Avoiding and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

This past week, the residents in my program selected me as Attending of the Year. In case you don’t already know (from shadowing or watching Grey’s, E.R., or other medical shows on TV), “attending” is a common name used for physicians who are completely done with their training, someone who can “attend” to patients without the need for supervision or direct oversight and who is eligible to instruct medical trainees. As part of my current job, in addition to seeing patients in clinic, I hold a faculty position at a medical school and residency program so I spend a considerable amount of my time teaching medical students and resident physicians. 

I was incredibly humbled (and surprised) by this award. Humbled, because I am so grateful to be a physician and to have this career. Surprised, because there are many days (unfortunately, too many) that I wonder if I’m actually a qualified to be teaching anybody anything! While I love practicing medicine and teaching, sometimes I have to give myself little pep talks as reminders that I am supposed to be here! 

You’ve heard of Imposter Syndrome, right? It’s defined as a pattern of fear and self-doubt that interferes with people’s belief in their own accomplishments and comes with a burden of persistent, internalized fear of being exposed as inadequate—despite evidence of their ability.

While it’s present in many occupations and with many successful people, imposter syndrome is highly prevalent in physicians and, reportedly, begins as early as medical school and continues throughout their career. I read a paper recently that said as many as 60% of physicians report ideas consistent with Imposter Syndrome. That’s a lot!! 

In this great 2016 TED Talk, as she told her own story, Lou Solomon outlined typical behaviors of people suffering from Imposter Syndrome:

– passing up on opportunities because they don’t think they’re qualified

– downplaying achievements

– over-preparing and over-achieving

– self-sabotage

We know that the rate of Imposter Syndrome is high in physicians, higher in women, and higher in minorities. So here I am as a Black female physician, (there are less than 3% of us in the country, remember?) and if I’m being completely honest with you, there are some days, in some situations, that I really do question if I’m meant to be where I am. It’s an incredible responsibility to impact people’s health and to teach future physicians, and I don’t take it lightly. When it comes to teaching, there is a bit of pressure to make sure that I’m up-to-date and on my game. And even more, I’m the only Black attending in my department and there are only two Black attendings in the whole college, so there’s some extra perceived (and real) pressure to be great! So to be Attending of the Year in only my 2^nd year at this program was/is big for me. And it’s a big kick in the butt to my feelings of Imposter Syndrome. 

But remember when I said that studies show Imposter Syndrome begins for physicians as early as medical school? I wonder if it doesn’t really start to show even before then? Do you think maybe there’s a little bit of it in pre-med too? I think so…

So how do we get past that? Well, in that same TED Talk, Lou Solomon gave some suggestions for those trying to overcome Imposter Syndrome. I’ll share them with you with my own take for the pre-med student. 

Seek constructive criticism.

The best way to not have your feelings hurt when you receive criticism is to start seeking out the criticism yourself. Ask people, professors or mentors, who you trust and know have your best interest at heart to give you feedback. Learning to accept constructive criticism from these people will make it easier to accept criticism from others in the future. Medical school and residency are tough enough, it’s infinitely tougher if you take every criticism personally and let them slow you down. 

Focus on your strengths and accomplishments.

You do a lot of things well. I know you do or you would’ve fallen off the pre-med train a long time ago. Focus on the things you do well and take pride in them. When you have a rough day or week, remember all that you’ve accomplished already. But also, importantly, be aware of the things you need to improve upon and work diligently on those to get to where you want to be…in a white coat.

Learn to welcome praise.

When people give you credit for doing a good job, instead of playing it off or acting like it’s not a big deal, own it! Don’t get cocky, but also don’t brush it off and act like you’re not awesome, or divert attention to someone else. Say thanks, hold your head up high, and put an extra pep in your step. If you can learn to do this early on, it will really help you to realize that you truly belong and are worthy of the praise and attention that people give you now, and will give you in the future.

Invest in positive relationships.

Stay away from people who put you down. Seek out people who will build you up and help you along your journey. When you have positive people in your life, when feelings of Imposter Syndrome creep up, these people will remind you that you do belong and will speak life to you! Keep them around and be honest with them about your feelings.

Rethink how you define failure.

I posted a quote on IG last week from Nelson Mandela, in which he said, “I don’t lose. I either win or learn.” That’ll preach. Don’t get hung up on failures, whether it’s a poor grade, not getting the MCAT score you need, or whatever it may be. Turn those into learning experiences and use that experience to grow and succeed the next time.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

You can’t make it to your white coat by yourself. You will need people along this journey. If you need help in a course, get a tutor or get in the professor’s office hours. Ask someone to review your personal statement. Ask upper-class pre-meds at your school about their journey and for advice they may have. You don’t have to re-create any wheels, use the resources available to you!

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The truth is, I love teaching medicine…about as much as I love practicing medicine. And guess what… apparently, I’m kinda good at it! 

What are you good at as a pre-med student? Are you able to realize your strengths and how awesome you are? Do you ask for help when you need it and seek and accept criticism? When people give you your props, do you accept it or shy away? Don’t sell yourself short. You’re not an imposter. You’re accomplished and you’re worthy. And, if it’s what you, then you belong in a career in medicine. So if any thoughts otherwise creep up, do like I do and quickly discount and discard them and keep moving forward!

Think of something great that you’ve accomplished this week, this month, or this year. Take a minute to gas yourself up. Tell somebody who doesn’t already know about it and soak in their words of congratulations. That’s the first step at kicking this Imposter Syndrome.

I’ll leave you with this great quote, hopefully it means something to you too!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

Marianne Williamson