In this episode of This Is Why, Dr. Busti explores a universal experience for every clinician — that uncomfortable moment when you realize you don’t know something you feel you should. Known as cognitive dissonance, this moment can either hinder or drive professional growth, depending on how we respond.

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Through the lens of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), Dr. Busti explains how to recognize the difference between cognitive resonance (knowledge in alignment) and cognitive dissonance (knowledge gap awareness), and how each impacts learning, humility, and patient care.

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Learn how balanced self-reflection, humility, and modeling evidence-based thinking can transform those “I don’t know” moments into powerful opportunities for growth and better clinical decision-making.

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Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard in this content.

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Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to This Is Why
00:35 – When we realize we don’t know something
02:00 – Quick EBM refresher: balancing evidence, expertise, and patient factors
04:20 – Cognitive resonance vs. dissonance explained
07:00 – Healthy vs. unhealthy responses to dissonance
10:15 – How humility supports lifelong learning
13:10 – The expert’s dilemma: pressure to always know
15:30 – Modeling EBM for the next generation
17:45 – Closing thoughts: turning “I don’t know” into transformation

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