Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

ADHD and surgeons

Can you lose yourself for hours in things you find interesting, but struggle to start those you find boring?

Do you get impatient, frustrated or hurt easily?

Are you impulsive, or do you tend to want to do everything and overcommit?

of surgeons are affected by ADHD

ADHD brings significant strengths to surgical practice. It also has some associated challenges worth looking out for. Find out more here.

ADHD and surgeons

Can you lose yourself for hours in things you find interesting, but struggle to start those you find boring?

Do you get impatient, frustrated or hurt easily?

Are you impulsive, or do you tend to want to do everything and overcommit?

of surgeons are affected by ADHD

ADHD brings significant strengths to surgical practice. It also has some associated challenges worth looking out for. Find out more here.

ADHD and surgeons

Can you lose yourself for hours in things you find interesting, but struggle to start those you find boring?

Do you get impatient, frustrated or hurt easily?

Are you impulsive, or do you tend to want to do everything and overcommit?

of surgeons are affected by ADHD

ADHD brings significant strengths to surgical practice. It also has some associated challenges worth looking out for. Find out more here.

Key insights:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect 2% of the general population, 8% of healthcare professionals and up to 32% of surgeons.

It affects getting into - or out of - focussed attention, impulsivity, activity - physical or mental - and emotional regulation.

A core issue with ADHD is altered dopamine function. People with ADHD often have a preference for ‘dopaminergic’ high stakes, fast-paced, engaging, varied activities and environments with clear performance metrics… like the surgical workplace.

ADHD brains are driven by interest, with the potential, over time, to develop deep knowledge and skill in areas of interest. They also function best in a crisis with: rapid situational awareness and decision-making under pressure; deep empathy and social intelligence; big picture thinking; courage, energy and spontaneity.

However, these attributes can come at a significant cost, including physical and mental co-morbidities, sleep disturbance, difficulty with time management, sensitivity to rejection or criticism, burnout, and a significantly shorter life expectancy.

Conservative management strategies include time management, creating and enforcing boundaries, emotional support and building self-worth. Medical management helps to balance dopamine and increase ‘top down’ control from the pre-frontal cortex.

There remains significant stigma around ADHD, but getting a diagnosis, even if you don’t share it, and considering how to harness strengths while mitigating associated challenges can really help.

References:

Anonymous Professor of Surgery. ADHD in surgeons: an inside view. Bull RCS Engl. 2024;106(5):300-301

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline ng87 2018, available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network metaanalysis. Lancet Psych 2018; 5: 727–738

Unal GA, Tekin SB, Kenar ANI. Prevalence of adult ADHD among surgical trainees: a cross-sectional study from a Turkish University Hospital. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25:745

Sedgwick JA, Merwood A, Asherson P. The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2019;11(3):241-253

Key insights:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect 2% of the general population, 8% of healthcare professionals and up to 32% of surgeons.

It affects getting into - or out of - focussed attention, impulsivity, activity - physical or mental - and emotional regulation.

A core issue with ADHD is altered dopamine function. People with ADHD often have a preference for ‘dopaminergic’ high stakes, fast-paced, engaging, varied activities and environments with clear performance metrics… like the surgical workplace.

ADHD brains are driven by interest, with the potential, over time, to develop deep knowledge and skill in areas of interest. They also function best in a crisis with: rapid situational awareness and decision-making under pressure; deep empathy and social intelligence; big picture thinking; courage, energy and spontaneity.

However, these attributes can come at a significant cost, including physical and mental co-morbidities, sleep disturbance, difficulty with time management, sensitivity to rejection or criticism, burnout, and a significantly shorter life expectancy.

Conservative management strategies include time management, creating and enforcing boundaries, emotional support and building self-worth. Medical management helps to balance dopamine and increase ‘top down’ control from the pre-frontal cortex.

There remains significant stigma around ADHD, but getting a diagnosis, even if you don’t share it, and considering how to harness strengths while mitigating associated challenges can really help.

