In the first episode of Surgeon Interrupted, Dr. Frances Mei Hardin shares her journey of leaving a career in surgery after years of feeling unsafe and unfulfilled in her work environment. She discusses the toxic culture of residency, the pressures of being a physician, and her path to self-discovery and personal growth. Frances Mei emphasizes the importance of breaking free from societal expectations and finding fulfillment in life beyond medicine.

Surgeon, Interrupted is a new podcast taking you behind the scenes of Frances Mei's journey from young surgeon with promise and a full career in surgery ahead of her, to a drastic pivot out of medicine and into something completely different. This is a show for anyone who has felt uncertain about their career of life choices and wants to see and hear exactly how one person is starting the journey. This is will be a real time account of how the decisions were made, the wins and losses along the way, and everything in between.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & TikTok @francesmeimd

And Subscribe to @hippocratic-collective on Youtube for all of the other great shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Orthopedic surgery almost never looks like Dr. Brian Nwannunu, and that’s exactly why his story matters. His path through Morehouse, Georgetown, Howard, and Baylor reveals a specialty still reckoning with exclusion, even as it demands excellence at every turn. We talk about breaking through the gates, the mentors who rearrange your trajectory, the patients who shape your practice, and the quiet toll of carrying representation into the OR.

This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and the future of surgical training, told by someone who is changing it from the inside.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Brian Nwannunu

Connect with Brian: @doctor.brian

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Sophie Engelhardt—a German physician who left clinical medicine to build a portfolio career—shares the bold, deeply personal journey behind her pivot.

We talk about what it takes to walk away from a stable, prestigious path and choose a life that feels like yours: acting, plant-based nutrition, creativity, and the freedom to design a career outside of the exam-room walls.

Sophie also reveals the discipline and determination behind her move to Denmark, including the intense process of learning Danish from scratch to build a new professional chapter abroad.

This conversation is about more than career change. It’s about self-fulfillment over expectations, the quiet bravery of choosing authenticity, and the truth that you don’t need permission to reinvent your life—not from society, not from medicine, not from anyone.

If you’re standing at the edge of a pivot—or wondering who you are outside of your job—this episode is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Sophie Engelhardt

Connect with Sophie: @doc.sophiengelhardt

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when you realize your residency isn’t the right fit - after you’ve already started?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Olivia Perez (@drliv.md) shares her bold decision to leave family medicine after intern year and successfully reapply to dermatology. She opens up about the doubts, the guilt, and the logistics of making such a high-stakes switch, and why two “lost” years are nothing compared to decades of fulfillment in the right specialty.

We talk about:

– Recognizing when you’re in the wrong field and finding the courage to pivot

– How Dr. Perez navigated ERAS, planning, and backup options

– The role of mentorship and seeing examples outside medicine

– The psychological fallacies that keep doctors stuck in the wrong path

– Why enjoying the day-to-day matters more than chasing the “shiny object” at the end

Dr. Perez’s story is a powerful reminder that the straight path isn’t the only one, and that sometimes the bravest move is to start over.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Liv Perez

Connect with Liv:

Substack: https://drliv.substack.com/

IG & TikTok: @drliv.md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when you refuse to be one-dimensional in medicine?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Alyssa Cole (@doctor.cole), a PM&R physician specializing in cancer rehabilitation, shares her journey of weaving multiple identities into her career: physician, MBA, pageant competitor, children’s book author, and content creator.

We talk about:

– Why authenticity, boundaries, and “mosaic careers” matter in medicine

– Navigating social media as a physician without compromising professionalism

– Pageantry, advocacy, and the lessons she brings back into the clinic

– Redefining “influence” in medicine and turning it into inspiration

– How Gen Z doctors are reshaping medicine around well-being and humanity

Dr. Cole’s story is a reminder that being human isn’t a liability in medicine—it’s the point.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Alyssa Cole

Connect with Alyssa:

IG & TikTok: @doctor.cole

Blog: https://dailydoseofvita.blogspot.com/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Dr. Liz Malphrus, chief resident in plastic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, joins Surgeon, Interrupted to talk about what really matters in medicine today: authenticity, identity, and rewriting the old definitions of success. As a female surgeon in one of the most demanding specialties, Liz opens up about the challenges and triumphs of carving out her own path, reminding us that the journey is both deeply personal and profoundly collective.

She shares how her background as a violinist shapes her practice, why career paths don’t have to follow a rigid script, and how younger physicians, especially Gen Z, are shifting medicine toward well-being, inclusivity, and genuine connection.

From breaking down outdated notions of prestige to embracing the fluidity of self-identity, this conversation is about more than just surgery. It’s about reclaiming your narrative and building a medical culture where authenticity comes first.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Liz Malphrus, MD

Connect with Liz:

IG: @dr.malphrus

Website: https://www.lizmalphrusmd.com/

Substack: https://cutandtell.substack.com/

Views are Dr. Malphrus's own and do not represent her training program or institution

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Today, I’m stepping into something I never thought I’d allow myself: a sabbatical. After years of moving at full speed as a surgeon, I’ve finally built in a month to stop, to breathe, and to see what happens when I’m not buried under the weight of clinical responsibility.

This isn’t just a vacation. It’s a leap of faith I planned more than a year ago - trading call schedules for train tickets, clinic lists for café tables, and using every travel point I’ve hoarded to make it happen. For five weeks, I’ll wander Paris, the south of France, Milan, and Lugano. I’ll be chasing sunlight, quiet mornings, and maybe finally the ending of the book I’ve been writing for years.

In this episode, I share what it takes to actually step away, why most doctors never do, and how I’ve wrestled with giving myself permission to pause. We’ll talk about the logistics of planning a month abroad, the myth that you can’t afford to step off the treadmill, and the truth that you can’t afford not to.

Because sometimes, the bravest thing isn’t grinding harder—it’s daring to walk away, even just for a little while.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode, family physician and fellow HC member Dr. Joan Chan introduces the idea of Creating Space—a philosophy of time management and self-preservation that challenges the culture of overcommitment in medicine. Drawing from her experience during the pandemic, Joan explains the “75% rule”: the practice of deliberately leaving room in your schedule for the unexpected, for self-care, and for breathing space in a world that constantly demands more.

