Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: You’re Not Alone

Imposter syndrome can feel isolating, especially for high-achieving professionals who may believe they’re the only ones struggling with self-doubt. But here’s the truth: nearly everyone experiences this at some point, especially those in demanding, high-stakes fields like surgery. Imposter syndrome often stems from what’s known as “pluralistic ignorance”—we all experience it to some degree but rarely discuss it, making us feel like we’re the only ones falling short.

For me, that feeling first hit me on a cold February morning in Milwaukee. I was a first-year medical student. The lecture hall at the Medical College of Wisconsin smelled like burnt coffee and wet boots.  I was wearing an oversized, red Badger’s sweatshirt with frayed edges on the sleeves, taking my usual seat at the very back of the auditorium nearest the exit. Outside, snowbanks lined the sidewalks, blackened at the edges from months of salt and slush. Inside, nearly two hundred students poured into an auditorium that sloped steeply toward a small wooden podium at the front. Rows of burgundy seats cascaded toward two oversized projection screens. I remember the sound of laptops snapping open, coffee mugs thudding onto foldout desks, and conversations bouncing off the concrete walls until the room hummed with the unmistakable energy of people who looked like they belonged, while I sunk in my seat, trying to disappear

Part of me was convinced that someone from admissions was going to walk through the doors at the top of the auditorium. I imagined a woman wearing a cream-colored blouse and a charcoal pencil skirt scanning the room until she zeroed in on me. She'd make her way to my seat, her sensible heels softly thumping on the carpet as she approached. Then she'd crouch behind me, lean over my shoulder, and whisper with practiced precision:

"I'm so sorry, honey. There's been a mistake with your application. We're going to have to ask you to leave." I would mumble, “ok”, then stuff my papers into my backpack and follow her out of the auditorium, my chin tucked into my chest. I’d hear students snicker as I shuffled away.

To my surprise, that moment never happened.

So I did what high-achievers do. I made sure it never could. I vowed to work as hard as I needed to become the perfect medical student, the strongest resident, and the best attending physician.

Imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a fraud when you are not one. It's nearly universal among high-achieving women, and we are exceptionally good at managing it. By over-preparing, over-delivering, over-credentialing. By making sure no one could ever have grounds to question us.

And it works. That's the trap. It works well enough to build a career on, and it costs us the career we could have had, the position we didn't apply for, the place on the podium we told ourselves we aren’t qualified for, the room we sat in the back of. Imposter syndrome silences our voice. And when we find ourselves in positions of power, we explain it away and deny ourselves the celebration we deserve. Well, we can’t outwork or outsmart imposter syndrome.

The only way to truly evolve beyond imposter syndrome is to change our beliefs about ourselves.

Even renowned figures like Maya Angelou and Einstein battled these feelings, proving that imposter syndrome isn’t about skill or worth but is instead a product of self-expectations. This 4-minute TED video is an excellent place to start. It offers a quick, powerful overview that will help you put a name to what you’re feeling and understand the roots of imposter syndrome.

Once you have language for these feelings, it becomes easier to take steps toward overcoming them. Acknowledging imposter syndrome is the first step toward reclaiming your confidence and recognizing your achievements for what they are: well-earned and worthy of pride. Want to learn more about imposter syndrome and how to move beyond it? Check out my 3-part series on it here.