We recently connected with Allison Walsh and have shared our conversation below.
Allison, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is a concept we are all familiar with but that is often difficult to overcome and holds many people back something that know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Overcoming imposter syndrome as a female physician and entrepreneur with multiple business ventures was a journey that started in residency and evolved during my early years in practice. As a newly minted physicians in residency, I often found myself in a position where a patient viewed me as expert even though I felt far from expert. Learning to get through these unnerving interactions was great training for starting a new business which also involves a lot of trial by fire and information asymmetry. The more times you eventually conclude you knew more than you thought, and learn how to extract the necessary information to fill gaps in your knowledge base the more faith you learn to have in yourself and the less you question your right to a seat at the table.
The value of a strong support network of mentors, colleagues, and fellow entrepreneurs in this journey can not be overstated. I benefited from the wonderful example of many female physicians who came before me not the least of which was my partner in OB/GYN practice and mother Dr. Barbara Walsh.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As an OB/GYN, I have spent my career caring for women across generations. Listening to women’s struggles with untreated or under treated chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety/depression, hormonal imbalance, and weight gain inspired me to seek more comprehensive solutions for my patients’ problems.
Through this search, I have become convinced of the importance of a multifaceted approach in treating weight gain; especially during perimenopause. By integrating traditional pharmaceuticals and plant based hormone replacement therapy with dietary and behavioral modification, I help many women to overcome the underlying metabolic and hormonal dysfunction that renders sustainable weight loss in menopause seemingly impossible.
Women’s Lifestyle Solutions is comprehensive weight loss and hormone care for women by women – a rarity in the world of weight loss medicine
Prior to creating Women’s Lifestyle Solutions,
I earned a BA at Washington University in St. Louis in Political Science. I completed myMD/MBA at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and The Wharton School respectively. Before joining Obstetrics and Gynecology Care LLC, I completed OB/GYN residency at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
In my case, medical expertise in caring for women was essential to my success. Beyond medical knowledge, an entrepreneurial spirit and creativity helped me to see opportunities for growth into a direct pay environment for weight loss services. My advice for women early in their journey is to say yes to opportunities as they arise – you never know who you will meet or what you will learn.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I find myself with one too many balls in the air, I put pen to paper to help me visualize tasks and prioritize. I also break complex tasks into their smallest parts to create opportunities for small wins that foster positive momentum.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stlwomenslifestylesolutions.com/
- Instagram: stlwomenslifestylesolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenslifestylesolutions
- Youtube: @WomensLifestyleSolutions