Together, we unpack the hidden costs of overcommitment, from burnout to moral distress, and explore why so many of us equate busyness with success. We examine the psychological hurdles that make it hard to step back - the scarcity mindset, the fear of falling behind, and how shifting these beliefs can unlock resilience and clarity.

The conversation moves beyond medicine, highlighting how Creating Space applies to every facet of life. By carving out room for rest, reflection, and flexibility, Joan argues, we not only protect our well-being but also show up more fully - at work, at home, and in the relationships that matter most.

This is an invitation to rethink how you spend your time, honor your limits, and embrace a more intentional, spacious way of living.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Joan Chan, MD

Connect with Joan:

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/joan-chan-md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when you follow every rule, secure the prestigious grant, build the academic career, only to have it all unravel?

In this powerful episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, I’m joined by Dr. Arghavan Salles, a bariatric surgeon and national leader in gender equity, physician well-being, and anti-bias reform in medicine. We talk about what it means to be a woman in a system that was never designed for us, and what it costs to try to change it from the inside.

Dr. Salles shares the personal impact of losing her NIH grant, the identity crisis that followed, and the painful reality of investing so much into a career that can feel so disposable. Together, we confront the systemic forces that push talented women out of medicine, the performative nature of many DEI efforts, and the urgent need for cultural transformation in healthcare.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever wondered: What if doing everything “right” still isn’t enough? And what if it’s not you that’s broken, but the system?

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD

Connect with Dr. Salles:

https://www.instagram.com/arghavansallesmd/

https://drarghavansalles.com/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when the career you once worked tirelessly for no longer feels like the life you want?

In this deeply honest episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, I sit down with Dr. Maggie Binder, a dear friend and seasoned pediatric hospitalist, to talk about what it really feels like to step away from medicine. Together, we reflect on the invisible weight that physicians carry - the guilt, the pressure to stay, the fear of disappointing others - and how hard it can be to imagine a different life when your identity has been built inside hospital walls.

We share raw stories from our medical training, examine the internal and external forces that make leaving feel like failure, and challenge the notion that walking away means giving up. Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is admit the truth: you want something else.

This episode is for anyone at a crossroads, anyone grieving a version of themselves they’re outgrowing, and anyone who needs to hear that leaving isn’t quitting - it’s choosing yourself.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Maggie Binder, MD

Connect with Frances Mei:

IG & TikTok: @francesmei.md

Produced by: Hippocratic Collective

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Dr. Mel Thacker to reflect on an unforgettable event co-hosted by the Hippocratic Collective, PearsonRavitz, and Clove—an evening crafted for resident physicians that became so much more than anyone expected. Together, they unpack how the night sparked connection, creativity, and a rare sense of belonging among young doctors. From conversations about identity beyond the white coat to the urgent need for community in medicine, this episode explores why joy, artistry, and human connection should be core to the physician experience—not afterthoughts. Tune in for an honest look at what happens when you give doctors the space to be fully themselves.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Mel Thacker, MD

Connect with Mel:

IG: @the_surgeon_coach/

https://www.melthackercoaching.com/empoweredsurgeon

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Event brought to you by PearsonRavitz: https://pearsonravitz.com/

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode, we dive into the Gervais Principle—a brutal but clarifying framework that uses The Office to decode real-world organizational dynamics. Whether you're in medicine, media, or any other power-laden system, this lens changes how you see the room you're in. We break down the three archetypes that shape every workplace: the sociopaths who pull the strings, the clueless who hold it all together, and the losers who opt out. Along the way, we explore the language of power—how people use posture talk, baby talk, and power talk to jockey for position or maintain control. This isn’t just theory. It’s a survival guide for anyone trying to navigate (or escape) dysfunctional systems with their integrity—and strategy—intact.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Colin Royal

Connect with Frances Mei:

IG & TikTok: @francesmei.md

Produced by @HippocraticCollective

What happens when you’ve invested years into a career, only to realize it’s no longer the right fit? In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, we sit down with Jaclyn Winkel to talk about second acts: the courage it takes to pivot, the stigma that surrounds leaving medicine, and how to reframe your skills for a new path. From confronting the sunk cost fallacy to building a growth mindset, this conversation is a must for anyone questioning what’s next. Whether you’re on the verge of change or just feeling stuck, this one’s for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Jaclyn Winkel (Jac At Work)

Follow Jac at Work:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jacatwork_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jacatwork

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Host Frances Mei Hardin sits down with Dr. Mel Thacker, ENT, surgeon coach and mindset expert, for a raw conversation about the stories we tell ourselves—and how they shape everything from imposter syndrome to ego, burnout, and healing.

Together they unpack the hidden beliefs that define identity in medicine: why so many surgeons build self-concepts on fear or perfection, how ego can masquerade as confidence, and what it takes to evolve beyond the profession that once defined you.

Tune in for an honest look at self-knowledge, ego death, and freedom after medicine.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Mel Thacker, MD

Connect with Mel: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/mel-thacker-md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode, we sit down with Sonia Lee, a world-class concert violinist who once stood at a crossroads familiar to many children of immigrants: medicine or music. With a surgeon father and a family legacy steeped in science, Sonia made the bold choice to carve her own path in the arts. She takes us behind the curtain of her training at Juilliard, opening up about the discipline, rejection, and grit required to survive in the classical music world. We talk about the weight of expectations, the freedom of forging your own identity, and what it really means to dedicate yourself to your craft. This one’s about more than music—it’s about choosing your life.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Sonia Lee

Connect with Sonia: https://www.sonialeeviolinist.com/

We're dropping a special episode this week to talk about something urgent: H.R. 1. This new bill could reshape American healthcare as we know it—and not for the better. Dr. Dominick DeFelice, a family and sports medicine physician, joins us fresh off a trip to Capitol Hill to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes and why every physician should be paying attention.

