There are some things physicians just don’t learn in medical school, according to a recent graduate of Physicians Lead!, Texas Health’s physician leadership development program. This includes how to lead as a physician in the complex environment of health care delivery.
“After medical school you learn to lead a practice by trial and error. Physicians Lead! taught me to lead a team of physicians where we’re all used to being in charge,” said Cynthia English, D.O., OB/GYN on the medical staff of Texas Heath Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth. “This opportunity is brilliant!”
Dr. English is one of 42 medical staff physicians in the program’s fourth class. Texas Health established Physicians Lead! in 2015 to help physicians build their leadership effectiveness, expand their understanding of health care and develop their capabilities to lead. With the recent graduation, 155 physicians have completed the program.
Representing a wide range of specialties, including both independent physicians practicing at Texas Health hospitals and those employed by Texas Health Physicians Group, the class began their course work in May 2018. The physicians participated in educational sessions facilitated by Texas Health Resources University, the American Association for Physician Leadership and Epidemic Leadership/LCI Group.
For the final five months of the program, the class organized into five action learning groups to develop team-based solutions to system-level opportunities for improvement, including:
- Optimizing Patient Status: Observation versus Inpatient
- Positioning Telemedicine to Improve Care
- Gaining Physician Insight into New Technologies
- Physicians Leading Cost Reduction
- Improving Physician Well-Being
The action learning process provided the physicians with invaluable hands-on experience in grappling with a complex organizational problem. It also emphasized collaborative leadership and teamwork. Project team members rotated through leadership positions and developed a plan that addressed the improvement opportunity.
The teams presented their plans at the May 18 graduation event.
Graduates said the lessons learned in Physicians Lead! will help guide their careers.
“Physicians Lead! has changed my perspective as a leader,” said Rahul Singh, M.D., hospitalist on the medical staff of Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.
“There’s a lot more to leadership than I thought. It’s letting others lead, giving team members an opportunity to grow and setting others up for success,” Dr. Singh said.
Dr. Singh’s thoughts were seconded by Steven Davidoff, M.D., pulmonologist on the medical staff of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, who noted that formal evaluation tools have been a key takeaway for him.
“Most of us as leaders likely identify our strengths, but we struggle with knowing our weaknesses and blind spots,”Dr. Davidoff said.
He said that the program’s learnings will help him maintain an appropriate work-life balance, making him less susceptible to burnout.
The husband and father of three’s professional schedule is jam-packed as president of the Texas Health Plano medical staff, medical director of the hospital’s ICU and executive partner of his practice.
“Identifying my weaknesses and improving on them will allow me to be more successful in the long run,” Dr. Davidoff said.
Physicians Lead! has inspired graduates to pursue further leadership training opportunities. Drs. Singh and Davidoff have been accepted to graduate management programs, and Dr. Davidoff is pursuing his Certified Physician Executive certification with the American Association for Physician Leadership.
Physicians Lead! enables physicians to grow their capabilities in leadership and become a network of physician leaders, said Lynn Myers, M.D., chief medical and quality officer, Texas Health Physicians Group. Dr. Myers, a Physician Lead! graduate, is an action learning team sponsor and member of the Physicians Lead! Steering Committee.
“Physician leadership is crucial to transforming the delivery of health care in North Texas and around the nation,” Dr. Myers said.
Dr. English, a recent graduate of the program, commented on how Physicians Lead! will help physicians in a changing health care environment.
“There are many questions and issues to be addressed and resolved as the industry transitions to value-based care. Physicians Lead! will help us as we lead and provide care,” Dr. English said.
“I’m not an employed physician, but Texas Health invested lots of time and resources in my development. I feel better able to lead.”
The fifth class kicked off their work on Aug. 24 with graduation scheduled for late spring 2020. A sixth class will begin in late summer 2020. If you are interested in exploring opportunities with Physicians Lead!, contact Glenn Hardesty, D.O., program medical director, or Mandalynn Tidland-Heep, program manager. You also can learn more here.
Congratulations!
By Andy Wilson • Posted May 21, 2019
