Melinda Thacker, MD

Melinda Thacker, MD Surgeon, Coach, Speaker, Writer

Imposter syndrome is an expression of ego, not humility.Comment “pain” to join us for the 5-day coaching intensive for s...
01/23/2026

Imposter syndrome is an expression of ego, not humility.

Comment “pain” to join us for the 5-day coaching intensive for surgeons: Pain to Power.

As I plan for this course, I am realizing that this one program will be hands-down my most powerful training yet. I can’t wait to get started! See you inside the course.
xo, Mel the Surgeon Coach

I operated with a friend today: my inner imposter.She has a lot of anxieties.She’s afraid of being compared to colleague...
01/23/2026

I operated with a friend today: my inner imposter.

She has a lot of anxieties.

She’s afraid of being compared to colleagues by OR staff, and then deemed lesser than (in their minds).

She’s terrified of making mistakes.

She dreads being cancelled.

I took her with me today. She watched my hands do the work they’ve done thousands of times.

It was a lovely day.

Next time you operate, consider bringing your inner imposter with you.

Let them be there.

Tell them you’re going to focus your brain on the work at hand, not on their anxieties.

You know exactly what to do. You just have to turn the focus away from your ego/imposter/anxiety/self and onto the patients you serve.

Rinse and repeat that process every OR day.

It’s that simple.

Underneath every case of anxiety and imposter syndrome is PAIN. Open wounds. Psychological bruising and trauma. For this reason, I created my most powerful coaching intensive program yet: The Pain to Power Workshop. We start this work Feb 2nd. Sign up using the link in my bio.

01/21/2026

The Pain to Power workshop starts Feb 2nd. This is a 5-day intensive for surgeons to be witnessed in their pain stories and then write their transformation stories.

I’m calling you to be courageous, to stand in your truth and be witnessed by your peers in a brave, space safe. This is how healing happens. I know because I’ve done it. Shame cannot survive the light of day. Let’s dissolve our shame together.

I’ve seen colleagues become hardened by pain.They navigate their careers pretending, in misery and reactivity.Cynicism a...
01/20/2026

I’ve seen colleagues become hardened by pain.

They navigate their careers pretending, in misery and reactivity.

Cynicism and complaining become default.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to go to bed at night feeling proud of how you showed up that day.

I want you to see challenges as opportunities to lead powerfully and relate competently.

I know this is possible.

And if surgeon does this work, the culture WILL change.

I’m going live today to present the first step of this process.

Join me Today at 6 pm EST to learn about a brand new offer I’ve created for you.

surgeoncoaching

You can’t go anywhere useful until you process your pain. Pain and shame block wisdom, creativity, aliveness, and connec...
01/14/2026

You can’t go anywhere useful until you process your pain. Pain and shame block wisdom, creativity, aliveness, and connection. This coming Sunday, I’m launching a new offer: the “Pain to Power Workshop”, which starts the first week of Feb.

If you want to get started on this work ahead of the workshop, simply comment “pain”.

I believe that, as a surgeon, I deserve to live in more than just survival mode.I am more than an intelligent brain and ...
01/13/2026

I believe that, as a surgeon, I deserve to live in more than just survival mode.
I am more than an intelligent brain and skilled hands: I am a whole human being.
I am not here to languish, stagnate, or lead a life that looks impressive but feels hollow.
I am here to evolve, serve, and leave a lasting impact on the world.

I refuse the lie that my worth depends on patient outcomes, reviews, recognition, or compensation.
I am not my complications.
I am not my lawsuits.
I am not my board certifications, RVUs, or hospital reputation.

I reject the belief that perfection keeps me safe.
Perfection is a cage of shame.
Perfection shrinks my world and forces me to seek refuge in my limited comfort zone.
I choose self-compassion over self-destruction, service over self-protection.
I choose courage over control.

I reject the culture of silence, shame, and pretending.
I believe psychological safety is essential.
It is how I access my skill, presence, intuition, and creative problem-solving.
It is how communication with my team is made easy.
It is how patients are protected.

I no longer DIY my suffering.
I do not confuse self-reliance with self-abandonment.
I use tools.
I ask for help.
I evolve on purpose.
I commune with people who matter to me.

