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.