On Jan. 16, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Elvis Francois, will be releasing his new EP, “Realignment,” from which the first single, “I’ll Be” has been released.
According to a press release published on Oct. 17, 2025 by Shore Fire Media, “From the soulful inspiration conjured up on opening track ‘Good Morning’, to the mournful classic Motown vibe of ‘Where Do I Go’, to the ethereal pop of ‘Prepared To Die’, to the experimental ballad ‘Hang On’, the EP showcases a wide mastering of music stylings.”
In an interview with Caribbean Life, Francois discussed his family background, his journeys to becoming a doctor and musician, as well as his passion for helping his community.
He grew up as the son of Haitian immigrants in Miami, Florida, living in a small public housing unit near Little Haiti. His father immigrated in the early 1980s and worked four or five different odd jobs—educator, cab driver, first elder at church. His true calling was service.
“He was a man of deep faith who consistently sent money back to Haiti to care for people who couldn’t care for themselves,” Francois shared about his father.
People may be surprised to know Francois was a troubled youth. He was suspended 13 times between middle and high school and was often in disciplinary trouble. For him, the one constant in his life was his father’s belief that education came first.
“He worked tirelessly to keep me on track, and those lessons eventually shaped me into someone who wanted to help others—first through medicine, and later through music,” he added.
Francois sees his father as the greatest influence on his path in life as a doctor because he taught him that life is richer when we focus on the common good and add value to every person we meet. “Like many Caribbean parents, he encouraged me to pursue a path of service—meaning education, medicine, or law. For him, the goal was never status; it was impact,” he said.
Francois says he always knew he wanted a medical career. Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he felt drawn to a career in orthopedics. “On an island of over 9 million people, there were only a handful of orthopedic surgeons. The idea of being able to ‘fix broken people’—literally and figuratively—cemented my dedication to this field,” he stated.
His medical career began that same year, but it was not easy at all, as he had applied to medical school three separate times and was rejected each time.
“After three years of setbacks, I was finally accepted into the post-baccalaureate program at Meharry Medical College, which offered provisional acceptance into medical school if I achieved a specific GPA and MCAT score. Knowing it was my last real opportunity, I went all in — studying day and night, relying on faith, family, and perseverance. I ultimately matriculated into medical school in 2010. I went on to complete my orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and later completed my spine surgery fellowship at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,” he explained.
Francois’ singing journey started in 2018, while he was an orthopedic resident at the Mayo Clinic. He often stopped to play one of the grand pianos placed throughout the hospital for patients and staff.
“One day, I sat down with a co-resident, Dr. William Robinson, and as he played, people gathered around. It reminded me that while medicine heals the body, music has the power to heal the mind and the soul. Someone recorded one of those moments, and the video unexpectedly went viral. It was a profound reminder that music can reach places medicine cannot,” he recalled of the moment.
Shortly after the viral moment, producers from FOX contacted him. They invited him to appear on The Masked Singer. Within weeks, he went from performing casually in a hospital lobby to singing in front of millions of viewers inside a giant serpent costume. For him, it was surreal, humbling, and one of the greatest honors of his life.
Francois and his medical partner, Dr. Arutyunyan, met during orthopedic residency at the Mayo Clinic, where Francois served as one of the chief residents. They have remained close over the years. Francois has seen that Arutyunyan has an extraordinary heart and genuine commitment to helping people—whether patients or strangers.
“One of his passions is supporting single mothers who are working to further their education so they can better care for their families. One of my lifelong callings has been supporting children in Haiti who lack consistent access to food and education. Together, we created the Pledge of Giving Hope Foundation as a way to combine these missions. Our belief is simple: every seed of hope we plant today has the potential to grow into a rainforest of opportunity into tomorrow,” he added.
Francois and Dr. Grigoriy Arutyunyan co-founded the Pledge of Giving Hope Foundation. They hosted the first annual black-tie fundraising gala for their practice, Big Apple Spine & Orthopedics. Patients, community members, healthcare providers, friends, and supporters gathered at Level Restaurant and Bar at 2775 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11235.
Though the gala was a night of celebration, filled with family, fun, music, and the joy of the holiday season, Francois wanted to remind people that it also serves a deeper purpose.
Discussing his legacy, Francois hopes to leave one of giving, of service, and of leading with compassion.
“Music and medicine are both ways of connecting with people, lifting their spirits, and making their lives better,” he said.
If there’s one message he’d want to pass on, it’d be what his grandmother always said: “If the mountain was smooth, you wouldn’t be able to climb it,” adding, “Everything you want in life is on the other side of hard work.”