It’s Halloween on Social Rounds, and Tony and Frances Mei are in rare form. Between witch hats, hangovers, and parental sleep deprivation, they cover everything from the science of “short sleepers” (can you really thrive on four hours of sleep?) to the most audacious Louvre jewel heist in recent history.

In true Social Rounds fashion, they tie it all back to medicine — what surgeons can learn from jewel thieves about staying cool under pressure, why residency interviews bring out everyone’s inner weirdo, and whether charisma can actually be taught (spoiler: Frances Mei thinks it can, Tony isn’t so sure).

Stay for the unfiltered advice for medical students, residents, and attendings — and maybe a few tips for your next great escape.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

Chapters:

0:00 Halloween stories & hangovers

5:00 Inside Baseball: short sleepers and residency PTSD

14:50 Outside Baseball: the Louvre heist

25:30 Social Rounds: how to survive interview season

42:00 Why charisma can (maybe) be learned

Welcome back to Social Rounds, the podcast where your two favorite Surgeon Dropouts, Tony and Frances Mei, give their unsolicited opinions on medicine, pop culture, and the world at large.

In Episode 9, Frances Mei is back from her sabbatical in Europe with tales of foreign travel and a mysterious new hat! Tony then delivers a fascinating deep dive into the winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, breaking down the revolutionary discovery of Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and the key role they play in autoimmune diseases and cancer treatment. They also discuss their own personal ambitions for a Nobel Prize (Peace vs. Literature).

Finally, the gloves come off in a rapid-fire pop culture segment as Frances Mei delivers her brutally honest take on Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Show Girl! Did the superstar break her own mythology? Tune in to find out!

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

00:00

Intro and Welcome to Social Rounds

00:48

Frances Mei is Back!Sabbatical Reflections and the Story Behind the Hat

02:48

Shoutouts to Devoted Listeners and Guest Hosts (Ryan Montoya, Joan Chan, Janet McMordie)

05:02

The Machiavellian Threat to Guest Hosts: "You come for the king you best not miss."

06:41

Sabbatical Takeaways: Travel, Culture, and the Value of Time Alone

10:36

Looking Ahead to the Social Rounds Halloween Episode

10:48

News Segment: The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine

10:59

The 2025 Nobel Laureates: Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi

11:15

Tony's Science Corner: The Immune System as an Army (Helper T's, Killer T's, and the Thymus Boot Camp)

13:25

The Discovery of Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and the FoxP3 Gene

14:38

The Impact: Treating Autoimmune Disease, Preventing Organ Rejection, and Fighting Cancer

15:20

The Big Question: If You Won a Nobel Prize, Which Field Would It Be In? (Frances Mei: Peace, Tony: Literature)

25:09

Pop Culture Segment: Taylor Swift's New Album

25:31

The Global Phenomenon and Frances Mei's Critique of The life of a show girl

26:40

Taylor Swift "Broke Her Own Mythology" and the Joe Alwyn/Jack Antonoff Dynamic

28:49

The "No One is Telling Her No" Theory and Director Christopher Nolan

29:13

Discussion of the Song "Wood" (The Travis Kelce/Redwood Penis Analogy)

33:04

The "Writing for Travis's Reading Level" Theory

35:28

Frances Mei's Defense of the Song "Father Figure" (George Michael Sample)

36:31

Is This the Start of the Taylor Swift Fall Off?

39:30

Social Rounds Segment: Predatory Relationships in Medicine

40:49

What Training Level Difference Makes a Relationship "Officially Predatory?"

43:20

Frances Mei's "Five-Year Differential" Rule

43:51

The Med Student/Senior Resident Scenario and the Power Dynamic

47:17

The Importance of Perceived Power (Interns as "Superstars")

49:30

The Advice Paradox: Just Get Out Now (But You'll Do It Anyway)

51:43

Tony's Advice: Look Past the Status and Ask Deeper Questions

53:21

The Litmus Test: "Would I date this person if they weren't a doctor?"

