What was hoped to be a unified public health initiative to end an ongoing medical crisis became a divisive and bipartisan issue nationwide. Vaccine mandates were instituted across many states to combat the rise of the novel coronavirus variants and hopefully cease the spread of preexisting viral forms. With the placement of mandates, especially within the spheres of healthcare professions, efforts to uphold this decision were met with degrees of resistance and hesitancy. According to the New York Times, a staggering 37,000 healthcare workers have left their jobs as a result of the vaccine mandates. How has this exodus affected the American healthcare system that was already struck on its knees with burnout and short staffing?

In this episode, we tackle these topics of vaccine mandates and rising variants back in the summer of 2021 with "The Monsoon Diaries" travel agency founder & CEO, activist, public keynote speaker, medical contributor to national television’s biggest news channels, circulating NYC Emergency Medicine physician, and a great friend of mine: Dr. Calvin Sun. Receiving his bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Columbia University in 2008, attaining his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 2014, and further completing his Emergency Medicine residency in Jacobi/Montefiore of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2018, Dr. Sun stood as the first-hand reporter of the COVID-19 pandemic during its Spring 2020 spike in New York City emergency rooms.

Are mask and vaccine mandates ethical and/or constitutional? How has the safety of the vaccines against COVID-19 been proven in vivo since their dissemination? Where do viral variants actually come from: the vaccinated or the unvaccinated? How does natural immunity fare with inoculation? As divisive and controversial as these questions are, we fulfill the goal of this series: providing evidence-based and first-hand information that seeks to defy life-harming misinformation across social media.

Livestream Air Date: August 26, 2021

Calvin Sun, MD: IG @monsoondiaries, FB @CalvinDSun, Twitter @monsoondiaries

The Monsoon Diaries: Web monsoondiaries.com, YT The Monsoon Diaries, & 2022 Book on Amazon

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in someplace that you did not want to be in? Have you ever thought that you needed to escape a situation that you were deep into but afraid of the unknown next steps? Have you ever envisioned a different life than what you are living now? Have you ever felt unhappy with the choices in life that you have made thus far and wanted to start all over again but were afraid of what others would say about you? And if not others...what would you feel about yourself? For so long, these voices of shame, misery, fear, and desperation for egress clouded the heart and mind of our episode's guest.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama in 2013, where she also attained her medical degree from the UA School of Medicine in 2017 and matching in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Chelsea Turgeon resigned from her residency two years into the program. In our conversation, she recounts that exact moment when she decided to drop out of the medical journey and immediately book airplane tickets to South Korea with a temporary new role as an English teacher. Years later, she has paved the same way of rerouting burnt-out paths for other professional women within the sphere of healthcare as a digital nomad and career coach. In fact, she is the best-selling author of the 2021 book, "Residency Drop Out."

From the realization of her motivations in initially pursuing medicine to those crushing moments of burnout and unhappiness during medical school and residency that led her to ultimately fulfill her exodus from the path of medicine that she worked so hard and sacrificed so many things up for, we take a deep dive into what Dr. Turgeon believes is most in this short lifetime: doing what you love. We are taken into a vulnerable discussion of how, at the end of the day, no amount of titles, money, or prestige can ever satiate a burnt-out and unhappy heart.

This episode includes brief discussions around the topic of physician suicide.

Livestream Air Date: August 19, 2021

Chelsea Turgeon, MD: IG @coachchelsmd & @lifeaftermedicinepodcast

Podcast: Apple Life After Medicine & Spotify Life After Medicine

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

The world of emergency medicine is commonly known for its 2 AM chest pain visits, motor vehicle accidents and trauma admissions, and foreign objects that require removal from different orifices. However, there is actually so much more specialization within this specialty in itself! Through additional training from 1 to 2 years of fellowship, one can sub-specialize in realms that expand even beyond the four corners of the emergency room, such as Critical Care, EMS/Disaster, Wilderness Medicine, Pediatrics, Hyperbaric Medicine, Medical Toxicology, and even Ultrasound! The last is true for our episode guest today, Dr. Siri Chamarti ("Hey Siri MD"), an Ultrasound fellowship-trained Emergency Medicine physician.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from UCLA in 2013, attaining her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in 2017, and having completed her emergency medicine residency at Maimonides Hospital in 2020, Dr. Siri now stands as a New York doctor who promotes evidenced-based education on her social media space by recalling her gruesome experiences as the first line of defense during the spike of the pandemic during the City's epicenter during Spring 2020.

