Faculty mentor/PI email address
jim010@aol.com
Is your research Teaching and Learning based?
1
Keywords
Impostor phenomenon; impostor syndrome; healthcare professionals; medical education; nursing; physician well-being; burnout; professional identity; mentorship; psychological safety; workforce sustainability
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
The impostor phenomenon describes persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud despite objective evidence of competence. The term 'impostor phenomenon' is preferred over the term "imposter syndrome" because it is not a psychiatric diagnosis and avoids pathologizing normal developmental uncertainty. The original authors used the term 'phenomenon' (Clance & Imes, 1978), and contemporary scholarship increasingly adopts this terminology.
First described by Clance and Imes (1978), the construct has since been studied across diverse professional domains, including medicine, nursing, and academic leadership. Subsequent research demonstrates that impostor experiences occur across genders, training levels, and healthcare roles (Bravata et al., 2020; Hutchins, 2015). Prevalence estimates vary widely, frequently ranging from 25% to over 60%, with high rates reported among medical trainees and practicing clinicians (Villwock et al., 2016; Oriel et al., 2004). Impostor experiences are not considered a psychiatric disorder but rather a context-dependent cognitive and attributional pattern shaped by evaluation culture, professional identity formation, and performance pressure. Associations with burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, and reduced help-seeking raise concerns for clinician well-being and workforce sustainability. This review summarizes historical origins, measurement tools, prevalence data, and implications of the impostor phenomenon across healthcare professions and outlines evidence-informed strategies for mitigation.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychological Phenomena and Processes
Impostor Phenomenon in Healthcare: Prevalence, Implications, and Educational Responses
The impostor phenomenon describes persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud despite objective evidence of competence. The term 'impostor phenomenon' is preferred over the term "imposter syndrome" because it is not a psychiatric diagnosis and avoids pathologizing normal developmental uncertainty. The original authors used the term 'phenomenon' (Clance & Imes, 1978), and contemporary scholarship increasingly adopts this terminology.
First described by Clance and Imes (1978), the construct has since been studied across diverse professional domains, including medicine, nursing, and academic leadership. Subsequent research demonstrates that impostor experiences occur across genders, training levels, and healthcare roles (Bravata et al., 2020; Hutchins, 2015). Prevalence estimates vary widely, frequently ranging from 25% to over 60%, with high rates reported among medical trainees and practicing clinicians (Villwock et al., 2016; Oriel et al., 2004). Impostor experiences are not considered a psychiatric disorder but rather a context-dependent cognitive and attributional pattern shaped by evaluation culture, professional identity formation, and performance pressure. Associations with burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, and reduced help-seeking raise concerns for clinician well-being and workforce sustainability. This review summarizes historical origins, measurement tools, prevalence data, and implications of the impostor phenomenon across healthcare professions and outlines evidence-informed strategies for mitigation.