Advertise on podcast: Surgeon, Interrupted

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: What portfolio careers really look like over decades—not highlight reelsWhy transferable skills matter more than titlesHow women navigate pivots after investing years into a single identityCreative partnership, pitching, and betting on yourselfUsing 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: Why physicians are conditioned to operate at 500% (and why anything less feels uncomfortable)How money becomes a stand-in for validation after years of sacrificeThe stigma doctors face when they step outside the expected hierarchyWhy surgeons struggle so deeply with emotional regulation—and what psychiatry does differentlyHow 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.

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: Why surgeons are encouraged in… and abandoned once they’re inThe difference between what’s “possible” and what’s healthyMotherhood, medicine, and the cost of suppressed humanityShame as a hidden driver of physician burnout and exitsWhy careers don’t have to be linear—and why medicine resists that truthReclaiming 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.

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: 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 leaveThe psychological fallout of losing a physician identity overnightChronic pain, disability, and the silence around injured doctorsWhy disability insurance failures nearly cost her everythingHow she rebuilt a second career—and a sense of purpose—outside of medicineThe friendships medicine quietly replaces, and the grief that comes afterWhy 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: The strange quiet of the first holiday season outside medicineHow residency and surgical training shape work habits long after you leave“Revenge sleeping,” productivity guilt, and unlearning survival modeWhy leaving medicine doesn’t magically create balanceTreating the nervous system as an asset—not an afterthoughtWhat partners see when physicians finally slow downWhy 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, 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.

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.

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.

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 medicineWhy hobbies matter for burnout preventionThe 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