Dr. Frances Mei Hardin is a distinguished head and neck surgeon, entrepreneur, and author who has carved a unique path in the medical field. Named after her grandmothers, Frances Ann Maher, and Yun Yu Mei. She was raised in Chicago, where she grew up in a nurturing environment with her parents and both grandmothers. Standing six feet tall and of half-Asian descent, Dr. Hardin is often noted for her striking presence.
Her academic journey began at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, where she worked at Fermilab and published her first academic paper in astrophysics at just 16. She then attended the University of Notre Dame, majoring in biochemistry and graduating at 20. Despite her early inclination towards science, personal experiences with family illnesses drew her to the compassionate and interpersonal field of medicine.
Dr. Hardin’s medical training took her through a challenging yet formative residency in ENT at Case Western Cleveland Clinic. Despite facing significant obstacles as a woman in a predominantly male field, she emerged as a resilient and compassionate physician.
She founded her own ENT clinic in a rural community, building it from the ground up to serve patients with the highest level of care. Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Hardin is the creator of Rethinking Residency, a platform offering resources and support for medical trainees. She is also an accomplished author, currently shopping her memoir, “Becoming a Surgeon and Losing Myself.”
Balancing her professional commitments with personal interests in travel, fashion, and fitness, Dr. Hardin embodies a multidimensional approach to life and medicine. Her dedication to improving medical culture and supporting young physicians makes her a true pioneer in her field.
Let’s start with a little bit about who you are and what led you to pursue a career in medicine.
Absolutely. My background is quite unconventional. My legal first name is Frances Mei, named after my two grandmothers, Frances Ann Maher, and Yun Yu Mei, who played a significant role in raising me. I’m an only child from Chicago, and I grew up with my parents and both grandmothers. I have a few interesting facts and humble brags about myself. I’m half Asian and stand six feet tall, which often surprises people at the hospital. They frequently tell me I’m the tallest Asian they’ve ever seen—a funny claim to fame, especially since I trained and practiced in the Midwest.
I left home at thirteen to attend the Illinois Math and Science Academy, a three-year boarding high school. During that time, I worked at Fermilab, and my first academic publication in astrophysics came at the age of 16. That same year, I started at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in biochemistry and graduating at twenty.
It was quite the journey. People often asked if I felt younger than my peers since I skipped two grades, but I felt normal at the time. In hindsight, it made me more socially flexible and even funnier. My first language was Shanghainese, and my mom and grandmother are first-generation immigrants from Shanghai, where my family still lives.
What ultimately brought you into the field of medicine?
I always thought I’d be a scientist. From a young age, I loved STEM and research. By the time I was 19 or 20, I had already spent about eight years in intensive research. However, after losing multiple immediate family members to illness at a young age, I developed a deep compassion for patients and their families.
At Notre Dame, surrounded by pre-med students and taking anatomy and medicine classes, I realized I was drawn to the interpersonal nature of being a physician. I didn’t want to spend my career alone in a lab. So, I took the MCAT my senior year, did a gap year in ENT outcomes research at Wash U in St. Louis, and then went straight into medical school at Case Western Cleveland Clinic.
Why did you choose ENT specifically?
There’s a humorous piece of advice: pick the bodily fluids you can tolerate. I realized I could handle trach secretions, earwax, snot, and spit. Plus, after a few diabetic foot cases, I knew I didn’t want to deal with other bodily fluids.
What challenges have you faced as a woman and an Asian woman in medicine?
A major challenge is that patients often expect their doctor to look or act a certain way. Even as a chief resident, patients would sometimes defer to a white male junior resident behind me. It’s wild how often I had to assert my role. This is even more challenging for petite women in medicine.
Another challenge is the expectation for surgeons to be one-dimensional. I love being a surgeon, but I also enjoy traveling, fashion, and spending time with friends. Being a multifaceted person can invite pushback, especially with incidents like the “medkini” scandal, where female doctors were criticized for wearing swimsuits on social media.
What changes would you like to see in the field of medicine?
I hope to see increased candor and kindness in medical training, more mentorship for young female physicians, and more open conversations about the culture of medicine. We need to address the traumatic, degrading, and toxic aspects of medical training honestly.
What advice would you give to a young resident facing challenges in their training?
I endured four years of verbal and physical abuse in a malignant surgical training program. I often Googled “resident physician depression” and “resident physician suicide,” finding almost no resources. This experience motivated me to create Rethinking Residency, a brand that provides resources and support for current trainees. It includes practical tips, articles, and personal stories to help residents navigate their training.
For those pursuing medicine or any high-achieving field, I recommend studying stoicism. One of my favorite quotes is, “We cannot ensure success, but we can deserve it.” We can only control our actions and do our best, deserving of greatness and success.
Tell us about your current work and any projects you’re passionate about.
I built my own ENT clinic from the ground up over the past few years in a rural community. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience. Outside of the clinic, I’ve written a memoir, “Becoming a Surgeon and Losing Myself,” and continue to mentor and coach young physicians and medical students.
How do you maintain balance and joy amidst the chaos?
I thrive with a structured routine: waking up early, using a bullet journal, practicing gratitude, daily meditation, and exercise. Sobriety post-residency has also been key to maintaining a healthy, centered lifestyle.
Photo Credit – Colin Royal
In conclusion, Dr. Frances Mei Hardin’s journey from a young science enthusiast to a distinguished head and neck surgeon is a testament to her passion, resilience, and compassion. Overcoming significant challenges, she started her own ENT practice, created Rethinking Residency to support medical trainees, created and hosts The Promising young Surgeon Podcast, and has written her first book.
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