Protecting the Asset with Mel Thacker | Perfectionism, Burnout & the Hidden Costs of Being a Surgeon

In this powerful episode of ItsBrainSurgery, ENT surgeon and mindset coach Mel Thacker opens up about hitting rock bottom after the pandemic stripped away her identity as a surgeon — and how that led to an awakening.

She talks about the emotional cost of perfectionism, the unspoken shame in medicine, and why surgeons (and all high-performers) need mindset work just as much as technical training.

If you've ever struggled with burnout, identity loss, or the feeling of "is this all there is?", this is the conversation you need to hear.

🎙️ Topics We Cover:

The addiction to external validation in medicine

Burnout, shame, and trauma in surgical culture

Why mindset training should be mandatory for surgeons

How to deal with complications without losing yourself

Her "growth cycle" model for personal reinvention

👤 Guest: Mel Thacker

IG: @thesurgeoncoach

Website: MelThackerCoaching.com

Podcast: Surgeons With Purpose

📌 Subscribe for more real conversations that cut deeper than the scalpel.