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Why are so many talented women surgeons questioning whether they belong in surgery, and what does that reveal about the culture of surgery as a whole?

In this episode of Surgeons with Purpose, I talk to pediatric surgeons Dr. Cornelia Griggs and Dr. Jose Greenspon about the relational challenges of practice, imposter syndrome, the hidden emotional labor women carry in surgery, and why leaving is often a self-preservation response rather than a personal failure.

We discuss the toxic conversation around resilience, the narrow line women are expected to walk between being likable and authoritative, the concept of "status leveling," and the exhaustion of constantly managing others' perceptions. We also explore why women are often the first to challenge the status quo, what gives Dr. Griggs hope for the future of academic surgery, and why creating a more equitable culture will require a critical mass of men who are willing to help level the playing field. This is a conversation about identity, belonging, leadership, and what it will take to build a surgical culture where everyone can thrive.

Read Dr. Cornelia Griggs' and Dr. Adrea Merrill's article here.

Read Dr. Arghavan Salles' piece on the status leveling burden here.