43. Organizing a Resident Union with Hannah Porter MD MBA

Unions have been a significant force for change in many industries, and in recent years even in healthcare.  They can implement policies - better pay, benefits, and working conditions, and push for more transparency and accountability. With unions, employees can make their voices heard and if successful, it could improve the healthcare system as a whole.

In this episode, we talk to Hannah Porter MD, a 2nd-year Dermatology Resident at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She and her team organized the UVMC residents and fellows as the latest union shop for the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU. Her story progresses from leadership's disrespect and lack of transparency on issues as simple as PPE to the face-to-face conversation required to obtain a final tally of 209 for the union and 59 against. It even includes Union Busting Consultants making $2500/day to lobby the Residency Program Directors into threatening withdrawal of funding for attending conferences, and a cameo from none other than Senator Bernie Sanders.

After a year, we'll follow up with Dr. Porter to see if they’ve successfully negotiated better pay and if work hour restrictions have been enforced.

“I know that there are several ways to approach how we can fix this healthcare system, and this is one of the ways from my perspective.” Hannah Porter MD MBA

Episode Highlights:

• (01:39) How it all started and recognizing the need for a union
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• (7:27) Spreading the word to colleagues and Senator Bernie Sanders’ participation
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• (12:37) The biggest benefit of having a union shop
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• (16:48) Change in the treatment by senior leaders after being unionized
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• (21:37) The first negotiation's top priority change
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• (25:18) Bringing in the anti-union consultants

Connect with Dr. Hannah Porter:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahjchang/

Resources:

• Article on the Union Vote https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/resident-physicians-at-the-uvm-medical-center-vote-to-form-union/Content?oid=35346837
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• Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU https://www.cirseiu.org/ 

Learn more about Dr. Dike and The Happy MD:

https://linktr.ee/dikedrummond

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