One of the most renowned statements of all time may just be to "follow your dreams." It truly is fantastical for one to do what they love for the rest of their lives. Sadly, this is untrue for many as they become shackled in careers that guarantee financial stability but at the expense of an emotional toll. We then land on another infamous discussion: "passion versus career." Coupled with personal ideals, cultural implications, and familial expectations, pursuing what one may love can become a very tricky road.

This was true for our episode's guest, who shows both the great divide between his passion for music and love for medicine but also the placid middle ground he found between the two polarizing fields. A former touring rockstar with the group Crash Boom Bang, he eventually found and worked hard for his place within the world of the sciences.

Receiving his bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 2004, attaining his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2009, and further completing his Anesthesiology residency at MedStar Health in 2013, Dr. George Chaucer Hwang now practices as a board-certified attending anesthesiologist in Washington, D.C. But his love for music also never left as he currently stands as a Chinese-pop music idol producer at FutureONE Entertainment that has collaborated with the biggest names as such in 88rising.

In a transparent conversation, hear about Dr. Chaucer's stories about his first love for music, contentment in medicine, pursuit in the current generation of pop music, divorce, and his realizations, the world of anesthesia, and how the pandemic has changed not only his work but also his mental health.

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

Livestream Air Date: May 25, 2021

George Chaucer Hwang, MD: IG @doctor.chaucer

Rockstar MD Podcast: @Rockstar MD

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

At the height of the pandemic, anesthesiologists have stood on the front lines with the heightened need for intubations in response to deterioration in patients' oxygenation. What was once thought of as solely the behind-the-scene brain during surgeries to keep patients safely asleep in the operating room, they truly have shown the pertinence of the field in every corner of the hospital during the darkest of days. But still, so many questions from the public envelope the world of anesthesia. Is anesthesia safe? Can anesthesia cause memory loss? What if one wakes up during surgery? And better yet, what if one does not wake up after surgery?

In the meticulous, calculative, and scary world of the milky white Propofol and the paralyzing Vecuronium, a small dosing error can truly cost one's life. Therefore, there is no better person to answer these questions than an expert from the field herself. Receiving her bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from Union College Nebraska in 1993, attaining her medical degree from the University Of Nebraska College Of Medicine in 2000, and further completing her Anesthesiology residency at the University Of Nebraska Medical Center in 2004, Dr. Gelerie Stenbakken now stands as a board-certified anesthesiologist in Fort Collins, CO for almost two decades.

From the detours in her medical journey that led her to a worldview of who she believes are "the right people" who should be going into medicine, to recounting a Grey's Anatomy-like experience in the hospital, to her take on the controversial topic of expanding CRNA autonomy in the world of anesthesia, to how the world of anesthesia changed during the 2020 biological cataclysm, and to tackling every mystified fear the public may have about anesthesia, we go on an anesthetic adventure based on scientific data. Now, let's all count down together. 10...9...8...7...Zzzz.

Livestream Air Date: May 12, 2021

Gelerie Stenbakken, MD: IG @onlygelerie

Dr. Gelerie's Ventures: @reiforthewin (Real Estate) & @calligraphygelerie

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

Upcoming early Summertime is known to be medical school application season. Known to many, the journey to becoming a board-certified physician in the United States is the most rigorous educational and training process in the nation: four years of undergraduate college studies to fulfill pre-medicine science and math classes (along with the accumulation of clinical hours, volunteering, and shadowing), the one-year expanse of applications (taking the MCAT, primary and secondary applications, interviews, etc.), four years of medical school (two years of grueling didactics followed by two years of clerkship/varying medical specialty rotations) with three board exams (Step 1-3), 3-7 years of residency training (specialty-dependent, with a minimum of 10,000 training hours), and 2-3 years of chosen subspecialty/fellowship if desired.

What are the keys to acing the components of each of these processes to reach one's goal of becoming a medical doctor? How can students ensure that their application process is as successful as it can be during the cycle? I thought that there would be no better representative to ask for tips and advice regarding the whole medical journey than someone fresh out of the process: Dr. Benjamin Tran.

