**Imposter Syndrome: A Conditioned Mindset in the Medical Profession**

Imposter syndrome is often misinterpreted as a personal shortfall, a deficiency in one’s character that needs to be conquered. Yet, this widespread feeling is more aptly characterized as a conditioned mindset—a learned behavior encouraged by a society fixated on hyper-vigilance and perfectionism. We exist in a culture that instructs us to link uncertainty with inadequacy. From a young age, we are groomed to think that lacking an answer or feeling uncertain equates to failure.

This mindset is particularly amplified within the medical profession. Healthcare professionals are taught to prepare exhaustively, to stay excessively alert, and to constantly measure themselves against their colleagues. This ceaseless self-evaluation is frequently perceived as a sign of professional merit. However, it cultivates an environment of self-doubt and insecurity—key traits of imposter syndrome.

During a workshop for physicians, a veteran doctor with over thirty years of experience confessed to often feeling like an imposter. This admission struck a chord with the attendees, indicating that imposter syndrome is a prevalent issue among medical practitioners. If a highly regarded and seasoned physician experiences this, it stands to reason that many others share the sentiment.

Imposter syndrome is not a personal flaw; it is a conditioned reaction fostered by a system that profits from it. Physicians who harbor self-doubt are less likely to question unreasonable expectations, more prone to overwork without voicing concerns, and likely to assume extra responsibilities. This feeds an efficient, yet unsustainable, healthcare system. Imposter syndrome may enhance productivity, but it does so at the expense of physician well-being.

The repercussions of imposter syndrome go beyond individual physicians, influencing the sustainability of healthcare, the longevity of practitioners’ careers, and the overall quality and cost of care. It depletes energy and leads to emotional exhaustion, impairing effectiveness.

To transform healthcare, we must discard the normalization of self-doubt as a professional standard. Self-doubt does not signal failure; it is an inherent part of learning, growth, and the quest for meaningful work. The issue is not the presence of self-doubt but the perception that it should not exist.

Imposter syndrome may benefit the system, but it harms the individuals upon whom that system relies. It is time to nurture a medical culture where self-doubt is regarded not as a deficit but as a common element of the professional journey.

*Dr. Jessie Mahoney, a board-certified pediatrician and a leader in the initiative to change the culture of healthcare, questions the ethos of overwork and self-sacrifice. Through mindfulness, coaching, and lifestyle medicine, she strives to foster a sustainable working environment for physicians. Dr. Mahoney holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine.*