Surgeon, Interrupted

Hippocratic Collective
  • 5.0 (21)
  • MEDICINE

A raw, reality-style podcast following Dr. Frances Mei Hardin’s final months as a surgeon and her bold leap into the unknown. Through solo episodes and unfiltered guest convos, it captures the chaos, clarity, and courage of walking away from a “dream career” to choose something better. For high-achievers, burnt-out professionals, and anyone ready to rewrite the rules - this isn’t just a show. It’s a permission slip. Find more info about Surgeon, Interrupted and other shows on the Hippocratic Collective at hippocratic-collective.com

  1. 3D AGO

    Janitor to Doctor: Shay Taylor’s Journey to Yale Anesthesia

    In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Dr. Shay Taylor—newly matched at Yale Anesthesiology, and a story that has gone viral around the world. But this is not just a “feel-good” story. This is a conversation about what it actually takes to get there: the years of working full-time while in school, the rejection, the debt, the doubt, and the mindset required to keep going when everything says stop. Shay shares what it means to build a career without mentorship, to start medicine later than everyone else, and to keep moving forward after being told, directly, that she would never make it. This episode is about resilience, but not in a polished, curated way. It’s about crash outs, losses, and choosing to continue anyway. In this episode, we discuss: Shay’s journey from janitor to physicianMatching into Yale Anesthesia after a nontraditional pathWhat it’s like to pursue medicine without guidance or resourcesWorking full-time while completing undergrad and a master’sBeing told “medical school isn’t for you”—and continuing anywayThe reality of failure (“the L’s”) in medical trainingHow to handle rejection without quittingDelayed gratification, debt, and why medicine has to be personalSocial media, professionalism, and the “new generation” of doctorsWhy patients may actually want more human—not less—in their physicians Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD Guest: Dr. Shay Taylor Connect with Shay: @shayy.taylor 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.

    36 min

  2. MAR 31

    The Match Is a Monopoly (And Everyone Knows It Now)

    The Match is a monopoly. And now, it’s official. In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei is joined by Colin Royal for an emergency breakdown of a newly released congressional report from the House Judiciary Committee—one that directly calls the NRMP (residency Match) a monopoly with “destructive consequences” for physicians, patients, and the healthcare system at large. If you’ve been through medical training, none of this is surprising. But this is the first time it’s being said at this level. We get into what this actually means—beyond Match Week, beyond the algorithm—and why this moment could mark the beginning of a long-overdue shift in how medical training is structured in the United States. This is not a conversation about preference signaling or rank lists. This is a conversation about power. In this episode, we discuss: The House Judiciary Committee report on the NRMP and why it mattersHow the Match suppresses wages and limits competitionThe 2004 antitrust exemption—and how it shaped the current systemWhy residents have little to no negotiating powerThe concept of “mobility” (and why being trapped is the real issue)Why some specialties can treat trainees worse—and get away with itWhether a “transfer portal” for residents could existThe myth that residents are “just trainees”How resident labor actually powers academic hospitalsWhy this is not a residents vs. NPs/PAs issue—but a system-wide one 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.

    31 min

  3. MAR 24

    Freedom, Fear, and the First Year Out: A.YoungDoctors.Journey on Locums Medicine

    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: The hidden fear of showing up online as a physicianWhy “freedom of time” became non-negotiableThe reality of 1099 vs W-2 (explained simply)Early attending insecurity—and why it’s universalThe myth that more years = better doctorTravel, money, and the unexpected perks of locumsAnd 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.

    36 min

  4. MAR 17

    From ICU Doctor to Filmmaker: Jessica Zitter on Extremis, Storytelling, and the Future of Medicine

    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.

    29 min

  5. MAR 10

    Medicine in the Cheese: Advocacy, Social Media, and the Hidden Curriculum of Training

    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.

    43 min

  6. MAR 3

    Medicine, McKinsey & Making the Leap: Sarah Rav’s Reinvention Story

    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.

    32 min

  7. FEB 24

    From Angry Resident to Published Author: Surgeon On The Edge

    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: Why the first draft “wasn’t true”How anger transformed into clarityWhat it means to create art without controlling its receptionWhy writing the book changed Frances Mei more than publishing it ever couldThe difference between being an “angry person” and being overwhelmedThe 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.

    35 min

  8. FEB 17

    The Bear vs. Residency: Are Kitchens and Hospitals the Same?

    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: The brutal reality behind The Bear (spoiler: it’s not exaggerated)Crying in the walk-in vs. crying in the call roomWorking 400 days in a row to outrun imposter syndromeWhy high-achieving women panic after success instead of celebratingHow toxic training environments mirror dysfunctional familiesAnd 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.

    40 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

A raw, reality-style podcast following Dr. Frances Mei Hardin’s final months as a surgeon and her bold leap into the unknown. Through solo episodes and unfiltered guest convos, it captures the chaos, clarity, and courage of walking away from a “dream career” to choose something better. For high-achievers, burnt-out professionals, and anyone ready to rewrite the rules - this isn’t just a show. It’s a permission slip. Find more info about Surgeon, Interrupted and other shows on the Hippocratic Collective at hippocratic-collective.com

Information

  • Creator
    Hippocratic Collective
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Hippocratic Collective
  • Show Website
    Surgeon, Interrupted

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