Belonging Boost: Why You Deserve to Be Here

by Nadj L Pierre MD

Residency has a way of testing not just your knowledge, but your sense of self. Long shifts, constant evaluation, and the feeling that everyone else is smarter, faster, or more confident can leave you wondering: Do I really belong here?

The short answer is yes. And here’s why.

1. Imposter Syndrome Is Common, Not a Character Flaw

Let's start by acknowledging that almost every resident, but especially those from underrepresented groups, struggles with imposter syndrome. Studies show minority residents often feel extra pressure to represent their communities while also questioning their own worth (Bonifacino et al., 2021). But the very fact that you were selected means the program saw your potential. You belong here.

2. You Bring More Than Scores

Residency programs don’t just need technicians, but whole people. Your cultural background, lived experiences, and resilience are assets that enrich patient care and team dynamics (Tsai & Lindo, 2021). The way you connect with a worried parent, advocate for a vulnerable patient, or build trust in the operating room is proof that your identity adds value. You belong here.

3. Belonging Is Built, Not Given

If you’re waiting for a single “aha” moment of acceptance, you may wait forever. Belonging grows from relationships, mentorship, and showing up as yourself. Start small:

• Join or build affinity spaces.

• Find mentors who affirm your identity.

• Practice daily affirmations like: “I deserve to be here as much as anyone else.”

Each step reinforces your place in the community. You belong here.

4. Microaggressions Don’t Define You

Yes, bias still exists in training environments. Microaggressions can make you feel invisible, foreign, or less-than (Sudol et al., 2021). But remember: they reflect someone else’s limitations, not your worth. Use strategies from upstander training—whether speaking up yourself or leaning on allies (Hill Weller et al., 2023). You belong here.

5. Your Future Patients Need You

Representation matters. Patients trust doctors who understand their communities, and outcomes improve when care is culturally responsive (Holdren et al., 2022). Every day you persist, you make medicine stronger for those who will come after you. You belong here.

This Belonging Boost isn’t about waiting for permission but to remind yourself, every day, that you carry value, vision, and voice. You deserve to be here because medicine needs you, your community needs you, and the future of health care depends on you.

You. Belong. Here.

You. Belong. Here.

References

• Bonifacino, Emily, et al. “Minority Stress Theory and the Experiences of Underrepresented Residents.” Journal of Graduate Medical Education, vol. 13, no. 4, 2021, pp. 543–549.

• Hill Weller, LaMisha, et al. Tools for Addressing Microaggressions: An Interactive Workshop for Perioperative Trainees. MedEdPORTAL, vol. 19, 2023, p. 11360.

• Holdren, Sarah, et al. “Transformative Learning Theory in Graduate Medical Education: A Path Toward Equity.” Journal of Surgical Education, vol. 79, no. 6, 2022, pp. 1335–1342.

• Sudol, Neha T., et al. “Prevalence and Nature of Sexist and Racial/Ethnic Microaggressions Against Surgeons and Anesthesiologists.” JAMA Surgery, vol. 156, no. 5, 2021, pp. e210265.

• Tsai, Jennifer, and Eric Lindo. “Critical Race Theory in Medical Education.” Academic Medicine, vol. 96, no. 12, 2021, pp. 1705–1707.