Surviving Residency and Speaking Out: Dr. Frances Mei Hardin’s Journey Through Medicine and Maximum Rage

The medical field is known for its high expectations, long hours, and demanding environment, but few people are willing to publicly discuss the realities of residency training. Dr. Frances Mei Hardin, an otolaryngologist (ENT) and host of Promising Young Surgeon, joined the Minimum Rage podcast to share her unfiltered experience in medical residency, workplace culture, and the emotional toll of being a doctor. In this conversation, she opened up about her unconventional upbringing, the brutal realities of surgical training, and how she now approaches her career with a new mindset.

 

From an Unconventional Childhood to Medicine

Frances Mei’s early life was far from ordinary. She left home at just 13 years old to attend the Illinois Math and Science Academy, a prestigious boarding school where she essentially skipped a grade. Growing up, she was deeply involved in a variety of structured activities, including boot camp, space camp, and intense academic programs.

Despite her academic prowess, she describes herself as a socially awkward, overly serious child. She recalled being surrounded by older peers and struggling to keep up with their conversations about high school drama and relationships. Her childhood was one of rigid discipline and intellectual rigor, which later translated into her professional life.

By the age of 11, she was already teaching piano lessons to younger children, making $20 an hour. Even at that young age, she demonstrated a work ethic and sense of responsibility that would define her future career.

 

The Reality of Residency: Overworked and Underpaid

Frances Mei explained that for many medical professionals, the first real job they have is as a resident physician. Residency is grueling, with doctors-in-training working up to 95 hours per week for salaries that, when broken down by the hour, often fall below minimum wage.

She recalled a particularly exhausting experience where she was paged at midnight for an emergency. A prison inmate had aspirated a needle from a makeshift tattoo gun, requiring urgent surgery. She rushed to the hospital, prepared the patient, and assisted in the operating room until 3:30 AM—only to start her full shift at 5:00 AM the next morning.

This level of sleep deprivation and nonstop labor was routine. The mental, emotional, and physical toll of residency was made worse by the toxic workplace culture that many young doctors face.

 

A Culture of Intimidation and Toxic Hierarchies

One of the most shocking parts of Frances Mei’s residency experience was the rampant workplace bullying and hazing. She described a particularly disturbing incident in an elevator, where a senior resident verbally abused a junior doctor, calling him “so ugly” that he should face the corner and not be seen. The young doctor, humiliated, stood in the corner of the elevator, crying, while the rest of the group remained silent, afraid to speak up.

Frances Mei admitted that she, too, did not intervene in the moment, knowing that standing up for a colleague could make her the next target. This kind of psychological warfare was commonplace in the hospital, where residents were frequently humiliated and berated.

She recalled one attending physician publicly calling her incompetent because a medication had been delayed by a few hours—despite it being the responsibility of the night shift. These public reprimands were a daily occurrence, and many residents learned to suppress their emotions, push through the abuse, and keep working.

 

The Emotional Toll and Mental Health Crisis in Medicine

The extreme stress of residency took a severe emotional toll on Frances Mei. She developed unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking heavily on nights when she wasn’t on call. She admitted that she carried anger home with her, constantly venting about the toxic environment and rehashing conflicts with colleagues.

Over time, she realized that many doctors never process their trauma from residency. Years later, even well-established surgeons still carry resentment, pain, and unresolved emotional baggage from their early training years.

She eventually sought therapy and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which helped her detach from toxic interactions, regulate her emotions, and establish boundaries. One of the most valuable lessons she learned was to ask herself:

“Is this worth having a meeting about?”

If the answer was no, she let it go. This simple shift in mindset helped her reclaim her emotional energy and stop letting the toxic environment consume her.

 

Residency Work Conditions: Unseen Labor and Systemic Issues

Frances Mei also shed light on the unseen, unpaid labor of residency.

• Residents are often expected to physically push ICU patients to the operating room because transport teams are too slow.
• They spend hours tracking down missing medical equipment because hospital systems are poorly organized.
• They are frequently expected to work beyond legal hour limits, as the system turns a blind eye to overwork.

She emphasized that residents have the least protection of any hospital workers. Nurses, medical students, and attending physicians all have advocates and unions, while residents are often left to fend for themselves.

 

The Transition to Attending Physician and a Healthier Work Culture

Now that Frances Mei is a full-fledged ENT surgeon, she has taken control over her professional environment. She now leads an all-women team, which has created a respectful and supportive workplace culture.

She no longer tolerates unprofessionalism, toxic behavior, or verbal abuse. Her team operates with a high standard of professionalism, mutual respect, and collaboration—a stark contrast to the abusive environment of her residency.

 

Promising Young Surgeon: Creating a Space for Unspoken Conversations

Frances Mei’s podcast, Promising Young Surgeon, is dedicated to addressing the hidden struggles of medicine. She covers topics such as:

• Physician burnout and the emotional toll of medicine.
• How to navigate toxic workplace cultures in healthcare.
• Mental health resources and coping strategies for doctors.
• Reforming residency training to be less exploitative.

She is passionate about breaking the silence surrounding these issues. Many doctors are too afraid to speak out, even years after finishing residency, because they fear professional backlash.

Frances Mei refuses to stay silent. She believes that open conversations and systemic change are necessary to create a healthier environment for future doctors.

 

Final Thoughts: Advice for Those in Toxic Work Environments

Reflecting on her experiences, Dr. Hardin now advises young doctors—and professionals in any high-pressure field—to:

1. Separate your identity from your job – Your worth is not tied to your profession.
2. Pick your battles wisely – Not every conflict is worth carrying home.
3. Find support outside of work – Therapy, hobbies, and friendships can help process workplace stress.
4. Set firm boundaries – Toxic work environments thrive when people accept mistreatment.
5. Speak out when you can – Silence allows abuse to continue.

For Frances Mei, finding balance, processing trauma, and creating a healthier work culture has been essential in reclaiming her love for medicine.

Her mission is clear: to create a future in medicine where doctors can thrive without being broken in the process.

 

This blog post is based on a transcript from the Minimum Rage podcast episode released on November 26^th 2024.

The Minimum Rage podcast is hosted by two coworkers, friends, and, most importantly, girl bosses. Minimum Rage is for anyone who has left work in a fit of rage (literally or figuratively). Get ready for a rollercoaster of anecdotes as our hosts and guests reminisce about the challenges, quirks, and downright absurdities of their early part-time jobs. From crazy co-workers to strange encounters with customers, let’s clock in and explore the wild ride that is working for minimum wage.

Edited by Grace Dunbar