For as much as they accomplish and contribute to society, physicians and many healthcare practitioners often fail to recognize themselves as leaders.

This week on the Healthcare Experience Matters Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Minkes, MD, PhD, MS-LOD, who offers insights on how physicians can overcome the inherent challenges of recognizing themselves as leaders.

Dr. Minkes currently serves as Physician Coach with the Healthcare Experience Foundation (HXF). He is a board-certified general and pediatric surgeon who previously practiced as a pediatric surgeon for over twenty years in academic and private practice settings. He is also a professor and Chair of Specialty Medicine with Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM).

As part of his ongoing work with HXF, Dr. Minkes was instrumental in crafting our upcoming Physician Leadership Foundations Certificate program’s curriculum. He will also be a featured speaker at the event.

Coming Up in June: Physician Leadership Foundations

Ready to foster and strengthen meaningful relationships with your patients?

Join our HXF physician coaches, including Dr. Minkes, and industry perspective speakers for an engaging online peer collaboration learning experience in our rapidly approaching June cohort of the Physician Leadership Foundations Certificate Program.

Sessions will be held on June 3, 10, and 17. Learn more about the Physician Leadership Foundation Certificate program.

As part of this event, you will discover how to develop advance leadership skills that contribute to medical staff engagement and improved organizational outcomes. This program will equip participants with strategies and tools to address some of the top leadership challenges physicians face:

• How do you communicate with your colleagues?
• How to best collaborate with the c-suite?
• How do you lead to maximize patient care and safety?
• What are better strategies for managing conflict and completing priorities?
• How do you deal with challenging patient experiences?

The Challenges of Physician Leadership

The increasing demands on physicians to embrace leadership roles is becoming undeniable in today’s world.

Dr. Minkes kicked off this interview by highlighting his own journey from clinical practice to leadership positions, including his current role with the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He sheds light on the challenges physicians face when transitioning into leadership roles, particularly the struggle to identify as leaders and adapt to new responsibilities beyond clinical practice.

In Dr. Minkes’ view, most people enter healthcare driven by compassion and the desire to heal. However, identifying as a leader poses a unique challenge, especially for physicians.

While clinicians lead care teams, both in the ward and in the office, they often fail to recognize ourselves as leaders.

This presents a significant challenge. What exactly does it entail to be a leader, and why is it crucial to the work of patient care?

The healthcare leadership skills that endure are fundamentally human skills, deeply intertwined within the values of healthcare providers and clinicians. When we align with a shared vision, we’re better equipped to fulfill our roles effectively.

Dr. Minkes underscored the importance of self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and team building in modern healthcare leadership in this interview. These are essential components covered in the Physician Leadership Foundations certificate program, but they are not so prevalent in traditional medical education.

As the discussion progressed, Dr. Minkes emphasized the direct impact of effective physician leadership on patient care outcomes, including improved engagement, reduced staff turnover, and enhanced clinical outcomes.

He shared personal insights and experiences, illustrating the transformative potential of leadership development in healthcare. Dr. Minkes put emphasis on the value of continuous learning and growth in leadership, encouraging physicians to embrace opportunities for development.

Given the interactive and supportive nature of the Physician Leadership Certificate program, offering a safe environment for leaders to learn, share experiences, and collectively contribute to enhancing healthcare delivery, we hope you consider attending, and/or continue to find time to dedicate to your lifelong learning journey.

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Leadership