Growing Physician Leaders

Now, more than at any other time in the history of our profession, the workforce challenges affecting our industry need to be addressed with discipline, focus, and resolve. A June 2021 report prepared for the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that physician demand will continue to grow faster than supply, leading to a projected total physician shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034.(1)

Fortunately, leaders across the country take leadership development issues seriously and engage in programs that help us address our most precious resource. We are pleased to dedicate an issue of Physician Leadership Journal to this important topic.

First, we include a discussion article that emphasizes the importance of coaching in the development of women physician leaders. The authors describe how coaching can help women physicians overcome well-documented barriers to academic and leadership promotion. Further, coaching is a way for women physician leaders to create new solutions, develop new goals, utilize natural strengths, employ creative decision-making, and develop core competencies. As women physicians strive toward leadership equity, the authors argue, organizations should offer them opportunities to engage with a coach to help them grow their leadership capabilities and skills to reach their professional and personal goals.

Second, we offer a field report describing the lessons learned from implementing a physician leader training program. The authors argue that healthcare system executives need physician “champions” to lead and assist hospital administration in driving change and reaching institutional goals. While physicians gradually move into leadership positions by virtue of experience and longevity, most may not be prepared to lead with the skills necessary to meet the challenges and attain the trust of senior executives. Through training programs, the report concludes, faculty can function at a much higher level, which is useful in succession planning.

Lastly, a research article identifies physician leaders’ required core business competencies and the ideal timing to pursue a business curriculum. The authors suggest that business competencies have a place in medical education and likely requires continued reinforcement through lifelong learning based on when specific business skills are needed during training and/or practice.

As the official journal of the American Association for Physician Leadership, PLJ provides a platform for you to share your research with members throughout the world. Now is the time to use this platform to help inspire change in healthcare and to improve the way we deliver care to the patients, families, and communities we serve.

Please send me your thoughts at editor@physicianleaders.org. We would enjoy hearing stories about the relevance of mentorship and the methods you use to ensure that you and your team are well cared for in our demanding careers.

Reference

1. IHS Markit Ltd. The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections From 2019 to 2034. Washington, DC: AAMC; 2021. Available at: www.aamc.org/media/54681/download .