Combatting Your Imposter Syndrome with Mike Christian

In this episode, WEM Founder Mark Hannaford is joined by WEM Conference Speaker, HEMS Doctor and former Paramedic Mike Christian.    Mike tells us how he took the leap from working as a Paramedic in Canada, and fuelled by curiosity, decided to go back to University to train as a Doctor. Following his graduation, his interest in infectious diseases and the emerging SARS outbreak led him to further Critical Care Training and an Infectious Diseases Fellowship. This launched him down a path that has included time in the Canadian Military and as part of the London Air Ambulance team as a HEMS Physician.    Alongside Mark, Mike considers some of the best lessons he took from his earlier training and has kept with him even today - from building rapport with patients, to being resourceful in front-line environments and the power of asking good questions.    Mike also offers some advice to those wishing to pursue similarly unique careers paths to his own; from taking risks and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to utilising your 'imposter syndrome' to drive you to be a better clinician. He reminds us that our work is a mix of our success, but also our failures - and highlights his own 'rejection CV' and the closed doors that have led him to even more interesting places.     ***   Walton, M., Murray, E. and Christian, M. D. (2020) ‘Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic’, European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care. doi: 10.1177/2048872620922795 > bit.ly/TheSilentPandemic   Watch 'The Silent Pandemic' WEM Academy Live session featuring Mike here > https://www.wem.academy/videos/wem-academy-live-sessions/the-silent-mental-health-pandemic/