The Line Between Self-Advocacy and Survival in Medicine

This week on Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Dr. Kate Buhrke following their trip to the LMSA West conference—where one theme came up again and again:How do you protect yourself in a system that doesn’t protect you?From toxic power dynamics and inappropriate behavior in training, to the blurred line between self-advocacy and self-preservation, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what medical students and residents are still facing today.They dive into:The reality of one-on-one power in clinical trainingWhy “just playing the game” comes at a costThe myth that abuse creates better doctorsUnionization, organizing, and why change feels so slowThe hidden emotional toll: “death by a thousand cuts”Why some specialties get away with more than othersAnd ultimately—what it means to speak up, find community, and remind people:You’re not crazy. You’re not alone.Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MDGuest: Kate Burhke, DOConnect with Kate:https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/kate-buhrke-doPresented by: The Hippocratic CollectiveFollow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimdAnd subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.