From her advice for pre-medical to juggling enjoyment with medical school to moving across the country to pursue medicine to finally becoming an attending doctor now teaching the next generation of physicians and to her love for good food and traveling, Dr. Siri is a testament to how much of life can truly be a fun adventure even as a doctor. Just as she stresses the importance of mastering anatomy to excel in ultrasound medicine, Dr. Siri also stresses the importance of mastering the discovery of what makes you happy and excited to live life. "Hey, Siri! What...makes you happy?"

Livestream Air Date: August 12, 2021

Sirivalli Chamarti, MD: IG @heysirimd

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

The past two years have seemed to bring about two "viral" contagions: the pandemic and social media. As the lockdowns allowed people to remain at home and brought cascades of popularity to phone applications like TikTok, workers within the medical field also seemed to join the tides. We have watched it all...new lingos created every day, people in scrubs dancing to the trending audios, and countless challenges on your "for you page." But this new image of healthcare professionals has been walking the hospital halls and providing care to countless patients for years before their limelight on social media. The traditional "prim and proper" and "demure" image of medicine with its symbol of the pristine white coat is long gone as it meets a new wave of representatives who seem to recast this history-long persona. With his full-sleeve arm tattoos, ear piercings, and viral shirtless and risqué dancing videos online, our episode guest medical resident Dr. Vinh Vu, who is more commonly known as "VinhzCastle" from YouTube and TikTok, is the paradigm of this new emblem of healthcare.

Receiving his medical degree from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019 and completing his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2023, Dr. Vu seeks to show that one can excel at being a physician...and still have fun. A dancer, photographer, doctor, and dog daddy to his famed "teddy bear" Nugget, he takes us on his journey as he shares his dreams and visions within the polar worlds of medicine and entertainment.

From his early start on YouTube as a dancer to his journey in medicine to his "mistakes" and "realizations" on social media, and to his viewed demarcation lines between his roles as a doctor and as an online persona, we take a deep dive in both the harmonies and squabbles between the world of meticulous clinical procedures and of the entropic internet. Join us as we navigate the algorithms to find common ground between these two opposite worlds!

Livestream Air Date: August 4, 2021

Vinh Vu, DO: IG @vinhzcastle, TikTok @vinhzcastle, YT Vinh Vu

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

In the mid-1960s, a shortage of physicians across the United States posed a great predicament to patient safety rooted in the decrease in primary healthcare access. In response to this detrimental period in medicine, pediatrician Dr. Henry Silver created the first formal graduate nursing program that would be the role now known as the nurse practitioner (NP). With the goal of scope expansion of the nursing practice to bridge the gaps in access to care posed by the physician shortage nationwide, NPs have become a vital part of the care team model with the clinical abilities to diagnose, treat, and prescribe pharmacologic modalities in almost every specialty. However, many questions still arise regarding this extended nursing role due to the varying state-by-state regulations and its nonexistence in several countries worldwide. It is of great joy to have my dear friend, Vanna Padilla, an NP herself, to share what her role stands for and also our common love...skincare.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Alabama in 2013, Vanna was initially a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) registered nurse at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. She then furthered her education by receiving her master's degree in family practice nursing from the University of South Alabama in 2017 and becoming a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP). Despite her love for babies, Vanna now stands as a dermatology nurse practitioner and the CEO of Your Skincare Expert.

From her experiences as a bedside registered nurse to her expanded role as a nurse practitioner, we tackle the heart of her practice: all things dermatology and skincare. Delving into the cosmetic, medical, and surgical aspects of her work, we talk about the psychosocial effects of skin conditions, the essence of vanity in cosmetics, and the ever-changing world of skin regimen and its products and ingredients. Does sunscreen truly fight off UV radiation? What is bakuchiol, and when would one use it in place of a topical retinoid? Is topical chlorophyll recommended? Can you mix AHAs and BHAs with Vitamin A derivatives? How can one maximize the stability of their Vitamin C serum? Your Skincare Expert answers it all. Prepare for a glass-skin conversation!