54:50

Wrap-up and Outro (Next Week: Halloween Episode)

This week on Social Rounds, Tony sits down with the incredible Dr. Janet McMordie — sports medicine physician, actor, voice artist, and yes… surgical hand double for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Good Sam.

Together, they dive into what it really means to reinvent yourself in medicine and beyond — from Olympic doctor to actor, from scrubs to screen. They talk about the art of quitting without regret, how image and confidence intersect for women in medicine, and why how you present yourself still matters (even post-call and half-asleep).

Janet also shares her take on sobriety, finding joy in ritual, and the unexpected ways medicine and acting overlap. Plus: Tony’s confession about lying to his piano teacher, why everyone should wear earplugs at Metallica, and a heartfelt defense of the Early Birds Club — a dance party for those of us who just can’t stay up past 10.

Whether you’re a med student, a creative, or just figuring out your next act, this episode is about showing up for yourself — inside and outside the hospital.

🎧 Subscribe to Social Rounds for more stories from doctors who took the scenic route.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/tony-chin-quee-md

Janet McMordie: https://www.janetmcmordie.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevz13xkxpro

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/21/nx-s1-5529316/earlybirds-club-dance-party

When a Kentucky nurse named Misty Combs found two baby raccoons trapped in a dumpster, one of them passed out in a puddle of moonshine, she did what any true hero would do: performed CPR. Yes, really.

In this episode of Social Rounds, we unpack the internet’s favorite story of medical training meets wild animal rescue. From moonshine to moral philosophy, we explore what makes someone spring into action when others freeze, and how compassion sometimes looks like mouth-to-mouth on a raccoon.

It’s part comedy, part chaos, and part case study in what it means to care - no matter who (or what) needs saving.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/tony-chin-quee-md

Ryan Montoya: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/ryan-montoya-md

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2025/07/07/in-the-ai-revolution-medical-schools-are-falling-behind-us-colleges/ 

https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/letcher-county-nurse-revives-drunk-raccoon-found-in-dumpster-with-cpr

In Episode 6 of Social Rounds, Tony and Joan get real about the classic doctor paradox: why physicians give one set of rules but don’t always follow them themselves. (Yes, Tony still uses Q-tips. No, he’s not sorry.)

From laughing about bad habits to debating whether AI scribes can actually save medicine from burnout, this episode is equal parts funny and thought-provoking. And if that’s not enough, we also dive into one of the wildest medical scandals you’ve probably never heard of - featuring a vascular surgeon, amputations, and a whole lot of ethical questions.

It’s candid, irreverent, and just the right amount of unhinged.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/tony-chin-quee-md

Joan Chan: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/joan-chan-md

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://time.com/7310911/ambient-ai-doctor-burnout-health-care/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2837847?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=082125

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yvpx20le2o

This week on Social Rounds, Tony Chin-Quee and Joan Chan ask the big question: should we really be growing pigs to fix our busted organs? With the FDA officially saying “yep, let’s try it,” xenotransplantation is suddenly more than a Black Mirror plotline. We break down the science, the squeamish factor, and why pigs got the short straw instead of, say, goats or raccoons.

But that’s not all, because medicine isn’t just about kidneys and CRISPR. We also get into the all-too-real problem of doctors forgetting that patients are, in fact, people. Spoiler: dignity matters as much as dialysis.

It’s part science, part roast, part therapy session. Grab your stethoscope and your sense of humor - things are about to get weird.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/tony-chin-quee-md

Joan Chan: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/joan-chan-md

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/08/health/pig-kidney-transplant-human-trial-fda

https://nypost.com/2025/09/04/us-news/california-healthcare-staff-fired-after-posting-dehumanizing-tiktok-mocking-patients-in-exam-room/ 

This week on Social Rounds, Tony Chin-Quee and Frances Mei wade into the messy, complicated, and surprisingly spicy world of resident unions. From the University of Colorado’s organizing battles to the bigger question of whether doctors-in-training should flex their collective bargaining muscles, we break it all down with our signature mix of humor and honesty. Why are U.S. residents so hesitant to unionize when doctors abroad do it all the time? What would change if residents actually had a real seat at the table? And—most importantly—does solidarity come with snacks? Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts serious, snarky, and very on-brand for Social Rounds.

