TwoPintsNoneTheRichr

I think the challenge for you, specifically, is that unlike other industries you have 300k+ in student loan debt and getting blackballed in the residency system likely means you wouldn't be able to practice as a physician and have the capacity to pay that off.

Hats off to you guys for your bravery.

I'm a physician myself so I certainly understand what you're risking. The physician training process is, frequently, horrible for training physicians. The long hours are kind of whatever but numerous times I was put in situations that were not safe for patient care (being a PGY1 3 months into residency being the solo coverage overnight for a pediatric ICU and an adult ICU in two different hospitals). I wish you, and your colleagues, good fortune in improving the system for yourself as well as those that come after you.

Good for you guys. How are you managing/balancing the challenges associated with wanting to improve working conditions and, effectively risking your future careers to do so?

I've seen a couple of individual cases where people were fired from residency for cause (both quite reasonable tbh) and afiak those people never were rehired by a residency. Just like any other job you have to list it on your history (or try to explain the gap in your CV if you leave it off) and when the next place comes calling you get a pretty rough review significantly limiting your chance at being hired.

With regards to labor dependency: you're right most teaching hospitals would probably crumble if they lost their house staff overnight however they'd function just fine if they just fired a few of the key organizers hence the significant need for secrecy from the OP.