Physician’s Weekly, along with Kelly Cawkutt, MD, hosted another installment of the #PWChat series, on Wednesday, July 25. The topic focused on “Imposter Syndrome in Medicine” and how employees in healthcare deal with it. Dr. Cawkutt is an assistant professor of medicine and board certified in Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases with an academic and clinic practice at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Topics discussed included: what definition and thoughts come to mind when reading or hearing “imposter syndrome;” the differences between imposter sydrome and normal stress or anxiety in a role; personal experiences of those who have felt they suffered from imposter syndrome, and much more!
Click here for a look at our #PWChat schedule and recaps.
Question 1
Q1: What definition & thoughts come to mind when you read/hear “Imposter Syndrome”?#PWChat #ImposterSyndrome
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) July 25, 2018
A1: Never feeling good enough despite evidence to the contrary…just waiting for everyone else around you to realize that you are a fraud or your accomplishments are more luck and/or right place at right time than merit. #PWChat
— Jennifer Villwock MD (@docwock) July 25, 2018
A1. I view #ImposterSyndrome as the phenomena of thinking of yourself in a way that is less credible or accomplished than what you really are, and feeling like others view you as a “fake.” #PWChat
— Amy Oxentenko M.D. (@AmyOxentenkoMD) July 25, 2018
A1: #PWChat #ImposterSyndrome is the insecurity when presenting myself as a knowledgeable professional. Feeling I’m faking it every day. Funny, but that goes away with evidence based discussion but when it’s a general practice conversation I shrink into my #FearOfBeingExposed
— Mary Beth Miotto MD (@MAhealthforkids) July 25, 2018
This is a great point – your MD & CV are EVIDENCE that you are an expert, but why is it not always seen that way? #PWChat #impostersyndrome
— Kelly Cawcutt, MD (@KellyCawcuttMD) July 25, 2018
Question 2
Q2: What are the differences between #ImposterSyndrome and normal #stress & #anxiety in a role?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) July 25, 2018
A2 – I think we confuse normal stress & anxiety for a new role w #ImposterSyndrome. Normal stress is beneficial when transient & expected in new roles as we step into some uncertainty/change. These are not interchangeable & may not have the same negative impact. #PWChat https://t.co/iUBk60Om4P
— Kelly Cawcutt, MD (@KellyCawcuttMD) July 25, 2018
A2. Tough question. #ImposterSyndrome would be to consider yourself unqualified to do something, or not qualified enough. Normal #stress and #anxiety develops when you have a task and you wonder “how” you are going to accomplish it, not “if” you can accomplish it. #PWChat
— Amy Oxentenko M.D. (@AmyOxentenkoMD) July 25, 2018
A2: the two r interconnected. Imposter Syndrome can cause #stress/anxiety &, in fact, is inherent to the syndrome. It’s important to come to a good place, where we balance out pushing ourselves to get far with taking a step back to review how we got there & where we are. #PWChat
— Dana Corriel, MD (@DrCorriel) July 25, 2018
A2: #ImposterSyndrome is related to self confidence; roles that require a high stakes element may lead to normal #stress and #anxiety #PWChat
— Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (@DrFNA) July 25, 2018
Q2. I believe the 2 are related. #impostersyndrome I believe to be a form of anxiety related to insecurity of one’s professional competence. #PWChat
— Anika Kumar, MD (@freckledpedidoc) July 25, 2018
Q2 Is the difference that stress or anxiety do not specifically manifest as feelings of being a fake, of representing oneself as being more capable than one feels?#PWChat
— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) July 25, 2018
Question 3
LaDonna K, et al found that “Self-doubt variably affects clinicians at all career stages” https://t.co/gyUyIpVN9w
Q3: Have you ever felt that you personally have suffered from #ImposterSyndrome? What were your experiences like?#PWChat @Kori_LaDonna @sginsburg1 @ChrisWatling3— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) July 25, 2018
A3 – This is an important topic to me because I have had several risk factors & suffered from this. I didn’t recognize what it was. It was a lonely & scary place to be. I felt I couldn’t tell anyone or they would know I wasn’t who they thought. #ImposterSyndrome #PWChat https://t.co/JSXpDdERW0
— Kelly Cawcutt, MD (@KellyCawcuttMD) July 25, 2018
A3: Yes! A thousand time, yes. We all have it. In fact, I recently started thinking about it more b/c of my writing, & #creative outlets, & the doors that have opened up to me b/c of these.
Excited to soon share an upcoming article on this topic of my being an #Imposter! #PWchat pic.twitter.com/YgaLLCa5VQ— Dana Corriel, MD (@DrCorriel) July 25, 2018
A3: I have without a doubt suffered from #ImposterSyndrome and I wonder very often when the other shoe is going to drop and people are going to find out that I am a fraud. That’s hard for me. I’m not sure how to fix it or change it. #PWChat
— Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (@DrFNA) July 25, 2018
A3. I personally suffered from #ImposterSyndrome early in my career. It didn’t help that I had colleagues who doubted me too (not my partners). I have found the best way to combat it is by accepting my insecurity & saying “I don’t know” if I’m unsure. Then I find out. #PWChat
— Anika Kumar, MD (@freckledpedidoc) July 25, 2018
A3. I think we have ALL sensed this at some point. We may have not known what to call it or been able to define it, but I am sure we have all been down this road! #PWChat
— Amy Oxentenko M.D. (@AmyOxentenkoMD) July 25, 2018
Question 4
Some studies have shown #ImposterSyndrome to be more prevalent among women (https://t.co/8G532odRcZ) and under-represented minorities (https://t.co/UoyjSDxRbn & https://t.co/6t3qmIX1CY) when compared with other populations.
Q4: Why do you think this is?#PWChat@docwock
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) July 25, 2018
A4 – I believe #ImposterSyndrome can be reinforced by the bias we experience. If we are treated differently, questioned in our expertise or value, then perhaps the cognitive impact increases the likelihood of development of #ImposterSyndrome. #PWChat https://t.co/LoapYSAsMc
— Kelly Cawcutt, MD (@KellyCawcuttMD) July 25, 2018
A4: women and URM are often represented in smaller numbers in subspecialties. In bone and soft tissue pathology, there are less women than men & black women are practically nonexistent. When you feel the eyes of the world are on you, it’s easy to develop #ImposterSyndrome #PWChat
— Valerie Fitzhugh, MD (@DrFNA) July 25, 2018
A4. I think it has to do with equity and culture. If the culture favors men and women are not considered equal then women are more likely to feel that they are not competent & are more likely to experience #ImposterSyndrome. #PWChat
— Anika Kumar, MD (@freckledpedidoc) July 25, 2018
A4: We also found this in our study of medical students (https://t.co/KKC9diJR2v). “It’s hard to be what you an’t see.” I believe most ppl with facets that make them an “other” experiences some of this struggle. We need role models to help us dream, see it is possible. #PWChat
— Jennifer Villwock MD (@docwock) July 25, 2018
A4: Because we have traditionally been palpably underrepresented in the field of #medicine. Pure and simple.
We may be starting to catch up, numbers-wise, but emotionally speaking, the disconnect is still there and we feel it. #PWChat
— Dana Corriel, MD (@DrCorriel) July 25, 2018
