Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for Women Physician Leaders here.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, Did that really just happen?

That was me — after an interview that revealed more about bias in medicine than any research article ever could.

Because when you’re the first woman in the room — or one of the few — the culture of that room is rarely built with you in mind.

It’s a culture shaped by the men who made it. And in medicine that is often one of hierarchy and authority — where confidence is measured in grey hair, and presence often looks like taking up space, not making space.

So we adapt.

We nod and smile trying to understand, soften our tone, hold onto our ideas until the “right time,” and work twice as hard to be heard.

It’s not just individual bias; it’s ingrained, unconscious and cultural.

And once you start noticing it, you can’t unsee it.

I want to be clear, this episode isn’t about blaming — it’s about naming.

Because when we all start naming bias for what it is and start talking about it, we stop normalizing it.

And when we stop normalizing it, we start changing the culture of medicine for good.

Dr. Stephanie Yamout helps women physician leaders get their time back, own their value, and command the room as they were born to do. For coaching support, apply for Stephanie's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a call.