Beyond Surrender: Reimagining Physician Recovery
This article proposes a reconceptualization of Steps II and III of 12-step recovery programs for impaired physicians, drawing on Hasidic theological insights about divine kingship, presence-absence, and meta-parable. The traditional framing of these steps—coming to believe in a power greater than oneself and surrendering to that power—presents unique challenges for physicians whose professional identity centers on control, expertise, and decision-making authority. Building on the Alter Rebbe's understanding of "Ana Emloch" (I shall rule) as divine self-exploration rather than assertion of dominance, this paper develops a recovery framework that transforms the concept of surrender from abdication of control to creative participation in a dynamic relationship with healing power. The analysis identifies specific barriers physicians face in recovery, contrasts the proposed approach with current addiction models, and offers practical applications for physician health programs. This paradoxical understanding of powerlessness may help physicians integrate their professional identity with recovery principles, potentially improving outcomes in this high-risk population.