I choose to tend my inner garden.
I uproot beliefs that no longer serve me: scarcity, zero-sum thinking, entitlement, superiority, people-pleasing, reactivity, and drama.
I cultivate clarity, agency, and self-trust.

I treat myself as the asset.
I honor my word to myself.
I say “no” without guilt.
I say “yes” to that which my essential self desires, even if it feels scary.
I communicate my boundaries unapologetically.

I believe when surgeons are resourced, regulated, and whole, everyone benefits: patients, families, healthcare teams, and the profession itself.
And in that vein, I model what is possible.
I create safe, brave spaces with purpose.
I love all of me unconditionally.

01/12/2026

Question🙋🏻‍♀️ what are your thoughts on the experiences of women and men in surgery? Comment below ⬇️

- Women in surgery carry trauma that distorts how we interpret reality (every surgeon would benefit from trauma-informed...
01/12/2026

- Women in surgery carry trauma that distorts how we interpret reality (every surgeon would benefit from trauma-informed work in any form).

- A brain that has not processed little t traumas — and in some cases, big T traumas — will offer up a narrative about life circumstances rooted in pain.

- Yes, surgeons live in circumstances and actions. Coaching brings focus to thoughts and feelings. And when we learn the skillsets of intentional thought creation and processing emotions, we can do the most amazing things.

- We don’t just need more fancy vacations. We need more community, connection, vulnerability, authenticity…and fancy vacations.

If you missed out on this opportunity, but you want to learn the skillsets to go from pain to power, I’ve got you! Stay tuned for a special offer I’m rolling out for surgeons this week 😷📣

01/12/2026

ESG CABO RECAP + what comes next

Day 1: Connection.
We entered a protected space, and prepared our container for the weekend: one where enjoyment didn’t have to be earned and centering yourself wasn’t something to apologize for. The work starts with feeling safe.

Day 2: Expansion.
Feel your feelings. The only way out is through! We asked harder questions: What’s your second mountain? What are your real thoughts, the ones behind your cursory thoughts, not just the stories you’ve learned to tell? Unprocessed pain doesn’t disappear; it gets passed on. For many female surgeons, that shows up as relational strain in the hospital and OR, and coping mechanisms that keep us functional (e.g. self-medicating with alcohol) but not whole.

Day 3: Integration.
You can’t integrate what you refuse to feel. Processing looks like this: in response to the same old stimulus, there’s different response. Less reactivity. Less judgment. More space. More choice.

This is the important work we’re doing honestly and in community.

Saved the best news for last: we’re already planning our return. ESG Cabo | January 2027. 4 days / 3 nights, with expanded programming and refinements based directly on surgeon feedback. Sign up to meet with me at link in bio to join us in Pedregal next year!

ESG Cabo was never about escaping from real life; it’s about meeting it more honestly. We created space to slow down, to...
01/11/2026

ESG Cabo was never about escaping from real life; it’s about meeting it more honestly. We created space to slow down, to feel seen, and to remember what it’s like to exist without armor on. In a world that constantly asks women (and especially female surgeons) to be composed, productive, and unbothered, this was permission to be human. To enjoy beauty without guilt. To rest without “earning” it. To tell the truth, even when it was painful.

When feelings are actually felt, they stop running the show. There’s a shift: less reactivity, less judgment, more ease. Not because anything was fixed, but because awareness creates choice. This is what happens when high-achieving women are given the right container: safety, depth, and time. We’re already planning our return to Pedregal, same time next year. Some experiences stay with you long after you leave.

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100 MLK Jr. Boulevard
Worcester, MA
01608

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Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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Shifting paradigms, educating and motivating people, seeking truths

I am a truth seeking physician who passionately endeavors to educate my fellow humans on the science supporting consumption of nutrient dense, fiber rich, whole plant foods to promote optimum health and wellness. Inherent in this mission are components of paradigm shattering and myth busting. This does not include selling diet plans, books, supplements, or service for profit. Pure data-driven, evidence-based information sharing. Feel free to follow and geek out over the nutritional science with me.

****Please do not contact me asking for medical advice or personal health questions. For ethical and legal reasons, I cannot provide any form of personal medical advice via social media. If you would like an appointment with me, contact my office at 508-757-0330 or click the “learn more” button. Information shared on this page is not meant to be a substitute for the recommendations of your doctor.***