Surgeons, join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group today.

In this episode, Dr. Karen Leitner and I explore the hidden thought patterns that keep women physicians stuck. And how to break free!

We cover:

• Why charting paralysis happens (and the thought loops that drive it)
• Being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) later in life and the shift from self-judgment to self-understanding
• The power of acceptance and letting go of control over outcomes
• The moment Karen realized even “good doctors” get sued
• How medical training builds a hypercritical inner voice (and how to replace it with self-compassion)
• Moving from walking a tightrope → to feeling solid and safe within yourself
• The reality of inequity: women physicians being undervalued and underpaid
• Lessons from Women Don’t Ask on why women avoid negotiation
• The mindset shifts needed to negotiate powerfully:
• Your value is yours—even if others don’t recognize it
• Hearing “no” is part of the process, not the end
• Discomfort is the price of increasing your impact and income
• Practical negotiation strategies:
• Research compensation (e.g., Medical Group Management Association data)
• Communicate your value from the institution’s perspective
• Have the conversation in person and set expectations ahead of time
• Anticipate objections and stay in the conversation

Key takeaway:

Money = impact. When you are compensated appropriately, you expand your ability to create change.

Ready to go deeper?

If you’re a woman physician looking to feel better, think clearer, and show up more powerfully in your life and career, check out Dr. Karen Leitner's coaching program here. Make sure to follow her on Instagram here.

And if you’re a surgeon ready to step out of burnout and lead your career from a place of confidence and ownership, join Empowered Surgeons. You don’t have to keep doing this alone.