Breakout Session C: Intersecting Identities, Internalized Doubt: Countering Imposterism in Structurally marginalized Physicians

About this Session

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Define imposterism in the context of medicine and medical leadership and describe how it disproportionately impacts women and racialized individuals in healthcare settings.


2. Analyze how structural racism, gender bias, and exclusionary medical culture contribute to the development and persistence of imposter feelings among women in medicine.


3. Recognize the intersectional experiences of women leaders in medicine, including how race, ethnicity, and other identities influence leadership trajectories and perceptions of competence.


4. Critically evaluate the dominant narratives around imposter syndrome, shifting from an individual pathology framework to a systemic and organizational responsibility model.


5. Identify anti-racist and equity-informed strategies that healthcare institutions and leaders can implement to foster inclusive environments that reduce imposterism and support diverse women in leadership roles.

Presenters

About Dr. Tito Daodu

Dr. Tito Daodu is a Pediatric Surgeon at Alberta Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. In 2020, she became the first Black female pediatric surgeon in Canada.

Born in Nigeria and raised in Winnipeg, Dr. Daodu earned her medical degree from the University of Manitoba, completed her surgical training in Calgary, and holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care from the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Daodu is an award-winning researcher and educator whose work focuses on health equity, anti-racism, and improving access to surgical care for underserved populations. She has secured over $1 million in research funding and published extensively on how race, geography, and systemic barriers affect surgical outcomes, particularly for Indigenous, rural, and racialized patients.

In addition to her clinical and academic roles, she serves on several national committees and is a recognized voice on racism in medicine, inclusive leadership, and equity-driven health policy.