Dr. Tabatha Barber recalls being told as a medical student that she was a high school dropout and that girls can't be real surgeons. She describes using positive self-talk in the operating room to push past the doubt and prove herself capable.
You're an idiot. I had to completely change everything that was going on in my mind for me to be able to take back control of my life. So when I was standing there as a third year medical student, the same thing was happening. You're a high school dropout. You can't be a surgeon. People like you aren't really doctors. You're a girl. Girls can't be real surgeons. I had to stand in that OR and talk to myself over and over and over again in my mind and tell myself something different. You are a great surgeon. You've got this. You are just as good as he is. So I invite you to think about how do you talk to yourself, what's going on in that mind, Because I promise you.