Livestream Air Date: July 21, 2021

Vanna Padilla, MSN, FNP-C: IG @vannapadilla_np, TikTok @vannapadilla_np

Your Skincare Expert (Website): www.yourskincarexpert.com

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

The "Western" world of medicine is said to be infamously known for its churning of prescriptions of pharmacologic modalities to target almost all of the conditions and pathologies that exist. When something is painful, just prop an ibuprofen. When you're having green phlegmatic coughs, you'll probably take an antibiotic. When something goes haywire with an organ, you will most likely require surgery. However, in many countries outside of the United States, this approach is not always the case. Manual manipulations of certain parts of the body and utilization of nature's products are their standards of bodily defense in times of ailment. From the word "osteon," a structural unit of bone, the field of osteopathic medicine was created in 1874 to bring forth physicians who harness the healing capabilities enveloped within the human musculoskeletal system as one of the many additional evidence-based modalities of treatment in conjunction with the world of our usual medications and surgeries to provide the most holistic care as possible.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from UC Davis in 1996, attaining her medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific/Western University of Health Sciences in 2000, and completing her internal medicine residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center in 2004 where she served an extra year as Chief Medical Resident until 2005, Dr. Stella Clavecilla has been a board-certified Internist and Hospitalist in the San Francisco area for almost two decades where she also stands as a medical officer who teaches and trains the next wave of future physicians.

With her expertise rooted in the sphere of the hospital, Dr. Stella has seen first-hand the gruesome effects that COVID-19 has done on patients, families, and healthcare workers. From countless deaths to worker burnout, we tackled the emotional and psychological tolls that the pandemic has imbued within the four walls of the hospital and beyond. Is medicine still worth it? Is this challenge worth fighting for? With full transparency and vulnerability, Dr. Stella shows what the "internal" in internal medicine meant: the heart to care.

Livestream Air Date: July 17, 2021

Stella Clavecilla, DO, FACP: IG @drstellac, Tik Tok @drstellac

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

Have you ever watched videos of cute babies online and then start getting "baby fever"? And I believe that one of the monumental moments in our elementary education years is when we start learning about the actual process of this baby fever: "sexy time." As our guest described: "romantic" and "between sheets." However, there are instances when this activity does not result in the baby that the intending people wanted. According to the NIH, in the United States alone, approximately 9% of men and 11% of women of their reproductive age have infertility problems that imbue difficulties in the conception of a baby. Is there no longer hope for these partners to build the family that they have always dreamed of? Are there possible alternatives still available to them? There is no better person to ask these questions than the expert in the reproductive field: board-certified fertility expert physician Dr. Serena H. Chen.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Biology from Brown University in 1984, attaining her medical degree from Duke University in 1988, and completing her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in 1992, where she also fulfilled her Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility fellowship in 1995, Dr. Chen now stands as a fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and IRMS Reproductive Medicine in New Jersey. Beyond this, she also served as a clinical associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and St. George's University School of Medicine.

With Dr. Chen's three decades of experience, we go into a deep dive into all things fertility and reproduction: the menstrual period, PCOS, infertility, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, ovarian reserve, Anti-Müllerian hormone, egg freezing, medical surrogacy, in vitro fertilization (IVF), LGBTQ+ family planning, and safety of vaccines for pregnant people. Through all of this, Dr. Chen has a clear message to those who want to become parents: in one way or another, there is hope for you to build a healthy and happy family, so you should be informed of your options, so you will have no regrets.

Livestream Air Date: July 14, 2021

Serena H. Chen, MD, FACOG: IG @drserenahchen, IRMS @ivf_irms

Dr. Chen on WIRED: Fertility Expert Answers Questions

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

On December 12, 2019, a group of patients in Wuhan, the capital city of the province of Hubei in China, began experiencing shortness of breath and fever. Little did the world know that these clandestine occurrences of "pneumonia of unknown etiology" in that 3,280 mi² area would affect the whole globe up to this day almost three years later. Having declared this novel coronavirus, "SARS-CoV-2," as a public health emergency back on January 31, 2020, and the formalized name "COVID-19" as a pandemic that March 11, the virus has a current global death toll of more than 5 million people.

Though devastating the deaths that this pandemic has imbued on our world, its effects have truly transcended the medical aspect of societies: people lost jobs, many lost hope, and many were isolated from their loved ones. With the powers of medical technology, research, and science, we arrived at these departments' byproduct, which seemed to be the "hope" that the world was waiting for: vaccines. However, despite the anticipation and yearning for this hope, the reception towards this "light at the end of the tunnel" was met with resistance and hesitancy spurned by myths and misinformation by anti-vaccine movements, especially on the virtual platform.

