In this episode of Fem MD, we explore the uncomfortable truth: love alone doesn’t make a marriage last. Dr. Lauren Umstattd opens up about the realities of partnership, drawing from her own experiences to unpack the deeper ingredients that sustain a strong marriage—kindness, respect, communication, and growth. It's a candid conversation about what happens after the honeymoon phase ends, how couples evolve through challenges, and why being intentional in your relationship matters more than romantic ideals. Whether you're married, thinking about it, or questioning what a healthy relationship looks like, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded perspective on building a life together.

In this powerful episode of FEM MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with Dr. Frances Mei Hardin for an unflinching conversation about the darker realities of surgical training. Frances Mei shares her personal experience navigating a medical culture where bullying, abuse, and emotional isolation are often normalized—and where “resilience” is too often code for silent suffering.

Together, they unpack the structural issues baked into the hierarchy of medicine and what it means to walk away—not as a failure, but as an act of reclaiming agency. This episode explores what happens when your identity is bound to your profession, and what’s possible when you begin to untangle that narrative.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s ever questioned the cost of staying silent in a broken system.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Dr. Frances Mei Hardin

IG: @francesmei.md

Website: https://hippocratic-collective.com

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd unpacks the quiet pressure to be everything to everyone: the perfect doctor, the perfect parent, the perfect partner. But what if success isn’t about getting it all right? What if the real work, and the real growth, comes from simply getting a little better each day? This episode explores how embracing small, consistent improvements can lead to more sustainable fulfillment, both professionally and personally. It’s a conversation about showing up, letting go of unrealistic standards, and making peace with the messy middle.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren @lauren_umstattd_md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective