Sammy Krathen: The Hipsters and living with hip dysplasia as a teen

In this mini series, of episodes, I’ve been exploring the lived experience of hip dysplasia, not just the science, but what it actually feels like to live with this condition.Today’s guest is Samantha “Sammy” Krathen, one of the founders of a community called The Hipsters: the-hipsters.com Sammy brings a perspective we don’t hear often enough in medicine, the voice of a teenager navigating hip dysplasia while still figuring out who she is, what matters to her, and what life should look like.For Sammy, this journey isn’t only about doctors’ visits or recovery from surgery. It’s about being a high school student, going to summer camp, building friendships, and forming an identity while dealing with something that many people around her can’t see or fully understand.That perspective matters. For other young people going through the same experience, it can be reassuring to hear that they’re not alone. And for clinicians, it’s a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person whose life continues far beyond the clinic or the operating room.