This conversation goes beyond politics. It’s about protecting patient care, speaking up before it’s too late, and realizing that physician advocacy isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential. Whether you’ve never called a legislator in your life or you’ve been in the advocacy trenches for years, this episode is a must-listen.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dominick DeFelice, MD

Connect with Dominick:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-defelice-md-caqsm-b5120360/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

I left surgery a year ago, and it completely flipped our lives upside down. In this episode, Colin (my husband) and I sit down to talk honestly about everything that came next. The identity crisis, the weird in-between, the fear, the freedom… and how we ended up building the Hippocratic Collective. This isn’t some polished success story - it’s about what it really feels like to walk away from medicine and try to build something new from scratch. If you’ve ever wondered what life looks like after the white coat, or if you’re stuck between staying and leaving, this one’s for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

It's time for some big sister energy - take a seat and let your medicine big sisters give you a pep talk.

This week, Frances Mei sits down with the thoughtful and confident Dr. Iya Agha for a conversation about fear - not the kind that paralyzes you, but the kind that cracks you open and pushes you forward. As Iya gets ready to start residency, she shares how embracing vulnerability has helped her grow, as a physician, and as a person.

They talk about the things that actually sustain you in medicine: honest friendships, good mentorship, and knowing who you are outside the hospital. It's a conversation about holding space, for yourself and for others, and about choosing to be someone who lifts instead of drains. If you're feeling the weight of transitions or the pressure to hold it all together, this episode is a reminder: you're not alone, and you don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Iya Agha, DO

Connect with Iya:

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/iya-agha-do

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

This week on Surgeon, Interrupted, host Frances Mei sits down with rising chief resident and ENT surgeon Dr. Shreya Sharma to unpack what it’s really like dating as a woman in medicine. From scrubbing out to swipe fatigue, we talk about the unique challenges of finding love (or even just a decent situationship) while navigating the high-stakes world of surgical training.

We get honest about control issues, time scarcity, and the emotional calculus behind choosing who gets your post-call energy. Why are female surgeons still treated like novelties on dating apps? How do we stay soft when the job demands steel? And is it possible to build something real when your calendar is booked four months out?

This episode isn’t just about dating—it’s about identity, vulnerability, and learning to show up for yourself and someone else in the midst of a career that doesn’t leave much room for either.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Shreya Sharma, MD

Connect with Shreya:

https://www.instagram.com/shreya.sharma.md/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What if being a doctor was just one chapter of your story, not the whole book? In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, I sit down with Ryan Montoya, MD - a physician who defies every box. Currently the Physician Medical Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, Ryan has worn, and continues to wear, as many hats as a single person can wear. Professional comic book artist, former Associate Medical Director of Planned Parenthood in Washington, DC, community healthcare provider in Bosnia and Herzegovina and India, luggage designer for Goyard (!)...the list goes on.

We talk about curiosity as a compass, walking away from linear paths, and the underrated joy of being a beginner again. If you’ve ever wondered what else you’re allowed to be... this one's for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Ryan Montoya, MD

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/ryan-montoya-md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

I sat down with my husband, Colin, to talk about what it’s really been like to leave medicine and how it’s changed both of us. We go back to the beginning: falling in love while I was still in training, the pressure cooker of surgical residency, and what finally pushed me to walk away. Colin shares what it was like to watch me come apart and put myself back together again, and I open up about the fear, the freedom, and everything in between. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after you quit the thing you thought would define your whole life, this episode is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to @HippocraticCollective on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

I recorded this episode from the Ozarks, once an escape from residency but now a backdrop for something deeper.

In this solo reflection, I talk about what it’s really like to leave practice after years of surviving medicine. I share why I came back to a place marked by old traumas, how it feels to finally travel on my own terms, and what it means to “choose you hard” - especially when it’s the harder choice.

I also peel back the curtain and discuss my new life of travel, work and figuring it out along the way.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to @HippocraticCollective on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Frances Mei and Lauren Umstattd, MD deliver a poignant and introspective episode from the tranquil poolside of Napa Valley, where they reflect on the evolution of their friendship and the trials of their surgical careers. Their dialogue is imbued with warmth and sincerity as they revisit the early days of their acquaintance, recalling the significance of their meeting during a residency graduation party. This recollection serves as a foundation for their exploration of the arduous journey through surgical training, filled with both triumphs and tribulations. The authenticity of their friendship shines through as they exchange heartfelt sentiments, celebrating each other's resilience and accomplishments in a demanding profession.

As the conversation unfolds, Frances Mei and Lauren dive into the societal challenges faced by female surgeons, discussing the often-overlooked emotional toll that surgical residency can impose. They share personal anecdotes that illuminate the pressures of maintaining professionalism amidst the chaos of rigorous training, while also highlighting the importance of solidarity among women in medicine. Their candid reflections serve to foster a greater understanding of the unique experiences of female surgeons, encouraging dialogue about the necessity of support systems in navigating their careers.

In a delightful interlude, the pair introduces a drinking game centered on their shared experiences, which adds a playful element to their serious discourse. This blend of humor and sincerity enriches the episode, showcasing the dynamic between the two speakers while emphasizing the significance of camaraderie in their professional lives. As they look ahead to future endeavors, Frances and Lauren express their commitment to uplifting the voices of women in surgery, advocating for a community where open conversations about challenges and successes can flourish. By sharing their journey, they inspire listeners to embrace the complexities of their own paths, fostering a sense of connection and empowerment within the medical community.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

Connect with Lauren on Instagram & Tiktok @lauren_umstattd_md

And subscribe to @HippocraticCollective on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Frances Mei and Tony Chin-Quee discuss their exclusive Dropout Club - 2 ENTs who finished residency, worked a single 3-year contract, then left clinical medicine for good. They explore the culture around leaving medicine and what the reactions and feedback have been for Frances Mei - leading to a round of 'Ex-Surgeon Reads Mean Tweets.' Finally they wrap up with Spooky Ghost Stories from the Hospital.