It was, therefore, a no-brainer to look to those whose mission was to disseminate information that was sound, evidence-based, and backed by peer-reviewed science. And that is who I brought on for this episode, COVID-19 science and vaccine communicators that I personally trust (and two people who send me the best memes ever): Dr. Stacy de-Lin (board-certified Family Medicine physician and Gynecology & Family Planning Specialist) and Dr. Purvi Parikh (double board-certified in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology, vaccine trials researcher, and NYU School of Medicine clinical professor).

Join us in our conversational journey about all things medicine (from medical school to the weirdest objects they pulled out of a person during residency), the pandemic (how they and their practice changed throughout), and what they truly believe is the solution to this pandemic.

This episode includes brief discussions around the topic of physician suicide.

Livestream Air Date: July 5, 2021

Stacy De-Lin, MD, FAAFP: IG @stacydelin_md

Purvi Parikh, MD, FACP, FACAAI: IG @panipurvinyc, FB @purviparikhmd, & Twitter @purviparikhmd

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

In our current world of flashy social media and aesthetic ideals, fleeting physical alterations in pictures and videos exist in the presence of Photoshop, filters, and airbrushes. However, there exists a whole dominion in the sciences that seeks to help others achieve these physical ideals. Cosmetic and plastic surgery have successfully allowed people to look the way they want to...and sometimes not (Hi "Botched"). But our current generation also pursues a new movement that seems to oppose the intent of these photo-editing programs: self-love. The question is...does the medical field of "tweaking" surgeries defy this pursuit of self-love? Are cosmetics and plastics just all vanity? There is no better person to talk to about this controversial topic than someone who has mastered this very field of physical alteration: facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yirae Ort from Bellevue, Washington.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in the sciences from Youngstown State University in 2006, attaining her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from The Ohio State University in 2012, and subsequently her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Case Western Reserve University in 2015 coupled with a residency, externship, and fellowships in Facial Plastic Surgery, Orthognathic Surgery, Cleft Craniofacial Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Ort is truly an expert in the science and art of helping others attain the facial presentations that they desire (facelifts, implants, Botox, fillers, liposuction, and of the like).

From her thoughts about facial feminization surgery to the rejection and infection risks of implants to the viability of liposuction for long-term fat reduction and to the psychosocial and psychological effects of cosmesis, Dr. Ort underlines the importance of understanding and respecting one's informed choice for their body. To be in a body that one is happy about and physically healthy in...that is self-love.

This episode includes brief discussions around the topics of bullying and body dysmorphia.

Livestream Air Date: June 19, 2021

Yirae Ort, DDS, MD: IG @dr.yirae.ort, Web: www.ortmdsurgery.com

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz

If "the man who did it all" truly existed, it would be in the form of this episode's guest. Emergency medicine physician, Juris doctor and consultant in health law, serial student, professional pilot, 11x author, keynote speaker, and multidisciplinary entrepreneur (founding and operating several multi-million-dollar businesses): Dr. John Shufeldt from Arizona. Stating that despite not having stellar grades and scores in his early academic career, his exhilarating achievements were byproducts of his curious hunger for learning, commitment to hard work, and persistence in pursuing his visions.

Receiving his bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminology from Drake University in 1982, attaining his medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 1986, completing his Emergency Medicine residency at Christ Hospital and Oak Lawn Medical Center in 1989, and further attaining an MBA degree in 1995 and a JD degree in 2005 (admitted to the State Bar in Arizona, the Federal District Court, and the US Supreme Court) both from Arizona State University, Dr. Shufeldt now continues to practice emergency medicine at a large tertiary care center, lead his nationally-expanding urgent care business, and perpetuate the world of telemedicine to bridge urgent access to care.

In 1993, Dr. Shufeldt launched his first urgent care practice, NextCare, upon noticing the overcrowding in the emergency room. Having sold this business in 2010, he started his telehealth company MeMD which seeks to provide first-in-class care to patients in the comfort of their own homes. Currently providing both medical and mental health visits to 5 million members nationwide over computer and mobile devices, MeMD was acquired by Walmart Health in 2021. Truly, Dr. Shufeldt has been such a saving grace to countless lives throughout the years in his service to care for others. Beyond the many degrees, titles, and experiences, it was simply a humbling honor to just be in the same space with someone whose biggest passion is to touch others' lives.

This episode includes brief discussions around the topic of physician suicide.

Livestream Air Date: June 9, 2021

John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP: IG @johnshufeldtmd, FB @johnshufeldtmd

Dr. John Shufeldt Website: www.johnshufeldtmd.com

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

Christian Franz (Host): IG @chrsfranz & YT Christian Franz