No one teaches physicians how to find their first job.

After years of medical school and residency, new attendings are suddenly expected to navigate networking, interviews, contracts, compensation, and career decisions, often with little guidance.

In this episode of Cut & Tell, newly graduated plastic surgeon Dr. Liz Malphrus shares everything she learned during her own physician job search. From building a professional online presence and expanding your network to evaluating job offers, negotiating contracts, and avoiding common mistakes, this is the practical guide she wishes she'd had before starting the process.

Whether you're entering residency, fellowship, or preparing for your first attending position, these lessons can help you approach the job search with confidence.

Topics discussed:

• When to start looking for your first physician job
• Why networking matters more than job boards
• Building your professional online presence
• Cold emailing and reaching out to practices
• Questions to ask during physician interviews
• Understanding compensation and partnership tracks
• Why every physician needs a contract attorney
• Evaluating practice culture and red flags
• How Dr. Malphrus found her first attending position
• Making the transition from resident to attending

Cut & Tell explores the realities of surgical training, career transitions, and building a meaningful life in medicine.

Host: Liz Malphrus, MD

Connect with Liz: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/liz-malphrus-md

IG: @dr.malphrus

Produced By: The Hippocratic Collective

Subscribe to @hippocraticcollective on Youtube for all of the other shows and content the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

After six years of surgical residency, I expected to leave with better technical skills. I didn't expect to leave without one of my defining personality traits.

In this episode of Cut & Tell, I share the story of how a formal complaint from a senior resident completely changed how I saw myself, and ultimately forced me to stop trying to make everyone happy.

We talk about:

• Why medicine attracts people pleasers
• How hierarchy can shape your identity
• Learning to have difficult conversations with patients
• The emotional toll of residency politics
• Why not everyone has to like you
• How losing my reputation helped me find my voice

If you're a resident, medical student, physician, or anyone who's struggled with conflict, perfectionism, or the need for approval, I hope this episode reminds you that sometimes the strongest version of yourself only emerges after disappointing someone else.

🎧 Subscribe for honest conversations about life after residency, surgery, identity, and building a career on your own terms.

Host: Liz Malphrus, MD

Connect with Liz: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/liz-malphrus-md

IG: @dr.malphrus

Produced By: The Hippocratic Collective

Subscribe to @hippocraticcollective on Youtube for all of the other shows and content the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.

What actually makes a great chief resident?

After finishing plastic surgery residency, Dr. Liz Malphrus reflects on one of the most important leadership roles in medical training, and the lessons no one formally teaches. From setting expectations and managing team dynamics to giving meaningful feedback and building trust, this episode is a practical guide for anyone preparing to lead in residency.

Dr. Malphrus shares the communication strategies that transformed her approach as chief resident, why vague feedback hurts more than it helps, and how supporting curiosity can create stronger teams and better physicians. Whether you're an intern, senior resident, future chief, or attending looking to mentor trainees, these leadership principles extend far beyond medicine.

In this episode:

• How to develop your own leadership style
• Why communication is the foundation of great teams
• Setting expectations from day one
• Giving feedback that's immediate, specific, and actionable
• Avoiding the biggest mistakes chief residents make
• Building team morale while maintaining accountability
• Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills

If you're navigating residency, preparing for chief year, or interested in leadership in healthcare, this episode offers practical advice you can apply immediately.

Subscribe for more honest conversations about residency, surgical training, physician life, and the realities of modern medicine.

Host: Liz Malphrus, MD

Connect with Liz: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/liz-malphrus-md

IG: @dr.malphrus

Produced By: The Hippocratic Collective

Subscribe to @hippocraticcollective on Youtube for all of the other shows and content the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.