Surgeon, Interrupted is a new podcast taking you behind the scenes of Frances Mei's journey from young surgeon with promise and a full career in surgery ahead of her, to a drastic pivot out of medicine and into something completely different. This is a show for anyone who has felt uncertain about their career of life choices and wants to see and hear exactly how one person is starting the journey. This is will be a real time account of how the decisions were made, the wins and losses along the way, and everything in between.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & TikTok @francesmeimd

Connect with Tony Chin-Quee on Instagram @wheyouat and find his best-selling book 'I Can't Save You' here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676638/i-cant-save-you-by-anthony-chin-quee/9780593418888

And Subscribe to @HippocraticCollective on Youtube for all of the other great shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context

02:42 The Decision to Leave Medicine

05:37 Mean Tweets and Public Perception

08:51 Partnerships and Personal Choices

11:42 Navigating Criticism and Expectations

14:41 The Journey of Medical Training

17:42 Finding Fulfillment Outside of Medicine

20:53 Addressing Misconceptions and Regrets

23:38 The Nature of Quitting and Resilience

29:37 The Decision to Move On

35:51 The Impact of Vulnerability

52:35 Life After Medicine

What happens when medicine meets art? In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Frances Mei sits down with Dr. Ryan Montoya to explore the growing field of Graphic Medicine — where comics and storytelling are used to share powerful experiences from the world of healthcare.

Together, they unpack how visual storytelling can make medical experiences more human, accessible, and emotionally resonant — for both patients and clinicians. From burnout and recovery to empathy and education, Ryan explains how creating and reading comics can help us better understand what it means to heal.

Dr. Montoya also shares his own journey as a physician and artist, offering insights for anyone curious about starting creative projects in medicine. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a patient, or a fan of narrative art, this conversation will change the way you see stories in medicine.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Ryan Montoya, MD

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/ryan-montoya-md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/08/stay-true-to-yourself-fly-closer-sun-what-ive-learned-from-50-years-of-rejection

00:25 Welcoming Dr. Ryan Montoya

04:36 The Transition to Graphic Medicine

07:51 Navigating Personal Interactions and Social Discomfort

20:02 The Evolution of Storytelling in Graphic Medicine

23:04 The Importance of Trust in Writing

30:53 The Pain of Rejection in Creative Pursuits

40:41 The Journey of Starting Now

Abhilasha joins Surgeon, Interrupted to share her story as an international medical graduate, model, and soon-to-be resident—challenging the narrow ideas of what a “serious doctor” looks like. From growing up in India with Air Force parents to researching hepatology at Duke and navigating the U.S. Match, she’s learned to balance medicine with creativity, confidence, and self-care.

Together, we unpack how women in medicine can reject judgment, keep their hobbies, and still be taken seriously. Abhilasha talks about her modeling journey, dealing with criticism, and finding power in doing both.

Topics include:

• The IMG experience and applying for residency in the U.S.
• Modeling, self-image, and bias in medicine
• Why hobbies matter for burnout prevention
• The cultural shift toward multidimensional doctors

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Abhilasha K

Connect with Abhilasha: @kato_nato

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

00:00 – Intro: Meet Abhilasha

Frances Mei introduces Abhilasha — an international medical graduate from India, researcher at Duke, and model redefining what a doctor looks like.

02:00 – From India to Duke: The IMG Journey

Abhilasha shares her path from med school in India to research in gastroenterology and hepatology at Duke University.

06:00 – When Mentors Said “Hide It”

Frances Mei reflects on being told to leave modeling off her application — and the double standards women face in medicine.

08:00 – Beauty, Bias, and Early Criticism

Abhilasha recounts how body comments and early discouragement shaped her confidence — and why she kept pursuing modeling anyway.

10:00 – A Medical Emergency Before Step 2

The story of an unexpected anaphylactic shock right before her exam — and what it taught her about the U.S. healthcare system.

13:00 – Making Modeling Part of Medicine

Abhilasha explains how she lists modeling in her residency application — and how program directors actually respond.

16:00 – When Hobbies Save You From Burnout

Frances Mei and Abhilasha discuss how creative outlets like modeling and dance can prevent burnout and make better doctors.

19:00 – Judgment and Authenticity Online

The reality of being a visible doctor on social media — from criticism to reclaiming your identity.

23:00 – Why Some Doctors Lose Their Hobbies

Frances Mei opens up about losing herself during residency — and how she sees a new generation doing it differently.

25:00 – Culture Shift: Medicine Meets Art

Abhilasha talks about finding community with other creative physicians like @dancingurodoc and how that changed her outlook.

30:00 – Skills That Overlap: Modeling and Medicine

Adaptability, presence, teamwork — how modeling unexpectedly sharpened her clinical skills.

33:00 – Toxic Mentors and “Malignant” Programs

Abhilasha shares the story of a rotation gone wrong — and what it revealed about power in medicine.

36:00 – The Doctors We Want to Be

What good mentorship looks like, why approachability matters, and how some doctors inspire change just by being kind.

38:30 – Abhilasha’s Parting Wisdom

Her message to all future doctors: make time for yourself, protect your peace, and remember — people will talk either way.

41:00 – Closing Thoughts: Give Them Something Good to Talk About

Frances Mei wraps up with a reflection on confidence, culture, and redefining what it means to be a “serious” doctor.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, oral and maxillofacial surgery resident Dr. Claudia Dukler shares her journey as a first-generation Ukrainian American and the daughter of a dentist who inspired her path. She reflects on the balance between compassion and confidence in surgical culture, pushing back against the idea that kindness is weakness. From navigating a male-dominated specialty to staying grounded in her identity, Dr. Dukler offers an honest look at what it means to lead — and care — in modern medicine.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Claudia Dukler, D.D.S.

Connect with Claudia: https://www.instagram.com/claudiadukler

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

After nearly a decade in surgery, I finally stepped away — not just from the operating room, but from the version of myself that could only feel safe inside control. This episode of Surgeon, Interrupted is about what happened when I stopped performing productivity and let my nervous system breathe for the first time in years.

For thirty days, I wandered through Europe — Paris, Nice, Lugano, Milan — without a set itinerary or a defined goal. What began as a sabbatical became something deeper: a full-body reset. I learned that healing doesn’t always happen in silence or stillness; sometimes it happens when you let novelty and beauty rewire the way your body experiences safety.

In this episode, I unpack what it means to:

• Let go of rigid timetables and trust spontaneity again
• Disconnect from the endless stimulation of the digital world
• Discover the difference between necessity and desire
• Recalibrate a nervous system shaped by years of hypervigilance and performance
• Reclaim a sense of peace that isn’t conditional on achievement

This is not a travel vlog. It’s an autopsy of being in the wrong career and a love letter to what remains after the unraveling — a reminder that rest can be radical, that stillness can be learned, and that healing sometimes begins not when you return home, but when you allow yourself to get lost.

