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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

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are critical to support a healthy physician workforce that can continue helps clients create personal and professional fulfillment. A profes-
to provide effective leadership and high quality of care. sional physician coach offers an effective and strategic opportunity to
empower physicians and medical teams to not only survive but also
6. What should I expect from a coach? thrive, even in the midst of a pandemic.
You should expect a coach to partner with you to enhance your I would like to thank Dr. Nora Vasquez (www.renewyour-
awareness, identify your values and help you achieve your goals. A mindmd .com) for her thorough review on this topic and for being
skilled coach also creates the opportunity for you to discuss your a contributing author.
concerns openly and without judgement. An effective coach helps
create the momentum to achieve your goals and helps you realize Rodolfo (Rudy) Molina, MD, MACR, FACP is a Practicing
your full potential. Rheumatologist and the 2021 President of the Bexar County Medical
Society.
7. What is the difference between a coach, a mentor and
a psychiatrist. Nora Vasquez MD is a member of the Bexar County Med-
Coaching is not counseling, mentoring or psychiatric therapy. In ical Society.
fact, there are key differences that one needs to consider when hir-
ing a coach. A coach guides a high-functioning client to trust their References:
own inner wisdom so they can entertain new possibilities that cre- 1. Dyrbye, Liselotte N., Shanafelt T. "Effect of a professional coach-
ate personal and professional fulfillment. A coach is “future fo- ing intervention on the well-being and distress of physicians: a
cused” and helps the client accept the past and then focus on the pilot randomized clinical trial." JAMA internal medicine 179.10
present to answer the question, “Now what do you want to do or (2019): 1406-1414.
create going forward?” 2. Shanafelt T, Goh J, Sinsky C. The Business Case for Investing in
A mentor provides guidance and wisdom from their own personal Physician Well-being. JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(12):1826–
experience and perspective. The mentor often advises the mentee to 1832. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.4340
take specific actions to reach the mentee’s objectives. A psychiatrist fo- 3. Palamara K, Kauffman C, Stone VE, Bazari H, Donelan K. Pro-
cuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional moting Success: A Professional Development Coaching Program
and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist often works with low-func- for Interns in Medicine. J Grad Med Educ. 2015 Dec;7(4):630-
tioning patients who are having problems with daily activities or self- 7. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-14-00791.1. PMID: 26692977;
care. They focus on the past and any underlying mental health issues. PMCID: PMC4675202.
4. McGonagle AK, et al. Coaching for primary care physician well-
8. How does one become a coach? being: A randomized trial and follow-up analysis. J Occup Health
There are many ways to become a coach. While some coaches draw Psychol. 2020 Oct;25(5):297-314. doi: 10.1037/ocp0000180.
from their personal experience to coach, there are many who also Epub 2020 Apr 16. PMID: 32297776.
choose to seek additional professional training to develop their coach- 5. Dyrbye L, Shanafelt T. A narrative review on burnout experienced
ing skills. There are many types of coaches, including physician and by medical students and residents. Med Educ. 2016;50:132–149.
non-physician coaches who focus on different niches. These niches in-
clude general life coaching, leadership, business, marriage, career and
executive coaching. Coaching is an unregulated industry and there is
no federation with sole authority to regulate the coaching profession.
There are many different styles of coach training programs, so it is im-
portant to do your research and find a training program and coach
that will meet your needs.
In summary, a professional physician coach enhances self-awareness,
up-levels strengths and guides participants to discover solutions. Fur-
thermore, physician coaching mitigates burnout, fosters resilience and

10 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • May 2021