Welcome to The Business of Surgery, a brand-new 12-part summer series on FEM, MD.

Every week this summer, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lauren Umstattd pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a successful private practice - from financing and hiring to marketing, leadership, pricing, and the mindset required to bet on yourself.

In Episode 1, Lauren starts with the most important question of all:

Should you even become an entrepreneur?

Drawing from her own experience building a thriving, physician-owned cosmetic surgery practice, she discusses:

• How to know if you're cut out for business ownership

• Risk tolerance and entrepreneurial mindset

• Why physicians struggle with imposter syndrome outside of medicine

• Learning to embrace failure in business

• Building your dream practice through intentional vision

• Why "just start" is often the best advice

• Autonomy vs. employment in medicine

• Why physicians deserve more control over how they practice

Whether you're a medical student, resident, attending physician, or simply curious about entrepreneurship in healthcare, this series offers an honest, practical look at building a career on your own terms.

Subscribe for new episodes of The Business of Surgery every week this summer.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

Women physicians are often expected to do it all: care for patients, raise families, support everyone around them, and somehow never ask for anything in return.

In this episode of FEM, MD, host Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with physician, writer, and creator Dr. Laura Vater for an honest conversation about toxic martyrdom in medicine, physician burnout, motherhood, sleep deprivation, and building a sustainable career as a woman doctor.

Together, they discuss why so many women in medicine struggle with boundaries, how residency training can normalize self-sacrifice, the reality of the "second shift" at home, and practical advice for physicians navigating career, family, and personal well-being.

Topics discussed include:

• Toxic martyrdom in medicine

• Women physicians and burnout

• Motherhood during medical training

• The "second shift" and working moms

• Setting boundaries as an attending physician

• Sleep deprivation and physician wellness

• Negotiating your first physician contract

• Financial independence for doctors

• Raising children while practicing medicine

• Finding joy and fulfillment outside of work

Whether you're a medical student, resident, attending physician, or working mother trying to balance it all, this conversation offers practical wisdom and reassurance that you are not alone.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Laura Vater

Connect with Laura: @doclauravater

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

Why are so many women physicians walking away from medicine?

In this episode of FEM, MD, host Lauren Umstattd sits down with retinal specialist and physician coach Dr. Shanika Esparaz to discuss the wake-up call that forced her to rethink everything. After experiencing debilitating physical symptoms—including the worst headache of her life—Dr. Esparaz realized that what looked like success on the outside was costing her far more than she realized.

Together, they explore physician burnout, the unique challenges facing women in medicine, the pressure to do it all, and how learning to slow down helped Dr. Esparaz reclaim her career, family life, and sense of self.

Topics discussed include:

• The physical symptoms of physician burnout

• Why women doctors are leaving medicine at alarming rates

• The hidden cost of perfectionism and overachievement

• Building boundaries in clinical practice

• Opening (and later closing) a concierge medical practice

• Autonomy vs. workload in medicine

• How coaching helped redefine success

• Nervous system regulation and burnout recovery

• Why slowing down isn't the same as giving up

• Learning to choose yourself without guilt

If you've ever wondered whether there's a different way to practice medicine—or a different way to live—this conversation is for you.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Shanika Esparaz

Connect with Shanika: @shani_esparazmd

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

Dr. Betsy Dovec was one of the busiest bariatric surgeons in the country when she made a decision that shocked many of her colleagues: she walked away from a secure, high-paying hospital position to build her own practice and surgery center from the ground up.

In this episode of FEM, MD, Betsy shares the behind-the-scenes reality of launching Body by Bariatrics, navigating non-competes, securing a $12 million loan, building an ambulatory surgery center, and leading a growing healthcare business. She also discusses how GLP-1 medications are changing the bariatric landscape, why she believes traditional hospital-employed bariatric programs are facing major disruption, and what it takes to balance entrepreneurship, surgery, and motherhood.

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to build a medical practice on your own terms, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on risk-taking, leadership, resilience, and creating a life that aligns with your ambitions.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Dovec

Connect with Betsy: @drdovec

https://bodybybariatrics.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

On this episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Natalie Krane for a candid conversation about the surprising overlap between elite athletics and surgical training. From Division I soccer and career-ending injuries to residency culture, burnout, performance psychology, and personal wellness, they unpack the coping mechanisms that make high-achieving women successful — and the ways those same traits can quietly erode long-term wellbeing.

The two surgeons discuss restorative breathing in the operating room, microbreaks during surgery, the psychology of performance under pressure, protecting life outside the hospital, and why “even baddies get saddies.” They also reflect on ambition, retirement, identity outside medicine, and the realization that women are allowed to “take up more space” — in medicine and in life.

This episode is for every woman in medicine who has ever pushed through exhaustion, ignored her body’s signals, or wondered what it means to build a sustainable life alongside a meaningful career.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Natalie Krane

Connect with Natalie @drnataliekrane

https://drnataliekrane.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

What happens when a long-term marriage evolves beyond monogamy?

