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From breaking down outdated notions of prestige to embracing the fluidity of self-identity, this conversation is about more than just surgery.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