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The Dark Side of Perfectionism in Medicine: Embracing Imperfection for Healthier Practice

Svetlana Chamoun, MD, Ph.D, DipABLM

Today, we’re tackling a topic that many of us in medicine know all too well: perfectionism. In a field where precision can mean the difference between life and death, it’s easy to see how striving for perfection can become a default mindset. 

But while perfectionism can drive excellence, it also has a dark side that can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a relentless cycle of never feeling “good enough.”