Cincinnati, OH – July 31, 2025: During the 43rd Annual Convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the iconic Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter and Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH on Friday, July 25th, 2025, the Women Physicians Forum organized a deeply impactful Panel Discussion on Unstoppable Leadership: Breaking down the barriers of Imposter Phenomenon. The
Led by Dr. Divya K. Navani, AAPI Women Physicians Committee Chair, the Women’s Forum was the one of the most sought-after events at the convention, which was vibrant and insightful, opening up a lively dialogue for connection, cooperation, and collaboration among women physicians, addressing gender specific challenges and fostering growth both professional and personal.
The panelists at the Forum were Apoorva Ramaswamy, MD (virtual), Deborah Hayes, CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network, and Jessie Torres, Peak Performance Master Coach. Dr. Geeta Nath moderated Forum.
During the convention, attended by over 1,000 delegates from across the nation, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty assumed charge as the President of AAPI. During a solemn ceremony, Dr. Satheesh Kathula, the outgoing President of AAPI, passed on the gavel to Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, marking a new chapter of service, collaboration, and vision. Dr. Meher Medavaram, President-Elect; Dr. Krishan Kumar, Vice President; Dr. Seema Arora, Secretary; and Dr. Soumya Neravetla, Treasurer, assumed charge as part of the new Executive Committee. Dr. Hetal Gor assumed charge as the Chair, BOT. Dr. Gautam Kamthan will serve as the President, YPS, and Dr. Priyanka Kolli is the President, MSRF, both, representing the Medical Students and Fellows at the national AAPI.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Divya K. Navani shared with the audience how Imposter Syndrome affects women physicians with a personal story that resonated with women and men physicians alike. She drew the attention of the audience to this very important and overlooked contributor to Physician Burnout. Quoting studies, she said, 1 in 2 women physicians and 1in 4 male physicians report that they suffer from Imposter Syndrome.
“Imposter Syndrome affects healthcare leaders in large numbers. This is a psychological phenomenon where highly qualified professionals doubt their competence despite ample evidence to the contrary. If this goes unrecognized, it can play havoc with physicians’ professional and personal lives. Imposter Syndrome starts early in a physician’s career, and it is imperative to address it early,” Dr. Navani said.
Dr. Navani is an accomplished transformational health coach, specializing in physician empowerment, who has embarked on a lifelong quest for knowledge and understanding of health and well-being. She has worked as an internist for close to 3 decades and has loved serving her patients. Dr. Navani has observed the human condition and what contributes to health, longevity, health span, and happiness. She is an avid reader with a curious mind and has studied health from multiple aspects, including physical, psychological, spiritual, and financial. Dr. Navani has helped physicians grow personally and professionally through life’s challenges and stresses through private coaching, writing, and public speaking.
In her insightful address, Debbie Hayes, while sharing her own life’s experiences, showed how they helped her become a woman leader in healthcare. She shared that she was surprised to realize how Imposter Syndrome had impacted her career, from her role as a Nurse’s Aide to becoming the CEO of a $3 billion integrated health care delivery network.
Debbie Hayes, President and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network, leads a $3 billion integrated healthcare
system serving Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Starting as a nurse’s aide, she advanced through multiple leadership roles, overseeing nearly 7,800 employees and 1,200 providers. Under her leadership, the network earned numerous national recognitions. Hayes also serves on several boards and is dedicated to mentoring future healthcare leaders. A Cincinnati native, she enjoys the arts, sports, and travel, and is a devoted mother and aunt.
Narrating her own life journey, Jessie Torres spoke very powerfully about how she has become a resilient leader through her own life’s challenges. Jessie Torres is an internationally acclaimed Peak Performance Coach and Life Strategist with 18 years of experience, known for transforming lives through mindset reprogramming, emotional intelligence, and strategic guidance. She works with leaders and change-makers, helping them overcome self-limiting beliefs and emotional suffering. Recognized among the top global coaches, Jessie empowers clients to turn adversity into purpose and passion, guiding them to embrace “Fierce Grace” and design lives marked by clarity, freedom, and fulfillment.
Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy spoke about the importance of duty, commitment, and doing the right thing. She shared her mantra of ‘Just Nike it!’ which was given to her by her father. Dr. Apoorva T. Ramaswamy is a laryngologist specializing in swallowing and voice disorders, particularly in patients recovering from cancer treatment. She uses surgical and medical approaches to improve patients’ quality of life and is dedicated to advancing research on these conditions. As an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, she also serves on the medical advisory board of the National Foundation of Swallow Disorders and multiple committees for the Dysphagia Research Society.
Dr. Ravi Kolli, past President of AAPI, was in the audience and spoke about how the message resonated with him as a male physician, while sharing his professional journey with Imposter Syndrome.
Lyuba Konopasek, MD, Vice President, Intealth/ ECFMG, was in the audience, and shared that they have been addressing this issue with medical residents and students. Dr. Anjali Gulati, Regional Director, AAPI commended the panel and Dr. Divya K. Navani for discussing this very important topic. Dr. Hetal Gor, BOT Chair, stressed the importance of Women Physicians and Leaders supporting one another and building a shared sisterhood.
Several physicians, especially the ones in early and mid-career, thanked Dr. Navani and the panelists for bringing attention to this syndrome. They confirmed that this has been unnamed for them so far, and yet they struggle with this almost daily. Managing Imposter Syndrome can radically improve physician performance and patient outcomes.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Navani invited participants to stay connected to her and each other for mentorship and shared learning. She said, “Leadership is hard. Imposter Syndrome is real. When we look outside, we think that every woman other than me has it all together, but no, we don’t.” Her message was that as physician leaders, we have to discuss our experiences with the younger generation. Talking only about positives is a disservice to the younger generation. We have to show them how it actually is. Her words to the women physicians were- “When you step up, remember that the generations of women before you are celebrating you and the generations of women to come are thanking you.”