The Weight of the Mask

Let’s talk about that mask we wear as clinicians. You know the one — the polished, professional exterior that screams “I’ve got it all together” while inside, you’re grappling with exhaustion, self-doubt, and the nagging feeling that you’re meant for more. I wore that mask for years. I’d walk into the hospital with my crisp white coat, my stethoscope draped just so, and a smile that hid the fact that I was frustrated spending my evenings finishing up notes and spending precious vacation time keeping up with patient test results. I was upset and feeling torn between heading out to the beach with the kids and ensuring I did not miss any critical patient alerts. That realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My family and my well-being were at risk.

If you’re nodding along, feeling that same weight, know this: You are not alone. The mask is heavy, but it’s not permanent. The first step to shedding it is getting honest with yourself. Ask: What’s draining me? What’s lighting me up? What do I want my career to look like five years from now? These questions are scary because they force you to confront the gap between where you are and where you want to be. But they’re also liberating. They’re the spark that ignites your journey from clinician to leader.

THE MINDSET SHIFT: FROM DOING TO LEADING

Here’s where the secret key comes in: It’s the mindset shift from practitioner to strategic thinker. As clinicians, we’re trained to focus on the task at hand — diagnosing, treating, and documenting. We’re doers, and we’re darn good at it. But leadership requires a different lens. It’s about seeing the big picture, anticipating challenges, and inspiring others to achieve a shared vision. It’s about moving from “How do I get this done?” to “How do I empower my team to get this done?”

For me, this shift started with a moment of clarity. I was sitting in a staff meeting, listening to yet another discussion about budget limitations and staffing shortages. I realized that if I stayed in my clinical role, I’d keep complaining about the system without ever changing it.

But as a leader, I could help the system — streamline processes, advocate for my team, and improve patient care from the top down. That realization was my turning point. It wasn’t about abandoning my clinical roots; it was about leveraging them to create broader impact.

CASE STUDY: DR. MADISON’S LEAP

Let me share a story about Dr. Madison, a client who reminds me so much of where I started. Dr. Madison was a brilliant Internal Medicine physician who practiced medicine for decades. She dreamed of leading a department but was paralyzed by not being heard by her local leaders and peers. “They are not listening,” she’d say. “I don’t know why this is not working.” Through my coaching, we worked on reframing her mindset. We identified her strengths — her ability to come up with fresh ideas, her knack for simplifying complex problems — and mapped them to effective communication and emotional intelligence leadership skills. Within six months, she was getting the needs of her clinics met successfully. Today, she’s thriving, and her team is too.

Excerpted from The Leadership Prescription: How High-Performing Clinicians Become Visionary Leaders by Maia Carter, MD, MPH, FACP, FACHE.