What I WANT to be good at

Some Advanced Trauma Life Support in the morning

Throughout medical training, learners are asked approximately 2,000 times what area of medicine they want to specialize in. Now that I'm almost done residency (!), this question carries more weight. 

For the past few months, when a preceptor asks me this question, I reply with a practiced phrase: "Emergency Medicine. I'm not saying it's what I'm good at, but it's what I want to be good at." 

This is my way of expressing my dedication to a growth mindset. A growth mindset, based on Carol Dweck's work as an educational psychologist, is the belief that you can develop abilities with hard work. In other words, because I'm consistently putting in the work, I'm confident that I can become a competent emergency medicine physician. 

This phrase also helps my preceptors know that I'm not (yet!) a superstar in emerg. Instead, I hope it shows that I'm trying to learn as much as possible through hands-on experience. 

Last, I've found this phrase to be an antidote to imposter syndrome. Psychology Today writes that people experiencing imposter syndrome "...feel that they aren't as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them."

I can definitely relate. By saying that I want to be good at emerg, I'm reminding myself that although I'm not there yet, I'm diligently working on getting better. 

I hope this helps anyone struggling with imposter syndrome or working in areas where you're not yet proficient but are trying to improve. And thank you to my incredibly capable, intelligent, and compassionate friend for inspiring me to write this post. 

Stay well friends, 

Alexi

Dr. Kuhnow is a family medicine resident physician and former physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada. She writes about healthy habits for healthcare providers on her blog no trophies for perfect. To get healthy habits and practical tips directly to your inbox, sign up for her weekly newsletter.  

This post is meant for educational purposes only, and doesn’t replace advice from your qualified healthcare professional.