Scrubs to startups: Viral neurosurgeon is breaking barriers, fixing spines, advocating for safer ORs

When Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, FCNS, board-certified neurosurgeon known on TikTok and Instagram as @Ladyspinedoc, watched a viral video of a surgeon berating an OR nurse during a livestreamed procedure, she was incredibly bothered by the shameful display. She took to her popular platform and spoke out against that behavior, breaking down exactly why that kind of interaction is not just toxic—it is dangerous. Her message to other surgeons was stark: “If your team is afraid to speak up, you aren’t just failing them—you’re risking your patient’s life.”