In this episode of Neurosurgery Tales, I sit down with Dr. James K. Liu — internationally renowned skull base surgeon, innovator, and educator — for a deep and personal conversation about what it truly takes to pursue technical excellence in neurosurgery.

From the early moments that called him into medicine to high-stakes decisions in the OR, Dr. Liu opens up about the emotional weight of complications, the discipline of self-reflection, and how he balances bold innovation with patient safety.

We also explore his transition from academia to private practice, his vision for hybrid surgical careers, and how his Art of Brain Surgery video series is transforming surgical education worldwide.

In this episode:
• Why neurosurgery is a calling, not just a career
• Learning from complications & developing surgical judgment
• The art of saying "yes" to cases others say "no" to
• Balancing radical resection with functional outcomes
• Why private practice can be a new academic frontier
• Surgical video as a tool for self-improvement
• AI, precision, and the future of neurosurgery
• Advice for the next generation of neurosurgeons

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