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They also explore love and relationships in medicine - why “parallel pedigree” expectations are outdated, what it means to have a partner outside of medicine, and how the right relationship can regulate your nervous system instead of draining it.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

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.