The Quiet Surgeon: A Qualitative Analysis of the Introverted Experience Throughout a Career in Academic Surgery

This study seeks to describe the lived experiences of self-identified introverts throughout a career in academic surgery.

Surgeons and leaders are often perceived as extroverted, with the belief that introverts must project extroversion to succeed as surgeons or leaders. However, many surgical trainees entering academic surgery identify as introverted.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identified introverted general surgery residents and attending surgeons at a tertiary academic medical center in the Northeast. Participants were purposively sampled to include junior and senior residents, early- and late-career attendings, and men and women participants. Interview transcripts were iteratively analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with a constructivist approach to develop a theoretical framework describing the experience of introverts in academic surgery.

Nine surgical residents and 8 attending surgeons participated in interviews. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the lived experiences and self-perceptions of introverts are highly individual; (2) introverts must reconcile their preferences with the necessity of extroverted behaviors in academic surgery; (3) introverted preferences for relationship-building often conflict with the interpersonal demands of a career in academic surgery; and (4) introverts evolve over a surgical career through both internally and externally motivated strategies.

Introverts experience challenges surrounding the sociocultural conventions inherent to professional advancement in academic surgery. Over time, introspection, paired with support from role models and mentors, permits introverts to demonstrate their value and strengths. This study highlights opportunities for supporting the growth and development of introverts in hopes of fostering greater inclusivity within academic surgery.