Receiving his bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia in 2015, attaining his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2020 (where he also received his Neuroscience bachelor's degree in 2015), and currently a dermatology resident physician in San Francisco, CA, Dr. Tran remembers all too well about it all. Join us as we take a deep dive into all things pre-med and applications (gap year, AAMC, letters of recommendations, gravity of GPA and MCAT score, interviews, etc.), medical school (student loans, tuition debt, board exams), and even now in residency (match day, intern year, working hours, teaming with nurses, the path to dermatology).

Being in his 20s, from his primordial inspirations to his thought processes of pursuing such an arduous career path entailing so many life sacrifices, we scrutinized Dr. Tran's regrets in pursuing the path of medicine...if any at all.

Livestream Air Date: April 21, 2021

Benjamin Tran, MD: IG @drbentran & YouTube @Benjamin Tran, MD

ShadowDoc: Web shadowdoc.org, IG @shadowdoc.med

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

COVID-19 has truly divided the nation into all aspects of society: physically, emotionally, politically, religiously...you name it! This was exacerbated by the roll-out of the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna at the end of 2020. The virus that was weakening the whole country seemed to become a bipartisan issue muddled by a myriad of misinformation and myths that flooded the internet. Because these erroneous information could cost someone's life, it was just right that we sought enlightenment and data from figures most reliable: evidence-based, up-to-date, and peer-reviewed science.

There was no better expert to reach out to than Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi COVID-19 vaccine trials researcher, the current part of the new MOMI-Vax clinical trials, assistant clinical professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, medical contributor to the nation’s biggest news channels, the youngest president of the New York Allergy and Asthma Society, double-board certified pediatric-adult Allergy and Immunology physician, AND most importantly...my birthday twin (Taurus unite): Dr. Purvi Parikh.

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Emory University in 2004, attaining her medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine in 2008, completing her Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in 2011, and further fulfilling an Allergy and Immunology fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in 2013, Dr. Parikh is currently practicing as an allergist and immunologist in New York, NY where she treats patients of all ages. It was, therefore, of no doubt that we reached out to her for all things COVID-19, the fresh roll-out of the mRNA and adenovirus vector vaccines during the recording time of Spring 2021, and immune response in general.

From discussions about her medical journey to allergy talks about sensitivity vs. intolerance vs. allergy and the rarest allergy she has ever encountered, and to every topic under the sun about the COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer vs. Moderna vs. Janssen vs. Astrazeneca, the mRNA technology, incidences of blood clots, malicious claims of infertility and spontaneous abortion, their long-term safety, and natural immunity), we dissect the common questions that the general public had and feared during its first roll-out. Dr. Parikh has a very clear goal: to hopefully save lives by relaying correct information...and this is what Friends of Franz is all about!

Livestream Air Date: April 7, 2021

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

Do you believe in serendipity? That things in life just happen, whether for a concrete reason and, if not, just random but feel so mystically intentional? This is the case for our episode guest, whom I have admired for the longest time since I stumbled upon him in a YouTube video way back in nursing school. "The Monsoon Diaries" travel agency founder & CEO, choreographer, photographer, filmmaker, activist, public keynote speaker, medical contributor to national television's biggest news channels, circulating NYC Emergency Medicine physician, and now someone that I consider a great friend and mentor: 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. It was, therefore, just fitting that we looked to his years of education and training expertise to answer all things ER: the craziest event he has ever witnessed, the weirdest things he has pulled out from a person's body, first-handed witnessing of supernatural events in the hospital, and if the media was ultimately lying about the magnitude of the virus.

Hands-down being one of the most passionate people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and talking to, we went on a journey to uncharted waters of conversations about the serendipitous events he went through in life that led him to medical school, his love for traveling even throughout medical school and residency (190 countries in total!), keys to avoiding burnout, the importance of mental health, the broken healthcare system, activism against the rise of AAPI hate and racial violence, thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccines, and even one of the most requested answer...his workout routine. Come and learn about all medicine, life in general, and yes...the abs. 🥵

This episode includes brief discussions around the topics of physician suicide, relationship violence, racism and racial violence, and other trauma (physical or psychological).

Livestream Air Date: March 24, 2021

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

The Monsoon Diaries: Web monsoondiaries.com & YT The Monsoon Diaries

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

The medical field of dermatology remains to be one of the most competitive specialties to match into for residency. Despite the common misconception that this field of the skin is solely all about the "glitz and glamour" world of botox, fillers, and cosmetic procedures, Dr. Daniel Sugai seeks to show that it is not at all true.