If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if you stopped trying to control every outcome, or if you’ve felt trapped in the rhythm of “always on,” this story is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Following Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei Hardin, MD sits down with Natasha Singareddy, a first-year medical student and Hippocratic Collective intern, to talk about medicine as both an art and an unfinished product. Natasha shares why she chose medicine after experiences in digital health startups, how she leans on gut instinct even when it’s imperfect, and what it means to create guardrails that protect identity and curiosity during training.

They also explore love and relationships in medicine - why “parallel pedigree” expectations are outdated, what it means to have a partner outside of medicine, and how the right relationship can regulate your nervous system instead of draining it.

This conversation is a reminder that being a great physician starts with preserving your own humanity—your values, your creativity, your relationships, and your trust in yourself.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Natasha Singareddy

Connect with Natasha:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-singareddy/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What does it mean to navigate medicine as the eldest daughter of immigrants, a perfectionist student, and now a chief resident in radiation oncology?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Christina Huang shares her journey from shy, rule-following child to confident physician leader. We talk about the realities of pre-med pressure, navigating med school and board exams, and the pivot from wanting to be a surgeon to finding her place in radiation oncology.

We cover:

– Eldest daughter dynamics and the weight of expectations

– The pressure cooker of pre-med and med school perfectionism

– Burnout, identity crises, and why “pivots” in medicine aren’t failures

– Discovering radiation oncology (and what brachytherapy really is)

– The power of grassroots culture change in residency and beyond

Dr. Huang’s story is a reminder that medicine is never a straight path, and that the real strength comes from looking inward, owning your decisions, and helping to create a healthier culture for those who follow.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Christina Huang, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What does it look like to grow up, and grow together, through residency, marriage, and building a life outside of medicine?

In this special anniversary episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei and her husband Colin celebrate nine years since their very first date. They reflect on their engagement, early struggles during residency, and the evolution of their relationship through career pivots, personal growth, and life transitions.

They talk about:

– The reality behind their engagement story (and a golden-hour fight before the proposal)

– Why honesty, direct communication, and not taking things personally became cornerstones of their relationship

– How they navigated the chaos of residency and self-discovery as a couple

– The importance of trust, humor, and simply enjoying each other’s company over time

– Why “interesting” might be the most important trait Colin ever looked for in a partner

This is a candid, funny, and deeply personal conversation about partnership, growth, and what it means to choose each other, over and over again, for nearly a decade.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode, Frances Mei sits down with the Gen Z Attending, Bright Zhou, for a conversation that slices straight into the cultural fault lines of modern medicine. They unpack why so many attending physicians are burning out—not because of clinical load, but because they’re employed physicians who refuse to see themselves as such. They explore generational ego, immigrant patient dynamics, patriarchal expectations from both patients and colleagues, and why Gen Z clinicians are opting out of the “medicine as martyrdom” model altogether.

From the service-industry analogy that makes older doctors nauseous, to the rise of resident unions, to the impossible fantasy of “total control” in employed practice, Bright reframes the future: less ego, more collective action, more boundaries, more transparency. They also dive into how AI, social media, and patient education are quietly expanding the 20-minute visit far beyond the clinic walls.

If you’ve ever wondered why the old guard is furious and the new guard is thriving—or why your attending seems personally offended you don’t want surgery—this is your episode.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Bright Zhou, MD, MS

Connect with Bright: @genzattending

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei Hardin sits down with Stephanie Pearson, MD, a former OB-GYN whose medical career ended abruptly after a devastating workplace injury.

What followed wasn’t just the loss of surgery or obstetrics—it was the loss of identity.

After being injured during a patient delivery, dismissed by early providers, and ultimately terminated when she could no longer perform 100% of her job duties, Stephanie found herself forced out of clinical medicine entirely. Overnight, “Dr. Pearson” became “former doctor,” with no roadmap for what came next.

In this deeply honest conversation, Stephanie shares:

1. What it’s like to be forced out of medicine when you're about to become Chair—not burned out, not ready, not choosing to leave
2. The psychological fallout of losing a physician identity overnight
3. Chronic pain, disability, and the silence around injured doctors
4. Why disability insurance failures nearly cost her everything
5. How she rebuilt a second career—and a sense of purpose—outside of medicine
6. The friendships medicine quietly replaces, and the grief that comes after
7. Why no one prepares doctors for who they are without the white coat

This episode is for physicians, trainees, and healthcare professionals grappling with identity, loss, reinvention, or the unspoken truth that medicine does not always love you back.

If you’ve ever wondered who you’d be if medicine disappeared tomorrow—this conversation is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Stephanie Pearson, MD

Connect with Stephanie: @drstephaniepearson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepearsonmd/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this holiday episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei is joined by her husband, Colin, for a candid, unfiltered conversation about what life actually looks like after leaving clinical medicine.

It’s Frances Mei's first holiday season in nearly a decade not on call, and the absence of the hospital brings both relief and reckoning.

Together, they talk about:

1. The strange quiet of the first holiday season outside medicine
2. How residency and surgical training shape work habits long after you leave
3. “Revenge sleeping,” productivity guilt, and unlearning survival mode
4. Why leaving medicine doesn’t magically create balance
5. Treating the nervous system as an asset—not an afterthought
6. What partners see when physicians finally slow down
7. Why intentional rest is harder than relentless work

This episode isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about the in-between: learning how to live without call schedules, rediscovering time, and building a life that doesn’t revolve around crisis.

For anyone spending the holidays at the hospital—or spending their first holidays away from it—this conversation is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Colin Royal

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What if surgical training didn’t require fear, exhaustion, or constant availability?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Paris-based neurosurgeon Dr. Samiya Abi Jaoude to explore how surgical culture in France differs radically from the U.S.—and what American medicine might learn from it.

They unpack the surprisingly flat hierarchy of French surgical training, where residents and attendings use first names, collaboration is the norm, and rigid power structures are less likely to enable bullying. Dr. Abi Jaoude also explains France’s legally protected “right to disconnect,” a cultural and institutional commitment that allows physicians to truly log off after hours—without penalty.

