EPISODE 11: Victoria Lister - Speaking Up, Silencing, and Navigating the Medical Profession

EPISODE 12: Victoria Lister – Speaking Up, Silencing, and Navigating the Medical Profession EPISODE DESCRIPTION:What happens when the structure meant to protect and elevate you ends up holding you back?In this episode of Recalibrating with Sharee Johnson, Sharee Johnson is joined by Victoria Lister—researcher, workplace coach, academic, and entrepreneur—to discuss the culture of silence among junior doctors, the hidden “rules” of elite professions, and the toll these unspoken expectations take on wellbeing and voice.A candid, insightful exploration of hierarchy, adaptability, recalibration, and why creating spaces for truth-telling matters for both carers and the cared-for in healthcare. SHOW NOTES:“Speak up, don’t speak up, because the clear message is you’re not to speak up about your own working conditions.” — Victoria Lister   Key Takeaways: The path to becoming a doctor is often tightly prescribed and hierarchical, but successful, fulfilling careers can follow nonlinear, adaptive routes. Silence about working conditions is even more pervasive and entrenched than silence about patient safety for junior doctors. Powerful occupational forces—hierarchy, competition, implicit rules—shape who feels safe to speak and when. Senior doctors and leaders hold the key to shifting culture and creating “pockets of enlightened leadership” where voice is possible. Cost–benefit calculations, fear of repercussions, and the myth of self-sacrifice drive much of the ongoing silence. Awareness, psychological safety, and career adaptability are tools for recalibrating both workplace and personal wellbeing. Medicine, like many professions, is shaped over centuries—meaning change is slow, but possible, with collective attention and courage.   Resources & Links Mentioned: Research on employee voice and silence in healthcare (to be published by Victoria Lister) Modern Hippocratic Oath and practitioner wellbeing:   Modern “Hippocratic oath” and physician wellbeing.  The World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva 2017 specifically includes a commitment from the doctor to actively take care of their own well being, in recognition of it having a direct impact on patient care.  The statement is part of a longer statement that can be found at the link below.   “...I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;..." https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-geneva/ Recommended reading: Generational perspectives on medicine and working conditions Hummingbird Pie – Victoria Lister’s side hustle in activewear: Hummingbird Pie https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272191403_Contested_professional_role_boundaries_in_health_care_A_systematic_review_of_the_literature https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323433366_Failing_to_retain_a_new_generation_of_doctors_Qualitative_insights_from_a_high-income_country Our theme music is "Caribbean" by Zambolino, sourced from FreeToUse.com/music/zambolino/caribbean. __ Disclaimer:The content in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice. Always seek advice from your doctor or qualified healthcare professional. The views expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent any entity they work with or for. __Connect and Subscribe:Enjoyed this conversation? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share with colleagues or friends who may benefit from stories of recalibration and growth in healthcare. Stay tuned for future episodes with inspiring guests!