In this episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with clinical psychologist and relationship coach Dr. Rachel Meir to explore what it actually looks like to open a relationship—and why more people are questioning traditional models of love.

Dr. Meir shares her personal story of being married for over 20 years before coming out as bisexual, opening her marriage, and ultimately building a committed triad relationship. Together, they unpack the emotional, logistical, and cultural realities of non-monogamy—from communication and jealousy to family reactions and societal expectations.

This conversation isn’t just about polyamory. It’s about identity, honesty, and what it means to build a relationship that actually fits your life.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What polyamory actually is (and what it isn’t)
• Opening a long-term marriage—how it really happens
• Jealousy, insecurity, and emotional regulation
• The logistics of a “throuple” relationship
• Navigating family, career, and social judgment
• How communication—not structure—is what makes relationships work
• Why vulnerability is the foundation of any healthy relationship

Whether you’re curious about non-traditional relationships or simply want a deeper understanding of connection, this episode will challenge assumptions about love, commitment, and what’s possible.

Subscribe for more conversations on career, identity, and modern womanhood in medicine.

Dr. Rachael Meir is a sex-positive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and kink-aware psychologist and sex/relationship coach who helps people explore ethical non-monogamy—including polyamory, open relationships, and swinging— without the fear of judgment, jealousy, or damaged relationships. As a bisexual woman in a polyamorous triad with her partners, Aaron and Kasey, she brings both personal and professional expertise. Dr. Meir is the author of 50 Questions to Ask Before Opening Your Relationship, a practical and compassionate guide to help individuals and couples navigate non-monogamy with confidence and clarity.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Rachel Meir

Connect with Rachel: @drrachaelmeircoaching

https://www.drrachaelmeir.com/retreat-2026 - Thriving Throuples Retreat https://www.drrachaelmeir.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

What does it actually take to build a successful surgical practice—and a life outside of it?

In this episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lindsey Pennington to talk about the realities of modern surgical careers: from patient red flags and pricing decisions to working with your spouse, motherhood, and building a business that’s actually sustainable.

They get candid about the “era of yes” early in your career, why learning to say no is critical, and how protecting your time can completely change your practice—and your life.

Dr. Pennington also shares:

• The biggest patient red flags (and why ignoring them backfires)
• How she built and scaled her private practice
• What it’s really like working with your husband in the OR
• The tradeoffs between revenue, time, and family
• Why she stopped focusing on money—and what happened instead
• Leadership, burnout, and the shift from surgeon to CEO

This is a conversation about ambition, boundaries, and building a career on your own terms.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Lindsey Pennington, MD

Connect with Lindsey: @penningtonfacialplastics

https://penningtonfacialplastics.com/

Produced by: The Hippocratic Collective

See more shows and content at hippocratic-collective.com

What if the most dangerous relationships don’t look dangerous at first?

In this episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with psychotherapist Vanessa Reiser to unpack the reality of narcissistic abuse—how it starts, why it’s so hard to leave, and why even highly trained professionals aren’t immune.

From love bombing and future faking to gaslighting and trauma bonding, this conversation breaks down the patterns that keep people stuck—and the subtle warning signs most of us miss. Vanessa also shares her own story of escaping an abusive relationship and spending years navigating a system that often fails victims.

They explore:

• The difference between narcissistic traits vs. narcissistic personality disorder
• Why some “dark traits” can actually fuel professional success
• The cycle of abuse—and why it feels addictive
• Red flags in dating that are often dismissed as “personality quirks”
• Why autonomy—not avoidance—is the real protection
• How to support a friend without pushing them further in

This is not just about relationships. It’s about power, identity, and the uncomfortable truth that not everyone is wired the same way.

If you’ve ever felt confused, drained, or like you’re losing yourself in a relationship—this episode will help you name it.

And once you can name it, you can start to leave it.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Vanessa Reiser, LCSW

Connect with Vanessa: @vanessareiserlcsw

https://morewithbrookemartin.com/

Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People: https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Abuse-Therapists-Identifying-Manipulative/dp/0306833174

Presented by: ‪@HippocraticCollective‬

Vanessa Reiser is a mother, author, entrepreneur, 2X Ironman and psychotherapist licensed in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Florida, specializing in narcissistic and cult abuse. She is also the founder of Tell a Therapist, LLC and is best known for her run across the state of New York (285 miles in 11 days) in a wedding dress to raise awareness for narcissistic abuse. She also subsequently ran across NJ, CT, MA & RI with plans to traverse Maryland June 5, 2026. Her insights are both personal and professional, giving her a unique lens into this insidious form of domestic abuse. She recently published "Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist's Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People," available at Hachettebookgroup.com

Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California with a focus on community organizing. Vanessa is also a social media influencer, sharing life-changing information that is educational and validating to those impacted by narcissistic abuse. Vanessa has been interviewed by prestigious news and media outlets like People Magazine, The New York Times, Fox News, MSN, and The New York Post.