References:

Anonymous Professor of Surgery. ADHD in surgeons: an inside view. Bull RCS Engl. 2024;106(5):300-301

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline ng87 2018, available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network metaanalysis. Lancet Psych 2018; 5: 727–738

Unal GA, Tekin SB, Kenar ANI. Prevalence of adult ADHD among surgical trainees: a cross-sectional study from a Turkish University Hospital. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25:745

Sedgwick JA, Merwood A, Asherson P. The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2019;11(3):241-253

Key insights:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect 2% of the general population, 8% of healthcare professionals and up to 32% of surgeons.

It affects getting into - or out of - focussed attention, impulsivity, activity - physical or mental - and emotional regulation.

A core issue with ADHD is altered dopamine function. People with ADHD often have a preference for ‘dopaminergic’ high stakes, fast-paced, engaging, varied activities and environments with clear performance metrics… like the surgical workplace.

ADHD brains are driven by interest, with the potential, over time, to develop deep knowledge and skill in areas of interest. They also function best in a crisis with: rapid situational awareness and decision-making under pressure; deep empathy and social intelligence; big picture thinking; courage, energy and spontaneity.

However, these attributes can come at a significant cost, including physical and mental co-morbidities, sleep disturbance, difficulty with time management, sensitivity to rejection or criticism, burnout, and a significantly shorter life expectancy.

Conservative management strategies include time management, creating and enforcing boundaries, emotional support and building self-worth. Medical management helps to balance dopamine and increase ‘top down’ control from the pre-frontal cortex.

There remains significant stigma around ADHD, but getting a diagnosis, even if you don’t share it, and considering how to harness strengths while mitigating associated challenges can really help.

References:

Anonymous Professor of Surgery. ADHD in surgeons: an inside view. Bull RCS Engl. 2024;106(5):300-301

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline ng87 2018, available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network metaanalysis. Lancet Psych 2018; 5: 727–738

Unal GA, Tekin SB, Kenar ANI. Prevalence of adult ADHD among surgical trainees: a cross-sectional study from a Turkish University Hospital. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25:745

Sedgwick JA, Merwood A, Asherson P. The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2019;11(3):241-253

More about this here:

You can read more about ADHD and the surgical profession in this article I wrote for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Read the article

More about this here:

You can read more about ADHD and the surgical profession in this article I wrote for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Read the article

More about this here:

You can read more about ADHD and the surgical profession in this article I wrote for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Read the article

Listen on the move

Too busy to read, or consuming on your commute?

Listen to related content

Listen on the move

Too busy to read, or consuming on your commute?

Listen to related content

Listen on the move

Too busy to read, or consuming on your commute?

Listen to related content

Good thinking

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

Apart from the cultural stigma potentially resulting in under-diagnosis and underreporting, a diagnosis of ADHD
requires a reduction in function. By societal standards, a surgeon would be unlikely to be perceived as functioning poorly, but this doesn’t signify the absence of impairment. Surgeons may be performing adequately but not meeting their potential to excel, or they may be meeting standards but at a very high personal cost.

Good thinking

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

Apart from the cultural stigma potentially resulting in under-diagnosis and underreporting, a diagnosis of ADHD
requires a reduction in function. By societal standards, a surgeon would be unlikely to be perceived as functioning poorly, but this doesn’t signify the absence of impairment. Surgeons may be performing adequately but not meeting their potential to excel, or they may be meeting standards but at a very high personal cost.

Good thinking

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

Apart from the cultural stigma potentially resulting in under-diagnosis and underreporting, a diagnosis of ADHD
requires a reduction in function. By societal standards, a surgeon would be unlikely to be perceived as functioning poorly, but this doesn’t signify the absence of impairment. Surgeons may be performing adequately but not meeting their potential to excel, or they may be meeting standards but at a very high personal cost.

Did you knowse...

Women are may be particularly likely to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, for several reasons.

Did you knowse...

Women are may be particularly likely to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, for several reasons.

Did you knowse...

Women are may be particularly likely to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, for several reasons.

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Brick blocks all apps you don’t want to be distracted by, and you have to physically connect to the Brick to unblock them.

Find Brick here

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Try a standing desk with an under-desk treadmill so you can think, write, meet and move at the same time.

Find out more

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Set a 25 minute challenges using a Pomodoro timer, and supercharge your focus, while having fun!

Focus in sprints

Find some affiliation-free resources that may help you in managing ADHD, below:

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Brick blocks all apps you don’t want to be distracted by, and you have to physically connect to the Brick to unblock them.

