Kristi L. Harold

About

Dr. Kristi L. Harold is a leading researcher in surgical ergonomics and the impact of surgical modalities on surgeon wellness. Her work critically examines how different surgical approaches—endoscopic, laparoscopic, open, and robot-assisted—affect surgeons' physical health, workload, and professional wellbeing. Dr. Harold’s most cited study (2023, 15 citations) surveyed surgeons across an academic hospital system, revealing significant differences in workload, physical pain, and neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMSDs) between modalities. She extended this work in 2024 (8 citations) by linking dominant surgical modality to burnout and job satisfaction, while identifying interventions to mitigate NMSDs. Beyond ergonomics, Dr. Harold has contributed to robotic surgery outcomes, including a 2016 study on ventral hernia incidence after robotic prostatectomy (3 citations) and a 2019 case report on robot-assisted ureterosciatic hernia repair. Her research is vital for improving surgeon longevity and patient safety, offering evidence-based recommendations for surgical practice and institutional support. Dr. Harold’s work highlights the often-overlooked human cost of surgical innovation, making her a key voice in the movement toward sustainable surgical careers.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Impact of preferred surgical modality on surgeon wellness: a survey of workload, physical pain/discomfort, and neuromusculoskeletal disorders

   15 citations · 2023
2. 2
   Robot-assisted repair of ureterosciatic hernia with mesh

   10 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Surgeons’ dominant surgical modality: Impacts on wellbeing, burnout, and interventions for neuromusculoskeletal disorders

   8 citations · 2024
4. 4
   Incidence and outcomes of ventral hernia repair after robotic retropubic prostatectomy: A retrospective cohort of 570 consecutive cases

   3 citations · 2016

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links