Do Physicians Know Their “Soft Skills”?
When I think of the physicians that I have known who I find truly inspirational, it is their soft skills, in addition to their hard skills, that truly set them apart. They might have been world famous, but their humility, compassion, humor, ability to listen resulted in patient care and leadership that transcended the science of […]
Physician Career Change-Impact has Many Faces
How can you leave clinical medicine and still make a difference? What can replace the privilege of hearing a patient’s story and being part of another human being’s journey through illness, sorrow, joy, relief? Bearing witness to the gamut of human experience and emotions is after all the essence of being a physician. Yet, there […]
Physician Career Transition- Shifting from a Noun to a Verb!
“We are not nouns, we are verbs. I am not a thing-an actor; a writer–I am a person who does things–I write, I act–and I never know what I am going to do next. I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun.” Stephen Fry Brainstorming […]
Burnout Needs Big Picture Thinking
In her 2017 comprehensive paper, “Finding Solutions To The Problem Of Burnout“, early and preeminent researcher Christina Maslach clearly articulates the importance of looking at all aspects of the burnout epidemic in order to address how to solve it. Importantly, she reiterates expanding the focus from trying to fix the people, to shining a […]
A Physician Self-Compassion Prescription for Chaos
What comes up for you when you feel that you are in the midst of chaos? Do you feel like you are in situations that are unfamiliar and spinning out of control? Where […]
What Other Careers can Physicians Transition Into?
When you have spent your education , training and practice following the linear path of clinical medicine it can be daunting to consider changing gears and switching to a non-clinical career in medicine, or to explore opportunities completely outside of the healthcare arena. Does the task seem so overwhelming and fraught with fear and […]
Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician Retires- Happily “Untethered”.
I recently had a conversation with Dr. James Ramage, who retired in 2018 as a pulmonary and critical care physician. Our discussion highlighted the value of dedicating time and bringing thoughtfulness to the decision of leaving clinical practice and embracing the opportunities of retirement. Dr. Ramage’s career trajectory began at Georgia Tech; then pre-med at […]
Physician Self-Leadership: Keep your Hands on the Steering Wheel of your Life
When I listen to all the external factors that create frustration and anguish for my coaching clients, it is tempting to want to simply put my head in my hands and “despair” with them. Limited face to face interaction with their patients, dysfunctional EMRs, institutionalized disrespect, intrusive measures of performance and productivity are some […]
How Physicians Harness the Courage to Create Change
“Life Shrinks or Expands in Proportion to one’s Courage.”
Anais Nin
Courage / Cour.age
– mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.