Michael Maddaus

Dr. Michael Maddaus is a thoracic surgeon, educator, author, and life coach recognized for his work in resilience, performance, and physician wellness. Raised in a challenging environment, Maddaus experienced multiple juvenile arrests and reform school sentences before leaving high school and joining the U.S. Navy. After his discharge, he earned a GED, attended junior college, and was admitted to the University of Minnesota, where he later entered medical school. A pivotal mentorship influenced his transition from a troubled youth to a medical professional.

Maddaus graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed general surgery training at the University of Minnesota, followed by specialty training in thoracic surgery at the University of Toronto and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. After seven years of clinical surgical residency and three years of research, he joined the University of Minnesota Medical School faculty. Over a 20-year career, Maddaus developed a clinical practice focused on complex and minimally invasive surgery of the lungs and esophagus. He served as a professor, vice chair of the Department of Surgery, and program director of the general surgical training program, holding the Garamella-Lynch endowed chair. Maddaus has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 30 medical book chapters and served as principal investigator for national clinical trials in lung cancer. He received the Medical School Alumnus of the Year Award and the Wangensteen Award for Excellence in Teaching, and was elected to the American Surgical Association.

Maddaus faced an 18-month period of addiction, leading to treatment at Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center and subsequent retirement from surgery to focus on his health. He identified the influence of early life experiences, surgical training, and a culture of overwork on his path to addiction. This realization led him to pursue mindfulness and self-compassion training and to support other surgeons facing burnout and isolation in the medical field. He developed eight habits for a new personal operating system, integrating evidence-based strategies for physician well-being.

His work culminated in "The Resilience Bank Account™: 8 Skills for Optimal Performance," published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Maddaus led the Wellness Task Force for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and hosts "The Resilient Surgeon" podcast, where he interviews leaders in high-performance and wellness, focusing on strategies for cardiothoracic surgeons. His story was featured on the PBS Nova series "This Emotional Life" as an example of resilience. Maddaus coaches physicians and high performers, sharing science-based approaches to overcoming adversity and promoting well-being in medicine.