Pediatrician Liz Daniels, DO, RD, FAAP, first realized the extent of her introversion when leading trainees through rounds in residency. “I was leading a team of maybe 10 people, and it was my responsibility to engage them, have a little teaching time, prompt them with questions, and then do patient-centered rounds,” she recalled.

The level of constant, intimate, and highly specific conversation was exhausting. “And then everyone would go out for social engagements afterwards,” she said. “That’s when I first encountered the thought, ‘Oh, I really am an introvert.’”

Instead of heading out for drinks with colleagues after a long day, Daniels said she played the “mom card,” telling coworkers she needed to be home with her children. While technically true, it was also a much-needed way to turn off the firehose of social interaction on the job.

Daniels’ experience isn’t uncommon. About 34% of physicians identify as introverted, according to . That’s a slightly higher rate than the 30% of the US population that’s introverted.

An introverted personality can add to the already high emotional load of practicing medicine and may increase the risk for burnout. But it can also be a real strength for elevating patient care.

In fact, introverts make pretty good doctors.

Introversion isn’t a clinical term. “It is a personality trait defined by a focus on internal vs external stimuli,” explains Alaina Provenzano, LMSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in social anxiety.

According to the American Psychological Association, this personality type is characterized by an “orientation toward the internal private world of one’s self and one’s inner thoughts and feelings, rather than toward the outer world of people and things.”

Introverts are more likely to derive energy from activities that stimulate their inner experience, Provenzano said. Some hallmarks of this personality type include a tendency to be less talkative and to prefer solitude and calm environments. When introverts spend too much time in crowds or other social situations, they often feel emotionally or even physically drained.

Though the definition of introversion may sound like a disadvantage for doctors or even a reason to shy away from patient-facing practice, that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, introversion can be seen as a strength.

One example: Introverts can possess tremendous compassion. “Even as someone who started off more introverted, the desire to help others was always the main motivation,” said Andreas Kogelnik, MD, PhD, founder, CEO, and medical director at ProDx Health.

Kogelnik said that, early in his career, his introversion made him process his work in a quiet, solitary way. “Interacting with patients who were anxious or highly emotional could feel uncomfortable, because I wasn’t naturally talkative. Over time, medicine pushed me to develop those skills.”

Now, Kogelnik said, he’s developed more communicative, give-and-take working relationships. “Seeing a patient relieved or a colleague supported because of your work makes every challenge worthwhile.”

Compared with extroverts, introverts may connect with others (especially patients) in a way that’s slower but potentially stronger. “Though introverts lack in their ability to small talk with ease, they tend to excel at deeper, more meaningful connections,” said Provenzano. Once patients realize an introverted physician’s quiet demeanor isn’t a sign of tuning out but of sincere attentiveness, solid, long-term relationships often result.

Daniels said she’s come to view her introversion as a gift in the exam room. Patients now seek her out for her reputation as a pediatrician who truly gets to know each family, a process she’s achieved with a slow burn of studious care.

While some patients might prefer a more gregarious provider, many say they’re seeking one who leads with listening. As Medscape Medical News previously reported, a 2018 University of Florida investigation found that during about 70% of patient visits, physicians interrupted patients after an average of 11 seconds.

In a world of too much talking and not enough listening, Provenzano said introverts may be more likely to allow patients time to express concerns. “Patients and colleagues often value calm, reflective leadership even more than charisma,” said Tokunbo Akande, MD, MPH, MS, an integrative medicine physician who describes himself as introverted.

Introversion may be an unsung strength, but it brings significant challenges in clinical work. When your internal battery runs on solitude, back-to-back patient visits are likely to be draining.

Some introverted doctors say it’s not just one-on-one interactions with patients that sap their emotional reserves. Accompanying family members often add an extra dimension of energetic output.

“In office visits in which the patient’s friends or family members accompany them, if one of them is the protective, domineering type, it can set up a situation in which I feel I’m being scrutinized in every detail,” said Ryan Armstrong, MD, an introverted vascular intervention specialist at Texas Endovascular.

Provenzano said patient and family expectations of bedside manner may also pressure introverted doctors to exude a more energetic, upbeat persona than is natural. “This can feel performative and disconnected from their strengths.” “Faking it” in this way can be difficult and exhausting.

In private practice, there is also the administrative side. Whereas extroverts might not bat an eye at working with a multi-person staff, introverts often find it requires extra emotional resources.

“Managing people can be both the most rewarding and the most draining part of my work,” said Kogelnik. Though he enjoys seeing his medical team grow with new employees, there are times when someone makes a mistake, and it’s his responsibility to correct them. “Working through that takes a lot of energy and patience,” he said.

Outside the clinic, the work of medicine continues in other, highly social venues. Medical conferences, networking events, and meetings with drug representatives are generally part of the job. Daniels said she’s learned from experience that she has her emotional limits with these events and commitments. “I actually don’t go to conferences at all anymore,” she said. “I have a mentor who is very extroverted, and the only conferences I’ve gone to have been with him because he’s like my shield.”

The many little energy “leaks” of medical practice can add up to a serious drain for introverts. If unaddressed through personal boundaries and self-care, this may raise the risk for burnout, said Provenzano. Stanford Medicine reports that feelings of emotional exhaustion are a strong harbinger of burnout in doctors.

“This state of chronic stress may also increase the risk of anxiety and depression, as well as unhealthy behavioral coping mechanisms,” she added. “An introverted doctor may also be prone to greater isolation in their personal lives, which can exacerbate any existing mental health issue they experience.” Again, self-care practices (and, in some cases, help from a mental health professional) are critical for maintaining balance.

Meditate. “Cultivating a consistent meditation practice is extremely useful for anxiety and grounding, and it is well-suited for introverts, as it returns their focus inward,” said Provenzano. A JAMA Network Open study revealed that healthcare workers who practiced transcendental mantra meditation had lower rates of burnout, anxiety, and insomnia than a control group.

Provenzano suggested starting a patient-facing day with a morning meditation — even a short one. “Sneaking away for 2-3 minutes of deep breathing can regulate the nervous system if you’re feeling overstimulated,” she said.

Daniels said meditation is a key part of her self-care as an introverted physician, especially when paired with soothing music. “I use earbuds quite a bit and will pop one in and have it set to certain playlists I’ve made for different moods.”

Try small mindfulness breaks. Building short, mindful moments into your workday also helps reset boundaries and recharge reserves. A Frontiers in Human Neuroscience study found that medical professionals (in this case, nurses) who attended mindfulness-based training for 8 weeks were able to reduce the negative effects of work stress on sustained attention.

Other research published in PLoS One showed that practicing mindfulness at work could reduce the risk for burnout. “Even 1 minute of deep breathing between patients helps me leave the prior case outside the door so I can be fully present with the next,” said Akande. 

Transition with purpose. Leaving the stress of work at work can be especially tough for introverts, so Provenzano recommended finding a restorative way to transition out of the workday. “Introverts feel more relaxed in quiet environments and solitude, so taking a quick walk, doing a workout, or even driving home without the radio on can help you return to the inward focus you’re more comfortable with.”

As an introverted physician, you’ll likely never be the life of the medical party. That’s okay. Rather than worrying about how introversion could negatively affect your practice, look for the ways it makes you better at your vocation, such as a heightened capacity for listening and deep connection.

“Introversion is not a weakness; it is a different starting point,” said Kogelnik. “The reflection and thoughtfulness that come with it are huge assets in medicine. The key is to keep expanding your comfort zone without losing what makes you centered.”