The Night I Almost Quit Medicine
Nearly 40 years ago, I was two days away from quitting medicine before I'd even started. The crushing weight of imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt had convinced me I wasn't cut out to be a doctor. Here's how a conversation with a psychiatry registrar changed everything—and why we need to do better for today's junior doctors.
How Perfectionism Fuels Imposter Syndrome in Doctors
For years, I believed that if I could just know everything—every diagnosis perfect, every treatment plan bulletproof—then I'd finally feel legitimate wearing that white coat. Here's why that thinking was dead wrong, and how letting go of perfectionism actually made me a better doctor.