This conversation isn’t about romanticizing another system. It’s about asking harder questions:

What actually keeps surgeons safe, functional, and humane over a lifetime?

And what parts of American surgical culture are traditions—not necessities?

A candid, comparative look at hierarchy, boundaries, burnout, and what sustainable excellence could really look like in medicine.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Samiya Abi Jaoude, MD, MSc

Connect with Samiya: @dr.samiya.abijaoude

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with writer and comedian Joel Walkowski—a man whose life contains multitudes: stand-up, screenwriting, sobriety coaching, and an unwavering devotion to The Lions. With his debut book Honolulu Blues arriving July 2026, Joel brings a worldview that medical professionals rarely get to hear but desperately need.

Together they talk about what happens when high-achieving people (doctors, comics, anyone trained to perform on command) learn to compartmentalize so well that they forget how to feel. Joel opens up about addiction, the radical work of getting sober, and why honesty is the only real antidote to burnout. They explore the quiet crisis underneath medicine’s polished surface: the coping mechanisms that get reinforced, the emotions that get buried, and the way humor can become both a lifeline and a shield.

They also dive into the friendships that keep us alive, why doctors need non-medical people in their orbit, and how vulnerability becomes its own kind of superpower.

This is a conversation about comedy, writing, coping, connection, and the freedom that comes from finally telling the truth.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Joel Walkowski

Connect with Joel: @joelwalkowski

Find his book, Honolulu Blues, available for pre-order now: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Honolulu-Blues/Joel-Walkowski/9781637749043

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to  ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩  on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances sits down with Helena (A.YoungDoctors.Journey), an emergency medicine physician redefining what early attending life can look like.

Fresh out of residency, she chose a path many physicians are warned against: full-time locum tenens work. What follows is an honest, nuanced conversation about autonomy, uncertainty, and what it means to build a career outside the traditional script.

They unpack:

1. The hidden fear of showing up online as a physician
2. Why “freedom of time” became non-negotiable
3. The reality of 1099 vs W-2 (explained simply)
4. Early attending insecurity—and why it’s universal
5. The myth that more years = better doctor
6. Travel, money, and the unexpected perks of locums
7. And the deeper question: what are you choosing by staying where you are?

This is not a pitch for leaving medicine—or for locums.

It’s a conversation about choice, agency, and expanding what feels possible.

Because the goal isn’t one path.

It’s knowing you have options.

A.YoungDoctors.Journey is an emergency medicine physician and recent residency graduate, and spends far too much of her free time posting about life in medicine on social media.

She completed medical school in Budapest and matched as a US-IMG. Currently, she’s doing locum tenens full-time and is learning how to navigate finances, entrepreneurship and attending life as a 1099 contractor.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: A.YoungDoctors.Journey

Connect with Helena: @a.youngdoctors.journey

www.ayoungdoctorsjourney.com

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei speaks with physician, writer, and documentary filmmaker Jessica Zitter, MD, whose work explores some of the most difficult, and most human, moments in medicine.

Dr. Zitter first gained international recognition through the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary Extremis, which captured the emotional reality of end-of-life care inside the ICU. Since then, she has continued to use storytelling to challenge the culture of modern medicine.

Together, Frances and Jessica discuss:

• How physicians become powerful storytellers

• Why medical culture often silences trainees

• The toxic hierarchies embedded in healthcare training

• The emotional toll of ICU and end-of-life care

• Why compassion, communication, and palliative care principles should exist in every specialty—not just palliative medicine

Jessica also shares the story behind her newest documentary, The Chaplain and the Doctor, which follows her 15-year collaboration with a hospital chaplain and explores spirituality, bias, and humanity at the bedside.

This conversation explores how storytelling can transform medicine—from the ICU to the operating room—and why speaking honestly about medical culture may be the first step toward changing it.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Jessica Zitter, MD, MPH

Connect with Jessica: @jessicazitter

reelmedicinemedia.org

thechaplainandthedoctor.com

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

Jessica Zitter, MD, MPH is a documentary filmmaker, writer, physician, and founder of Reel Medicine Media, a non-profit devoted to using story to transform and humanize medical culture. Dr. Zitter is the primary featured subject and a member of the team that created the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary “Extremis (2016).”

She went on to direct and produce the award-winning documentary “Caregiver: A Love Story (2020),” which examines the growing crisis of family caregiver burden in the United States. Her third documentary, “The Chaplain & The Doctor (2025)” explores the transformative relationship between a hospital chaplain and a physician challenging the fragmented clinical approach to patient care. Dr. Zitter’s book, “Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life” (2017), describes her evolution from a doctor focused on extending life at all costs to one more patient-centered and humanistic.

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

On this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei Hardin, MD is joined by Alan Chien, MD, a pediatrics resident and lifelong magician practicing in Los Angeles.

What begins as a conversation about magic quickly opens into something more expansive: identity formation in medical training, the quiet pressure to abandon creativity, and what it means to remain in relation—to patients, to others, and to oneself—inside a system that often rewards self-erasure.

Alan reflects on growing up as an only child, discovering magic as a grounding force, and carrying that creative identity through medical school and residency. He shares how performing magic—whether for hospitalized children, co-residents, or strangers in a bar—has shaped his understanding of connection, wellness, and presence. Together, they explore mentorship that protects wholeness rather than performance, the guilt trainees feel around non-medical passions, and why tolerating both the highs and lows of residency—not constant happiness—is the real work of staying well.

This episode is a meditation on refusing to flatten oneself in training, on staying three-dimensional inside medicine, and on the radical act of not giving up the thing that made you human in the first place.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Alan Chien, MD

Connect with Alan: alanchien.com

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Mohini Dasari, MD—a general surgeon and writer—who speaks candidly about one of the most taboo topics in medicine: leaving a surgical fellowship mid-training.

Mohini shares what led her to step away seven months into a transplant fellowship, the quiet suffering that preceded that decision, and how shame, identity fusion, and “just push through” culture keep physicians trapped long past the point of health. Together, Frances and Mohini unpack the myths we’re taught in training—that it will all be worth it later, that attending life fixes everything, and that wanting something different means failure.

