Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Surgeons with Purpose
Health & FitnessMedicineMental HealthEducationSelf-ImprovementExplicit

Surgeons with Purpose

Hippocratic Collective

A podcast for surgeons who feel like they are languishing in a career that didn't turn out to be as fulfilling or as prestigious as they expected. Dr. Mel Thacker, an ENT surgeon and coach, takes you on a journey to help you understand why you are feeling dissatisfied, burnt out, and stuck. With this newfound insight, you'll be able to reframe how you see your experience, rediscover who you are underneath your surgeon identity, and create a life that aligns with your authentic self.

Find more info about Surgeons with Purpose and other shows on the Hippocratic Collective at hippocratic-collective.com

Play
Open in
  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 58 min
  • English

Episodes 22

NewestOldestLongest
All2Unplayed2In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • April 13 · 44 min

    #93 Negotiating Our Worth with Dr. Karen Leitner

    Surgeons, join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group today. In this episode, Dr. Karen Leitner and I explore the hidden thought patterns that keep women physicians stuck. And how to break free! We cover: Why charting paralysis happens (and the thought loops that drive it) Being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) later in life and the shift from self-judgment to self-understanding The power of acceptance and letting go of control over outcomes The moment Karen realized even “good doctors” get sued How medical training builds a hypercritical inner voice (and how to replace it with self-compassion) Moving from walking a tightrope → to feeling solid and safe within yourself The reality of inequity: women physicians being undervalued and underpaid Lessons from Women Don’t Ask on why women avoid negotiation The mindset shifts needed to negotiate powerfully: Your value is yours—even if others don’t recognize it Hearing “no” is part of the process, not the end Discomfort is the price of increasing your impact and income Practical negotiation strategies: Research compensation (e.g., Medical Group Management Association data) Communicate your value from the institution’s perspective Have the conversation in person and set expectations ahead of time Anticipate objections and stay in the conversation Key takeaway: Money = impact. When you are compensated appropriately, you expand your ability to create change. Ready to go deeper? If you’re a woman physician looking to feel better, think clearer, and show up more powerfully in your life and career, check out Dr. Karen Leitner's coaching program here. Make sure to follow her on Instagram here. And if you’re a surgeon ready to step out of burnout and lead your career from a place of confidence and ownership, join Empowered Surgeons. You don’t have to keep doing this alone.

  • April 6 · 1 hr 11 min

    #92 The Rules of Surviving Surgery with Dr. Sonya Sloan

    Interested in our retreat to Norway? Get on my calendar for an interview here. What does it really take to survive and succeed in a system that wasn’t built with you in mind? In this episode, I explore that question with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sonya Sloan. We talk about the hidden curriculum of medicine: the unspoken rules, the power dynamics, and the strategies required to navigate surgical training, especially as a Black woman in a historically white, male-dominated field. From early inspiration in the operating room to enduring microaggressions, bullying, and even physical assault during training, Dr. Sloan shares what she learned, how she protected herself, and why resilience alone is not enough. This episode is not just about survival; it’s about strategy, leadership, and rewriting the rules for the next generation. We talk about: How her early experiences sparked a career in orthopedics What it was like being one of the only Black trainees in a surgical program The reality of bias, microaggressions, and exclusion in medicine The difference between mentors and true advocates A moment of physical assault in the OR, and how she handled it Why documentation and strategy are essential for protecting your career The hidden “rules” of medicine no one teaches you How surgical culture impacts women The critical importance of leadership and communication skills Why “soft skills” are not optional but essential How humor and tone-setting can transform the OR environment The emotional toll of training, and the importance of narrative processing Why so many trainees feel isolated, targeted, or unsupported What needs to change in surgical education right now Takeaways: Resilience isn’t enough. You need strategy, awareness, and support Documentation is power in environments where bias exists Mentors advise. Advocates act. You need both. Microaggressions shape careers, even when they seem subtle Leadership skills are not taught, but they are critical to survival You don’t have to silently tolerate inappropriate behavior Processing your story is part of healing and reclaiming your voice Learn more about Dr. Sonya Sloan and get her book, The Rules of Medicine here. Follow Dr. Sloan on instagram here. Check out Hardball for Women here. Check out White Fragility here. Join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Showing 21–22 of 22 episodes