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WOMEN IN
MEDICINE

for Upcoming Women

Ph
10 Tips ysician Leaders

By Amita Kumar, MD
Y 7 Accept advice. Ideally, you should get a business coach and
ou are a leader. If you are a physician, you are a leader. You are
mentor. This has been common practice in the business
a leader in your clinic, your family and in your community. It
is up to you to decide what to do with that leadership role. As
world for many years. In medicine, we have been trying to do
a female physician leader, you have endless possibilities. Your ability to this alone… year after year, decade after decade. There is evidence-based
make changes and improve the community around you is in your hands. research that coaching has helped great leaders become even more suc-
It might be scary and uncomfortable, and your brain will try to stop you cessful than they ever thought they could. Professional coaching has
from trying something new and going into uncharted territory. I’m here shown to reduce emotional exhaustion and improve overall quality of
to tell you that it’s okay to be afraid, and you can do it if you can remem- life. Do not wait until you need it. Start now!

ber these pieces of advice that I have gathered over the years:
Think twice before you say “no.” There are constant strug-
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Learn to use a calendar − efficiently! Make sure you calen- gles at work and at home that need constant balancing. You
1 darize everything and start with your own self-care time like may be asked to help a friend, patient or family member, but
you have 20 notes to write, 15 messages and 50 documents to review.
sleep, exercise and dinner - at the least. The more protected
If you can stop for a minute and help that person, even though you are
time you have on your calendar, the better.
infinitely busy, it does not go unnoticed and you will go home feeling
Remember why you chose to become a physician. Write it really good about yourself.
2 down somewhere that you can refer to easily and often. If

you can remind yourself daily, that would be ideal. There will Be positive. A positive attitude helps impact the ability to
be hard days, and those days will need real reminders so you can put 9 be resilient and overcome stress and adversity. Factors that
may help maximize your resilience include optimism, having
them in the past and be your best self tomorrow.
a positive attitude and the ability to see failure as a form of helpful feed-
Be a team player and learn from others. No matter how back – ensuring that you come back stronger, with a lesson learned.
3 much you have studied, your patients, co-workers, staff,
Open your mind/ improve your mindset. Believe in your-
friends and family have priceless wisdom that will help you - 10
if you listen. Your own life (being a daughter, sister, wife, mom) will self. If you can dream it, you can do it. Only one caveat: You
must be willing to dare to dream!
help you be a better doctor if you learn from your own mistakes.

You are human. Take care of yourself physically and men- References
4 tally. Imagine you were your patient. What would you tell https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31380892/
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2740206
yourself? Exercise, even for just a few minutes, every day. Prac- https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/5-hard-won-bits-advice-to-
morrow-s-women-physician-leaders
tice gratitude. List five things you’re grateful for each day. https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2015/01/5-tips-future-physician-leaders.html
https://www.thescopeofpractice.com/how-to-be-a-great-physician-leader/
Have fun! It is important that you maintain your own per- https://www.physicianleaders.org/resources/wellness/mindset/11-tips
5 sonal identity as well as your professional one. What do you https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/challenges-being-female-doctor
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7417925/
love to do on your days off? Whether it be reading, watching https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/women-in-medicine-face-unique-
challenges
Netflix, or going out for dinner with a friend, make sure you make time https://nam.edu/gender-based-differences-in-burnout-issues-faced-by-women-physi-
for your hobbies and nurture yourself with interests that energize you! cians/

Invest in yourself. Whether it is CME, a massage or lunch Amita Kumar, MD has been practicing primary care medicine
6 with friends, investing in yourself is crucial to your success. in San Antonio since 2013. She practices at HealthTexas Medical
This will help you recharge and refill your bucket to ensure Group. Her special interests include postmenopausal treatments,
diabetes and eczema with a strong holistic approach in treating the whole
that you can be resilient in whatever life and work throws at you.
person. Dr. Kumar is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society.

Visit us at www.bcms.org 27