Receiving his bachelor's degree in Biology and Art from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2008, attaining his medical degree from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine in 2012, and further completing his Dermatology residency at Harvard Medical School in 2016, Dr. Sugai is currently practicing as a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle, Washington. Beyond this, Dr. Sugai is also my personal mentor and a big brother to me, so we had zero inhibitions in this episode to dive deep into all things hair, skin, and nails, even reaching the most controversial topics. In fact, we worked hand-in-hand to build and curate his YouTube channel "Dr. Daniel Sugai" in April 2020, now a Silver Creator Award recipient, to tackle ingredient misinformation, review leading and affordable products, and normalize skincare for men. He can also be seen on Tiktok as "Dr. SPF," having amassed over 1 million followers!

Is there a fine line between medicine and vanity? At what age should someone start getting Botox? Is there such a thing as "too much" Botox or filler? Do collagen and biotin supplements really work? Is sunscreen truly toxic and carcinogenic, as many claims? And with 2020 being the "year of skincare" as everyone stayed in the comfort of their own homes during the pandemic, we touched on all things skincare: naming the best brands, exposing the worst products, ranting out viral gimmicks, commenting on the grand world of K-beauty, and debunking every myth possible. As a gift, come and learn about the one skincare product that Dr. Sugai deems "the secret of every dermatologist!"

Livestream Air Date: March 7, 2021

Daniel Sugai, MD, FAAD: IG/FB @danielsugaimd

MillenialDerm Website: drdanielsugai.com

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

The "Vampire Facial" has truly taken the world by storm with the concept of a literally bloody revival of one's skin, so much so that even Kim Kardashian got it. By drawing one's blood and extracting the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to be re-injected into its source, the hope is to force the body to re-heal its own scars and wounds. Interestingly, this aesthetic procedure falls underneath a new branch of medicine called Rehabilitation Medicine, where we harness the "regenerating" power of the human body to heal its own in conditions of inflammation and injury with modern healing modalities and the advancement of science and technology!

Receiving her bachelor's degree in Biology and Psychology from Wellesley College in 1999, attaining her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2003, and further completing her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2007, Dr. Alita Sikora now stands as an expert physician practitioner of Regenerative Medicine in her practice Sikora Integrative Medicine situated in Vero Beach, Florida.

In this episode, Dr. Sikora takes on audience questions such as about the usage of growth factors in PRP not only for scars but also for joint problems and hair regrowth (Hi Rogaine and light therapy), medical marijuana (what is THC? What is CBD?), bioidentical hormones (how do they fare versus traditional hormone replacement therapy/HRT?), and the importance of research when deciding which medical procedures to install in one's practice. Come and learn about the "fountain of youth!"

Livestream Air Date: February 24, 2021

Alita Sikora, MD: IG @dralitasikora & YT Alita Sikora

Sikora Integrative Medicine: sikoramedical.com

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod & FB @friendsoffranzpod

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

The conversations in this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not implied or intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers regarding a medical condition.

A FaceTime call just with others watching and listening. Back on February 24, 2021, I began "Friends of Franz" (thank you to my friend, Christina, for helping me brainstorm titles) as an Instagram live stream series with the hopes of both tackling misinformation spreading around the internet about COVID-19 and the vaccines as well as to encourage health students and professionals like myself in their academic and career journeys. And so I thought, why don't we give the actual educated and trained experts of the field a platform to tackle these misinformations while also relaying the journeys it took them to reach that point of validity. After ten months of live-streaming, 26 different expert clinicians have wonderfully shared their stories of hard work, persistence, failures, successes, hopes, fears, and just normal lives behind their auspicious degrees and titles. Through this initiative, I also want to contribute to the pursuit of displaying humanity in healthcare and its workers. We will meet physicians who do yoga, dentists who attend raves and music festivals, experts dancing on Tik Tok, and so much more. Join me as I now relay these live stories to you on a platform where you can listen, learn, and aspire over and over again!

The conversations in this podcast series are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not implied or intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers regarding a medical condition.

Friends of Franz: IG @friendsoffranzpod

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

Season Cover Art Photography by @enyabar.photo