This conversation explores:

1. Why surgeons are encouraged in… and abandoned once they’re in
2. The difference between what’s “possible” and what’s healthy
3. Motherhood, medicine, and the cost of suppressed humanity
4. Shame as a hidden driver of physician burnout and exits
5. Why careers don’t have to be linear—and why medicine resists that truth
6. Reclaiming joy, creativity, and identity beyond the operating room

Mohini also discusses returning to writing after years away and her debut novel releasing January 13, a coming-of-age story rooted in heritage, dance, and self-reclamation.

This episode is for medical students, residents, attendings, and anyone questioning the life they were told would finally make sense “on the other side.”

🎧 Listen if you’ve ever wondered:

What if the problem isn’t me—but the story I was told about this career?

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Mohini Dasari, MD

Connect with Mohini: @modawrites

https://www.mohinidasari.com/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

n this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with urology resident and social media creator Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD—often known online as the internet’s favorite “dancing urologist.”

What begins with viral TikToks and Kardashian-style medical skits quickly turns into a deeper conversation about advocacy, physician voice, and the hidden curriculum of medical training. Maheetha explains how humor and creativity can be used to deliver serious health education—what Frances Mei calls “putting the medicine in the cheese.”

Together they explore:

• How doctors can use social media to educate patients

• The power of visibility for women and minorities in surgical specialties

• Why medicine’s hidden curriculum—not anatomy or pathophysiology—is often what breaks trainees

• Advocacy burnout and how physicians stay engaged without losing hope

• Why collaboration—not competition—may be the future of medicine

Maheetha also shares how her work now extends beyond Instagram and TikTok to state and national policy advocacy, speaking directly with legislators about issues affecting patient care.

This conversation is about creativity, courage, and the evolving role of physicians in public life—and why the next generation of doctors may change medicine by speaking out.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD

Connect with Maheetha: @dancing_uro_doc

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/maheetha-bharadwaj-md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when the dream you chased your whole life stops feeling like yours?

This week on Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Sarah Rav — former doctor, former McKinsey consultant, and now a positioning and content strategist helping professionals build powerful personal brands.

Sarah shares her journey from direct-entry medical school in Australia to corporate consulting, and ultimately to walking away from prestige entirely. Together, they unpack:

• The pressure of immigrant expectations and “safe” careers

• Prestige addiction and socially acceptable success

• The sunk cost fallacy in medicine

• Transferable skills doctors underestimate

• Why visibility matters more than hard work outside the hospital

• Dealing with online criticism (and why backlash can mean growth)

• The concept of being “brave scared”

If you’ve ever wondered whether the path you’re on is truly yours — or just the one you were taught to want — this episode will feel like permission.

As Sarah says:

"This is my rebirth. I decide who I am, how I show up, and what I leave behind."

You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Sarah Rav

Connect with Sarah:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rav/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahrav/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Sarah Rav is a former medical doctor and McKinsey consultant turned Positioning & Content Strategist. Sarah has spent over 13 years building an audience of more than three million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn by helping professionals clarify their message, build powerful brands, and create new opportunities beyond traditional career paths.

After stepping away from medicine and consulting, Sarah now shares what it really takes to stop letting external expectations dictate your life, to lovingly release identities that once served you, and to find the courage to pursue work that feels aligned and expansive. Through her work, she shows how building a personal brand can give professionals real agency, enabling them to pivot careers successfully, confidently, and on their own terms.

Today is February 24th — release day.

Frances Mei and Colin sit down on the eve of launch to talk about what it feels like to finally let Surgeon on the Edge go. After three years of drafting, redrafting, anger, resistance, breakthroughs, and letting go of control, the book is no longer a mirror — it’s an old photograph.

In this intimate conversation, they unpack:

1. Why the first draft “wasn’t true”
2. How anger transformed into clarity
3. What it means to create art without controlling its reception
4. Why writing the book changed Frances Mei more than publishing it ever could
5. The difference between being an “angry person” and being overwhelmed
6. The real breakthrough (spoiler: there wasn’t just one)

They also talk book tour, color-coded Canva calendars, cozy gaming optimization strategies, and why sometimes you need someone who knows who you are — and will break it to you gently.

The book is out today. The work is finished. The interpretation is not.

You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Order Surgeon on the Edge now: https://www.amazon.com/Surgeon-Edge-Frances-Mei-Hardin/dp/B0G3JWCCH4

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

This week on Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances sits down with her oldest friend—Executive Pastry Chef Rebecca Freeman—to talk about what happens when your childhood dream actually comes true… and it’s still hard.

Becky is the Executive Pastry Chef at Coyote Café and Santacafé in Santa Fe, a National Pastry Chef of the Year, and a multi–40 Under 40 award winner. She knew at five years old she wanted to be a chef. Frances Mei? Not so much.

Together, they unpack:

1. The brutal reality behind The Bear (spoiler: it’s not exaggerated)
2. Crying in the walk-in vs. crying in the call room
3. Working 400 days in a row to outrun imposter syndrome
4. Why high-achieving women panic after success instead of celebrating
5. How toxic training environments mirror dysfunctional families
6. And what it looks like to break the cycle when you finally become the leader

This is a conversation about abuse in elite professions—kitchens and operating rooms alike. About ambition. About ego. About emotional regulation. And about the strange truth that sometimes the job you begged the universe for still makes you question yourself.

If you’ve ever achieved the dream and still thought, What’s next? Why am I not satisfied? — this one’s for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Chef Rebecca Freeman

Connect with Rebecca:

IG: @chefbckyfreeman

https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/rebecca-freeman-santa-fe-pastry-chef/

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/glaze-of-glory-club-at-las-campanas-executive-pastry-chef-wins-national-culinary-prize/article_a42250e2-517e-11ee-87d2-bbbea92e1dac.html

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What if the most radical thing you could do in medicine wasn’t being tougher, but being more human?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with The ICU Doctor to talk about identity, intuition, and breaking the unspoken rules of medical culture. From immigrant roots and imposter syndrome to building clinical “spidey sense,” digital medical education, and creating work environments that actually put people at ease, this conversation is a masterclass in reclaiming humanity inside the hospital.