Find Brick here

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Try a standing desk with an under-desk treadmill so you can think, write, meet and move at the same time.

Find out more

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Set a 25 minute challenges using a Pomodoro timer, and supercharge your focus, while having fun!

Focus in sprints

Find some affiliation-free resources that may help you in managing ADHD, below:

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Brick blocks all apps you don’t want to be distracted by, and you have to physically connect to the Brick to unblock them.

Find Brick here

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Try a standing desk with an under-desk treadmill so you can think, write, meet and move at the same time.

Find out more

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Set a 25 minute challenges using a Pomodoro timer, and supercharge your focus, while having fun!

Focus in sprints

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

People with ADHD may have particular difficulty resisting the lure of social media and news reels. Try having a digital detox at the beginning and end of the day (assuming you’re not on call).

Turn your phone onto airplane mode 30-60 mins before bed, and don’t turn it on until you’ve completed your morning ritual.

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

People with ADHD may have particular difficulty resisting the lure of social media and news reels. Try having a digital detox at the beginning and end of the day (assuming you’re not on call).

Turn your phone onto airplane mode 30-60 mins before bed, and don’t turn it on until you’ve completed your morning ritual.

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

People with ADHD may have particular difficulty resisting the lure of social media and news reels. Try having a digital detox at the beginning and end of the day (assuming you’re not on call).

Turn your phone onto airplane mode 30-60 mins before bed, and don’t turn it on until you’ve completed your morning ritual.

Got 5 minutes?

Take an ADHD screening test

Got 5 minutes?

Take an ADHD screening test

Got 5 minutes?

Take an ADHD screening test

Wise words

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill

Wise words

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill

Wise words

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill

Beyond the day job

A not-for-profit, one-day gathering for professionals curious about what else is possible — for your wellbeing, your life and your career.

Saturday 12 September 2026

10am – 5pm · OmNom, Islington, N1 1QP

20 places only · £120 per place

Register here

Facilitated by Dr Shiv Chande & Dr Lilli Cooper · Sponsored by YoYu

A one-day gathering

Beyond the day job

A not-for-profit, one-day gathering for professionals curious about what else is possible — for your wellbeing, your life and your career.

Saturday 12 September 2026

10am – 5pm · OmNom, Islington, N1 1QP

20 places only · £120 per place

Register here

Facilitated by Dr Shiv Chande & Dr Lilli Cooper · Sponsored by YoYu

A one-day gathering

Beyond the day job

A not-for-profit, one-day gathering for professionals curious about what else is possible — for your wellbeing, your life and your career.

Saturday 12 September 2026

10am – 5pm · OmNom, Islington, N1 1QP

20 places only · £120 per place

Register here

Facilitated by Dr Shiv Chande & Dr Lilli Cooper · Sponsored by YoYu

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. The information shared should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health conditions. For personalised medical advice, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.

ADHD and surgeons

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

ADHD and surgeons

ADHD and surgeons

ADHD and surgeons

Key insights:

Key insights:

Key insights:

More about this here:

More about this here:

More about this here:

Listen on the move

Listen on the move

Listen on the move

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

ADHD is often underdiagnosed in high achievers

Did you knowse...

Did you knowse...

Did you knowse...

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Struggle to resist social media or news apps?

Prefer being on the move to sitting still?

Find working boring and struggle to focus?

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

Low hanging fruit:

Get rid of your phone if you want to focus.

Got 5 minutes?

Got 5 minutes?

Got 5 minutes?

Wise words

Wise words

Wise words

Further reading

It's Not A Bloody Trend: Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult by Kat Brown

Further reading

It's Not A Bloody Trend: Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult by Kat Brown

Further reading

It's Not A Bloody Trend: Understanding Life as an ADHD Adult by Kat Brown

Beyond the day job

Beyond the day job

Beyond the day job

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

Inner Critic

Inner Critic

ADHD and surgeons

ADHD and surgeons

ADHD and surgeons

Inner Critic

Inner Critic

Inner Critic

Sign up for Lilli's Newsletter

Sign up for Lilli's Newsletter

Sign up for Lilli's Newsletter