Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Finding Purpose in Medicine with Dr. Kimberly Richardson

Have you ever felt a calling towards something, but the journey of answering the call seems too tedious, maybe even impossible, to make? To those of you who’ve answered the call, how did you navigate your journey? Where did you start? How did you motivate yourself to keep going? Who did you rely on for strength? 

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Kimberly Richardson, a board-certified primary care internist and Assistant Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Richardson shares her journey into medicine, the early influences that shaped her career and what keeps her going all these years later. She opens up about imposter syndrome, balancing work and family life, her aspirations for the next generation of medical professionals, and how her own lived experiences as a patient and a Black queer physician have shaped her advocacy for equity in healthcare. 

Tune in and listen to the twenty-seventh episode of I Can Do This, Show Me How! to hear an inspiring story about resilience, self-belief, and the transformative power of listening in medicine (and in life). 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a childhood visit to her pediatrician sparked Dr. Richardson’s lifelong dream to become a physician (3:48)
• What Dr. Richardson’s vision of a perfect healthcare system is (11:45)
• How Dr. Richardson overcame imposter syndrome as a chief resident (14:40)
• The lessons that Dr. Richardson tries to pass down to the next generation of doctors (20:11)
• How Dr. Richardson cares for others whilst also remembering to care for herself (25:47)
• How Dr. Richardson’s lived experience has shaped her advocacy for equity in healthcare (30:03)
• Dr. Richardson’s advice for anyone navigating their own journey towards purpose or calling (43:20)

Resources

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers

Freedom’s Teacher by Katherine Mellen Charron

Let's connect!

• My Email: [email protected]
• Mentor International: www.mentorfoundationusa.org
• Mentor: www.mentoring.org
• Ashoka Changemakers: www.ashoka.org

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