They unpack unhinged resident stories, intimidating attendings, reframing survival during training, and why asking someone “who’s your best friend?” might be more disruptive than any policy reform.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt flattened by hierarchy—and still believes medicine can be better.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: The ICU Doctor

Connect: https://www.instagram.com/theicudoctor1/

https://www.tiktok.com/@theicudoctor1

And check out all of The ICU Doctor's materials and books at https://icudoctor.gumroad.com/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with bestselling author and former television producer Audrey Bellezza to talk about reinvention—professionally, creatively, and existentially.

Audrey spent decades in television, rising from a Food Network intern to showrunner and development executive before pivoting (multiple times) into authorship. During the pandemic, she co-wrote a bestselling Jane Austen–inspired rom-com trilogy—only to be diagnosed shortly thereafter with stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

Together, Frances and Audrey explore:

1. What portfolio careers really look like over decades—not highlight reels
2. Why transferable skills matter more than titles
3. How women navigate pivots after investing years into a single identity
4. Creative partnership, pitching, and betting on yourself
5. Using storytelling and advocacy to build something meaningful in the face of uncertainty

Audrey also shares the story behind Love for Lungs, the nonprofit she co-founded to fund research and raise awareness for ALK-positive lung cancer, and details their upcoming Galentine’s Day fundraiser.

This is a conversation about ambition, failure, partnership, illness, and permission—to change your mind, your career, and your life.

Because no experience is wasted. And you can pivot as many times as you need to.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Audrey Bellezza

Connect with Audrey: @audreybellezzawrites

Love4Lungs: https://www.love4lungs.org/

Anne of Avenue A: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anne-of-Avenue-A/Audrey-Bellezza/For-the-Love-of-Austen/9781668097656

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

Dr. Red Hoffman is a surgeon, hospice physician, and writer whose career has never followed a straight line—and whose life was radically reshaped by grief, chronic illness, and unexpected loss. In this episode, we talk about starting over more than once, entering medicine later in life, and what happens when your body forces you to renegotiate your identity as a physician.

Red shares her journey through trauma, long COVID, POTS, and partial clinical practice—and how diversification, honesty, and courage helped her build a career that still includes surgery, but on her own terms. We discuss the myth of the “wasted spot,” false equivalencies in medical training, why unpaid work sometimes matters, and how culture actually changes: slowly, one person at a time.

This conversation is for anyone questioning alignment, resisting change, living with chronic illness, or wondering if it’s too late—or too risky—to choose differently.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Red Hoffman

Connect with Dr. Red:

https://redhoffmanmd.com/

@redmdnd

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when a doctor decides she doesn’t need more money - she needs more peace?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Claire Oduwo to talk about choosing a “soft life” after medical training—and why that phrase is wildly misunderstood in medicine. Claire shares her path from Kenya to Nebraska to the Pacific Northwest, how her immigrant upbringing shaped her relationship with work and money, and why working part-time as a psychiatrist was a deliberate, values-driven choice—not a failure.

Together, they unpack:

1. Why physicians are conditioned to operate at 500% (and why anything less feels uncomfortable)
2. How money becomes a stand-in for validation after years of sacrifice
3. The stigma doctors face when they step outside the expected hierarchy
4. Why surgeons struggle so deeply with emotional regulation—and what psychiatry does differently
5. How chaos can feel “normal” to our nervous systems, even when it’s harming us

This is a conversation about identity, shame, creativity, and the courage it takes to choose a life that actually fits—especially when other people don’t understand it.

If you’ve ever thought, I worked this hard—shouldn’t I want more?

This episode might help you ask a better question.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Dr. Claire

Connect with Dr. Claire:

IG: @drclaireomd

Tiktok: @drclaireo

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What happens when life doesn’t wait for training to end?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with ENT surgeon Dr. Kelly Schmidt to talk about a reality rarely discussed in medicine: navigating fertility, miscarriage, and pregnancy during residency.

What begins as a straightforward plan to “just have a baby” quickly becomes something else—cycles that don’t work, loss that doesn’t pause training, and the disorienting experience of trying to solve a problem that effort alone can’t fix.

Kelly shares her story openly—from miscarrying while on call to continuing to work through grief, to eventually building a path forward with fertility treatment and advocacy.

This episode covers:

• Trying to conceive during residency
• Miscarriage while on call—and returning to work
• The emotional toll of infertility in high-achievers
• What actually helps (and what doesn’t) when supporting someone
• Navigating FMLA and time off during training
• How to advocate for yourself in a rigid system

If you’ve ever felt like medicine leaves no room for real life—this conversation is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Kelly Schmidt, MD

Connect with Kelly: @kschmidt93

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What if the moment that almost broke you… was the one that made everything possible?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances sits down with cornea specialist Dr. Imane Tarib to unpack a journey that spans continents, identities, and nearly two decades of training.

From medical school in Morocco to starting over in the United States as an IMG, Imane shares what it actually takes to rebuild a career from scratch—learning a new system, navigating isolation, and studying for the USMLE for 18 months… only to fail.

But this isn’t a story about failure.

It’s about what happens after.

They talk about:

• The reality of being an IMG and immigrant in U.S. medicine
• The psychological impact of failure—and how to reframe it
• The hidden cost of “starting over” after already becoming a doctor
• Love, long distance, and choosing a life that wasn’t the original plan
• Why success often looks effortless—but never is

Imane’s story challenges the myth of the “straight path” in medicine—and replaces it with something more honest: persistence, reinvention, and the courage to keep going when nothing feels certain.

Because sometimes the long way is the only way.

And sometimes, it’s the right one.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Imane Tarib, MD

Connect with Imane:

- Instagram: @imanetarib.md

- TikTok: @imanetarib.md

- LinkedIn: Imane Tarib, MD

- YouTube: @RealImaneTaribMD

Imane Tarib, MD, is a cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Imane is an International Medical Graduate from Morocco who trained at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat before completing three research fellowships and two advanced Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery fellowships at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Palm Beach Gardens.

Her academic focus includes corneal disease, refractive cataract surgery, and global ophthalmology. Her work also explores the intersection of medicine, mentorship, and advocacy for international medical graduates and women in medicine. Through her social media platforms, she shares insights into medical training, career growth, and building a meaningful life in and outside of medicine.

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

And subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.