"What Went Well" an Esteem-Building Exercise for Medical Trainees to Combat Imposterism and Enhance Well-Being

The competitive and high-stakes nature of medical training can have major impacts on individuals' sense of confidence and well-being. Despite high achievement, many medical trainees experience imposterism - a subjective feeling of inadequacy, incompetence, and low self-esteem - which can have major consequences for individuals as well as organizations. High levels of imposterism are associated with mental health problems and can impede career advancement and organizational retention. Additionally, those who identify as women and minorities are more likely to experience imposterism, raising concerns that may exacerbate workplace disparities. In this workshop, we will discuss the factors contributing to imposterism among trainees and the consequences of it. We will also introduce and have audience members participate in a novel esteem-building intervention called "What Went Well," which has been piloted with over 60 interns and 40 senior residents at the University of Washington Internal Medicine Residency Program as part of a larger longitudinal wellness curriculum. In the "What Went Well" exercise, participants divide into small groups and are asked to share an experience in which they felt a major hit to their esteem. The participants are then asked to reframe their negative experience by naming how the experience highlighted their unique character strengths. At the University of Washington, this intervention has proven acceptable and feasible among interns and senior residents, and can enhance both individual and team-based well-being. Participants will walk away understanding how to implement this intervention with their own trainees.

Speakers

• Nauzley Abedini, MD, MSc
• Leah Koenig, MD

Additional Information

Year Published: 2023 - APDIM Fall Meeting