What if the traits that made you successful in medicine are also what made it so hard?

In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Dr. Frances Mei sits down with ENT physician Dr. Colleen Plein for a deeply honest conversation about neurodivergence, identity, and what it really means to “fit in” in medicine.

They explore:

• ADHD, autism, and giftedness in high-achieving physicians
• Why so many doctors feel like outsiders
• The hidden cost of residency culture and hierarchy
• Highly sensitive people (HSPs) and emotional intensity
• Reframing “too much” as a superpower
• Finding community in a system that wasn’t built for you

If you’ve ever felt different, overwhelmed, or like you don’t quite belong—this episode is for you.

Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MD

Guest: Colleen Plein, MD

Connect with Colleen: @boogerbossmd

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Follow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimd

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