Dr. Francis Mei Harden

About Dr. Frances Mei Hardin

Dr. Frances Mei Hardin is a physician-writer, speaker, and former otolaryngologist (ENT) surgeon. She has worked in head and neck surgery, but she is now best known for her work in physician advocacy, wellness, and storytelling.

She is a co-founder of the Hippocratic Collective, a media company focused on transforming medicine. She also founded Rethinking Residency, a resource and community for medical residents to share their stories and navigate the challenges of training.

Area of Interest

• Physician Wellness & Mental Health: Dr. Hardin strongly cares about the mental health of medical trainees and doctors.
• Residency Culture Change: Through Rethinking Residency, she offers practical tools, support, and honest conversations for residents.
• Media & Storytelling: She uses writing, podcasts, and other media to change how doctors’ lives are seen and discussed.
• Career Diversification: As someone who stepped away from full-time surgery, she helps physicians explore different paths — coaching, writing, advocacy.

Education and Training

• She completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame.
• She earned her medical degree (MD) from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
• Her residency training was in Otolaryngology (ENT) at the University of Missouri.

Awards, Honors, and Memberships

• She was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (medical honor society) during her time at Case Western Reserve University.
• She is widely recognized for her leadership in physician wellness and in changing the culture of medical training. Her public work (writing, podcasting) itself has become an influential “honor” in medicine.
• As co-founder of the Hippocratic Collective, she is part of a movement to build better role models and infrastructure for doctors.

Experience

• ENT Surgeon: Dr. Hardin practiced as an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon, working in head and neck surgery.
• Rural Community Hospital: She served in a rural hospital in Middle Tennessee.
• Founder & Advocate: She started Rethinking Residency, a platform to support residents through stress, mental health, career planning, and more.
• Media Leader: As co-founder of Hippocratic Collective, she builds media products (podcasts, publishing, courses) that help doctors tell their stories and reclaim their power.
• Director at PearsonRavitz: She works as Director of Physician Engagement and Strategy at PearsonRavitz, guiding work on insurance, education, and systems change for physicians.

Podcast Host: She hosts Surgeon, Interrupted, where she shares her own decision to leave full-time surgery and explores ideas for a more humane medical system.