Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Does medical school train students to become managers or leaders?

Maria Yang, MD
Education
July 14, 2019
51 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I worked with someone (not a physician, but that doesn’t really matter here) whose title was “assistant director.” He and I quickly recognized that we worked well together: His head brimmed with big visions and ideas, whereas my head brimmed with plans as to how to make those ideas manifest in the actual world.

“He’s like a bunch of balloons,” I quipped to a colleague. “He’s got a ton of ideas — shiny, bright balloons — but he needs someone to hold all the ribbons to keep them from floating away.”

“Do you think medical school trains us to become managers or leaders?” my colleague asked. Someone several rungs up on the organizational chart had convened a supervisor training; one of the major points of discussion surrounded the differences between “managers” and “leaders.” One suggested generated a lot of wondrous “ooooh”ing: Managers ensure that the ship is running properly; leaders ensure that the ship is going the right direction.

“Managers,” I responded. “Particularly once you get to internship.” Interns are learning on the job how to diagnose and treat medical problems in actual human beings with all the complicating factors of life: Pregnancy, poverty, rare diseases, under- or over-involved family members, a health care system that can prioritize profits over patients.

“Really? I think medicine teaches us to become leaders. By the time we are attendings, we have to hold the entire context of a specific person in mind while ensuring that junior staff learn skills — the technical stuff in addition to the bedside manner stuff — that do not result in harm to patients.”

“Yeah, I agree with that,” I said after a pause. Only upon further reflection, I was able to articulate that physicians are often “stuck” as managers because we are often too busy doing clinical work to exert influence and demonstrate leadership on the systems in which we work.

Sometimes it is the system that gets in the way of us doing all the things we want and should do.

Though I am more likely to be the person holding the balloons than the actual balloons, Big Thoughts still trickle through my mind:

  • What if the public mental health and substance use disorder systems worked from the assumption that people will get better and no longer need services? What if we built a system where people didn’t get stuck in it?
  • What if the ratio of “case management” to “treatment” was flipped in the public mental health and substance use disorder systems? What if people received effective treatment sooner? Would people then need as much “case management”?
  • What if various skills — emotion regulation, distress tolerance, effective communication, relating to others, self-reflection — were automatically included in prenatal care and continued post-partum?
  • What if various skills — emotion regulation, distress tolerance, effective communication, relating to others, self-reflection — were included in school curricula for every grade?
  • What if designated leaders and managers of clinics, hospitals, and other health care entities included more clinicians (of all stripes) and people who receive services there? What if it were routine for health care entities and regulators — particularly Medicaid and Medicare — to solicit and implement ideas from clinicians and people who receive services?

I agree that systems — whether formal or not — need both managers and leaders. I also agree that the most effective managers and leaders do not rely upon their hierarchical positions to promote change and improvement; they instead cultivate and nurture interdependent relationships throughout the system. After all, in health care, our primary goal is (or at least should be) to help others.

Maria Yang is a psychiatrist who blogs at her self-titled site, Maria Yang, MD.  

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

An American physician in Sweden. Here's what he thought about its health care.

July 14, 2019 Kevin 21
…
Next

When colon cancer is diagnosed, it's also a difficult day for the gastroenterologist

July 15, 2019 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Medical school, Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
An American physician in Sweden. Here's what he thought about its health care.
Next Post >
When colon cancer is diagnosed, it's also a difficult day for the gastroenterologist

More by Maria Yang, MD

  • A doctor’s COVID-19 advice to physician leaders

    Maria Yang, MD
  • When a patient in jail lacks impulse control

    Maria Yang, MD
  • The end of a life never just impacts the individual who died

    Maria Yang, MD

Related Posts

  • Beyond the Fauci effect: As medical school application rates soar, medical students struggle

    Natalie LaBossier
  • End medical school grades

    Adam Lieber
  • 3 pieces of advice to new medical students

    Natasha Abadilla
  • 5 reasons why medical students drop out

    Dr. Daniel
  • Why do medical students kill themselves?

    Nahda Harati
  • The medical school personal statement struggle

    Sheindel Ifrah

More in Education

  • The pros and cons of taking a gap year during medical school

    Med School Insiders
  • Breaking the silence: the truth about mental health challenges among medical students and why medical schools must take action

    Erin Waldrop
  • Breaking the stigma: Encouraging mental health help-seeking in medical trainees

    Anonymous
  • I’m not so different from Lionel Messi – and neither are you

    Lauren Tien
  • 6 ways ChatGPT can help you succeed in medical school

    Drew Bergman
  • Is it time to say goodbye to medical school rankings?

    James Goldchild
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • How chronic illness and disability are portrayed in media and the importance of daily choices for improved quality of life

      Juliet Morgan and Meghan Jobson | Physician
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 7 ways to beat burnout: a guide for health care professionals to reduce stress and reclaim their passion

      Marie Livesey, DO | Physician
    • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

      Lien Morcate | Conditions
    • The pros and cons of taking a gap year during medical school

      Med School Insiders | Education, Sponsored
    • A family physician’s journey on the OIG list and the struggle to return to practice [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Doc Accused of 'Fertility Fraud' Dies After Handmade Plane Crashes
  • Quitting Smoking May Ease Anxiety, Depression
  • Benefits Found for Hand OA Drug Treatments
  • 'Succession Syndrome'; Opioid Use Disorder LAI Approved; Seizures of Ketamine Rising
  • Why Urgent Care Is More Urgent Than Ever

Meeting Coverage

  • Benefits Found for Hand OA Drug Treatments
  • MRI-Based Screening May Detect Prostate Cancer Earlier
  • New Model Aims to Study Intestinal Fibrosis in Crohn's Disease
  • Hypertension Tied to Worse Survival After Surgery for Upper Tract Urothelial Cancers
  • The Role of Amyloid PET in the Management of Alzheimer's Disease
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • How chronic illness and disability are portrayed in media and the importance of daily choices for improved quality of life

      Juliet Morgan and Meghan Jobson | Physician
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

      Zahid Awan, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 7 ways to beat burnout: a guide for health care professionals to reduce stress and reclaim their passion

      Marie Livesey, DO | Physician
    • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

      Lien Morcate | Conditions
    • The pros and cons of taking a gap year during medical school

      Med School Insiders | Education, Sponsored
    • A family physician’s journey on the OIG list and the struggle to return to practice [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Does medical school train students to become managers or leaders?
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...