Impostor Phenomenon Among Recently Graduated General Surgeons

Imposter phenomenon can occur in highly competitive fields causing internal feelings of fraud and self-doubt. Significant imposterism has been recently reported amongst general surgery residents.

We hypothesized that attending surgeons, navigating the transition into independent practice, would report a similar experience. We surveyed and collected Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) scores from 24 Army general surgeons within 4 years of graduation.

Nearly all exhibited at least moderate imposterism, and over half reported significant or intense imposterism. Women reported statistically higher scores than men. Surgeons who engaged in off-duty employment or participated in mentorship were less likely to have significant or intense imposterism.

Transition to practice is a challenging and highly variable time for new surgeons. Identifying factors that attenuate these feelings could help with early career advancement.