at the intersection of multiple fields—biology, engineering, data science, and human factors psychology."

Dr. Shin encourages students to think beyond technical skill. Adaptability, interdisciplinary thinking, and a willingness to ask “why” are essential to leading surgical innovation.

“Innovation can only come from change, and change only comes from recognizing what is imperfect or lacking today.”

On the Road Ahead:

"We're not just improving existing techniques—we're fundamentally reimagining how surgery is taught, performed, and optimized.”

From advanced robotics to outcome modeling, Dr. Shin believes the next era of surgery will be defined by data and digital tools. And at UVA—where robotic infrastructure and innovation support are growing—he sees a chance to lead that evolution.

“For students interested in joining this revolution, there has never been a more exciting time to get involved. Whether your background is in medicine, engineering, computer science, or basic research, there are meaningful ways to contribute to this transformation of surgical practice."

For all his forward-thinking vision of robotic platforms and digital metrics, Dr. Shin still believes the best compass for a career in medicine is the one he used himself: curiosity. It’s what took him from studying Wnt signaling in leukemia to reimagining the future of metabolic surgery.

On Staying Curious:

“Keep an inquisitive, open, and curious mind.”

That’s the first piece of advice Dr. Shin would give his younger self—and it’s a guiding principle he hopes more students embrace. While earning a PhD in immunology and molecular medicine, he imagined a future in pediatric hematology. But it wasn’t until his clinical rotations that his true interests took shape.

“I approached each rotation with eyes wide open and a mind totally free of any predisposed biases or preconceived ideas about each specialty. That openness allowed me to explore areas of medicine and interdisciplinary research topics that later led me down the path to metabolic surgery.”

Your takeaway? Dr. Thomas Shin’s path reminds us that the future of surgery isn’t just being shaped in operating rooms—it’s being shaped at the intersection of disciplines, ideas, and questions that don’t have easy answers. For students and aspiring surgeon-scientists, the message is clear: let your curiosity lead, embrace complexity, and don’t be afraid to rewrite the map.

Stay tuned for more interviews from our Expert Q&A series, where we spotlight faculty across surgical specialties working at the cutting edge of surgical care, research, and education.

Interested in reading more from Dr. Shin? Check out some of his recent works!

Mathur V, Wasden K, Shin TH, et al. Neoadjuvant Semaglutide, Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss, and Overall Outcomes. JAMA Surg. 2025;160(5):594-596. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2025.000
Shin TH, Medhati P, Mathur V, Nimeri A, Sheu EG, Tavakkoli A. National trends in using revisional surgeries post-sleeve gastrectomy due to reflux and weight recurrence: a matched case-control analysis. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2025;21(3):240-246. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2024.09.011
Hui D, Shin TH. Comment on: Endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies and its effect on MASLD: a review of the current literature. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2025;21(2):182-183. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2024.10.029
Lee Y, Shin T, Tessier L, et al. Harnessing artificial intelligence in bariatric surgery: comparative analysis of ChatGPT-4, Bing, and Bard in generating clinician-level bariatric surgery recommendations. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024;20(7):603-608. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2024.03.011
Nasta AM, Goel R, Singhal R, et al. 30-day morbidity and mortality of revisional bariatric surgery - An international multi-centre collaborative (BROAD) study. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2024;18(3):195-200. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2024.06.001