LIMITLESS Leaders Toolkit: Navigating Bias, Power & Professional Risk-Racism and Bias

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This episode of the Limitless Leaders podcast, hosted by Dr. Camille Cash with guests Dr. Wilmina Lanford and Dr. Erica Sears, focuses on racism, implicit bias, microaggressions, and imposter syndrome in plastic surgery. The conversation explores why these topics matter: they affect patient care, colleague relationships, trainee well-being, and representation in medicine.<br /><br />Each physician shares personal experiences of being mistaken for non-physicians, dismissed, or told they did not “belong” because of race or gender. Dr. Lanford describes how such experiences can fuel imposter syndrome in residency, while Dr. Sears emphasizes the importance of empathy, psychological safety, and speaking up even when conversations are uncomfortable. Dr. Cash reflects on moments of hurt and exclusion in leadership settings, but also on the importance of using her platform to advocate for the next generation.<br /><br />The group discusses allyship as shared responsibility—supporting others, using privilege to amplify marginalized voices, and addressing bias without leaving the burden on those most affected. They also highlight the value of mentorship, delayed responses to harmful comments, and creating spaces where diverse perspectives can be expressed safely.<br /><br />Dr. Lanford shares the inspiration behind founding Women of Color in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (WOC PRS), an organization designed to build community, mentorship, research opportunities, and leadership pathways for women of color. The episode closes with a call to continue speaking out, supporting one another, and increasing representation to improve both the profession and patient care.

Keywords

racism

implicit bias

microaggressions

imposter syndrome

plastic surgery

allyship

mentorship

psychological safety

women of color

representation in medicine