You scrub in for surgery, your heart pounds, and for a split second, a terrifying thought creeps in—What if I mess this up? What if I don’t see a complication coming? What if the patient has a bad outcome because of me? You watch your other colleagues and senior surgeons move effortlessly, confident in their technique, while you hesitate. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This feeling has a name- Imposter Syndrome.   What Is Imposter Syndrome? In the context of surgical training, imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that you are not skilled or competent enough to be a surgeon, despite evidence of your training, qualifications, and progress. It’s the internal fear that you’re a “fraud” and that sooner or later, someone—your senior, your patient, or your peers—will expose you as unqualified. But here’s the truth—you’re not a fraud. Every great surgeon has felt this way at some point. You’re just in the middle of the learning curve. And you can break out of this imposter syndrome faster than you think. Here’s how:    Step 1: Stop Comparing Yourself to the Wrong People Most beginner surgeons fall into the trap of comparing their Year 1 to someone else’s Year 10....