CLUB FM Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2TpZEtQF8g2sOrNbTybtjO?si=u6duA___Tyqq8gLJntvVkA

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://coloradosun.com/2025/08/11/university-of-colorado-medical-residents-collective-bargaining/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K_u6A3BLvVBDo5Vsqhdm7qAS91KHtyhtzbyAFZWWL_M/edit?tab=t.0

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/tooth-in-eye-surgery-canada-1.7470626 

Tony and Frances Mei pull back the curtain on the messier side of med school — from the “sexually charged” undercurrent of training, to how social dynamics shape friendships, relationships, and reputations in medicine. They tackle everything from cancel culture in the hospital halls to whether med students really need a crash course in the humanities. Equal parts candid, funny, and brutally honest, this episode proves that what happens outside the lecture hall might matter just as much as what happens inside.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

https://time.com/7303692/alice-walton-school-of-medicine-new-medical-school/

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/alpha-gal-syndrome-virginia-to-track-tick-borne-meat-allergy-aug-17-2025

https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html   

https://www.instagram.com/p/DN02niAXMM-/

Tony Chin-Quee, MD and Frances Mei Hardin, MD are back for Episode 2 of Social Rounds — the show where two ENT surgeon dropouts deliver fast, funny, and fearless takes on medicine, culture, and life.

In this episode, we cover:

– Inside baseball: Can doctors really “find joy” in medicine, or is wellness just another way to gaslight trainees?

– Outside baseball: Nitrous oxide is the new party drug — but should you really trust something called Galaxy Gas?

– Florida man: Credit card fraud, Chuck E. Cheese, and why reading the mouse his Miranda rights might be the greatest story of 2025.

– Social Rounds: Life advice no one asked for, featuring dirty scrubs, three-baths-a-day coping strategies, and the importance of minding your vaginal pH.

– Call Room Confessions: If he wanted to, he would… even if it means removing a hospital bunk bed to make the call room the official “sex room.”

This is not your average doctor podcast. After the notes, charts, and doctor’s lounge sandwiches — it’s time for Social Rounds.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

2:00 - https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMms2311042

11:00 - Gottman Institute and positive/negative bids https://www.gottman.com/blog/want-to-improve-your-relationship-start-paying-more-attention-to-bids/

16:00 - Being Well by Doing Well  https://surg.me/sites/default/files/nejm%20Being%20Well%20while%20Doing%20Well.pdf

16:00 - Colin's Response https://rethinkingresidency.com/wellness/distinguishing-necessary-from-unnecessary-think-pieces/

Welcome to Social Rounds — the brand-new show from Tony Chin-Quee, MD and Frances Mei Hardin, MD. Two ENT's, now founders of the Surgeon Dropout Club, who traded the operating room for the group chat. They're here to deliver fast, funny, and fearless takes on medicine, culture, and life. If you've ever wondered what a surgeon would really say when there were no more consequences...

In our debut episode, we cover:

– Inside baseball: the hidden costs of residency and why a $10K stipend isn’t enough

– Outside baseball: NASA + Google are building an AI doctor for astronauts (and Frances Mei volunteers as tribute to Mars)

– Pop culture rounds: Taylor Swift’s new album, Travis Kelce, and why dating a guy who can’t spell “squirrel” might be a red flag

– The eternal debate: is there ever a reason to wear scrubs in public?

– Surgeons read mean tweets (spoiler: it’s mostly Frances Mei’s mentions)

This is the start of something fun and irreverent. After you're done with pre-rounding, rounding, notes, charting, doctor's lounge sandwiches...it's time for Social Rounds.

Hosted by:

Tony Chin-Quee: https://www.instagram.com/wheyouat/

Frances Mei Hardin: https://www.instagram.com/francesmeimd/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective