In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd unpacks the quiet pressure to be everything to everyone: the perfect doctor, the perfect parent, the perfect partner. But what if success isn’t about getting it all right? What if the real work, and the real growth, comes from simply getting a little better each day? This episode explores how embracing small, consistent improvements can lead to more sustainable fulfillment, both professionally and personally. It’s a conversation about showing up, letting go of unrealistic standards, and making peace with the messy middle.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren @lauren_umstattd_md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Why do women in medicine still have to be twice as good to get half the credit?

In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Sinehan Bayrak for a raw and real conversation about what it takes to succeed as a woman in medicine—and the unspoken costs of trying to be “perfect” in a system that still rewards mediocrity in men.

They talk candidly about the double standards women face in surgery, the psychological toll of perfectionism, and how implicit bias still shapes who gets promoted, praised, or believed. From patient selection to mentorship to the quiet calculus women make every day just to be taken seriously—this episode goes deep on what it means to strive for excellence in a field that often sets the bar unevenly.

Whether you're a med student, resident, or attending, this one’s for anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to overperform just to be seen.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Dr. Sinehan Bayrak

IG: @dr.bayrak

Website: https://bayrakmd.com/

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

In this episode, I open up about something that’s all too common in medical training but rarely talked about: abuse and mistreatment. I share a personal story from my own training — including a moment where a supervising surgeon crossed a serious line with physical aggression — and reflect on how that experience shaped my decision to walk away from fellowship. We talk about the blurry line between tough coaching and outright abuse, and what it really means to push someone “for their own good.” This one is about drawing your own boundaries, reclaiming your autonomy in a system that often strips it away, and naming the things we’ve all been taught to stay silent about. If you've ever felt gaslit, undermined, or just plain mistreated in medicine, this one’s for you.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren @lauren_umstattd_md

Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective