September 30, 2026
6 min watch
Key takeaways:
- Self-promotion can reinforce visibility and representation without becoming self-centered.
- Effective self-advocacy pairs purpose and authenticity with humility, shared credit and teamwork for clinicians.
For physicians from underrepresented communities, self-promotion can feel like a delicate balance: How does one own their accomplishments, expertise and leadership potential without appearing self-centered?
“Self-promotion does not mean self-centeredness. It does not mean arrogance,” Anita Afzali, MD, MPH, MHCM, FACG, AGAF, from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, told Healio. “It means being able to own who you are, being comfortable with your authentic self, taking up space because you’re allowed. It’s serving an example for others who, especially within our communities, need that appropriate representation.”
That visibility can matter far beyond one clinician, according to Afzali. When people see someone who reflects their own experiences, backgrounds or communities stepping forward, it can create a path for others to follow.
Afzali drew a clear distinction between clinicians remaining modest and remaining silent, arguing that clinicians should make their work visible without putting themselves at the center of it.
“Humility does not mean non-visibility,” she said. “This is about making sure you are appropriately sharing, being data-driven, purpose-driven, knowing your roots, but also recognizing that this is a shared work, a shared effort and being able to follow your mission. If others are doing a great job — which they are — we want to ensure that we’re recognizing where the appropriate credit is due, and oftentimes, it’s not just you. Medicine is a team sport.”
Self-promotion does not necessarily mean becoming the loudest voice in the room, Afzali noted, but it is pivotal to know who you are, understand what drives you, and remain connected to the experiences and communities that shaped you.
“Only you are you, so you’re your unique self,” she said. “[Self-promotion means] being able to share your passion and your purpose, centered on your roots. [It also] means being able to serve as an example for others to help them navigate within their fields, lifting others as we climb and pulling those extra chairs out for appropriate representation of others.”
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Healio Interviews
Disclosures:
Afzali reports advisory board positions, consulting and speaker relationships with AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Co., Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Takeda.
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