Physicians are the most trusted and dominant conduit for care and decision-making within the multidisciplinary sphere of healthcare. With increasing demands for quality care and patient satisfaction, the physician leader is well-positioned and deserves an equitable say in shaping the future of the healthcare industry.
This book supports Angood's longtime assertion that all physicians are leaders. It is a collection of essays that detail personal experiences, observations of others, and lessons learned that paint a full picture of the roles that physicians play in society, the opportunities to maximize external expectations of leadership, and the strategies needed to fulfill personal career goals.
The first section, Beginnings, explores the culture and communities of practice, kindness, and gratitude as food for the soul, and the only constant in life, which is change. Angood also discusses adversity, resilience, and persistence, as well as physician burnout and happiness.
The second section, Knowledge of Healthcare Environment, tackles the current state of healthcare, redefining the value equation with physicians as leaders, metrics, measurement, and patient safety reporting.
The third section, Professionalism, delves into trust, professionalism, altruism, forbearance, patient-centered care, caring, and compassion.
The fourth section, Communication and Relationship Management, emphasizes self-fulfilling prophecies, clarion calls, uncertainty, ambiguity, diversity, inclusion, and the value of volunteering.
The fifth section, Business Skills and Knowledge, talks about demographics, shifting models, crisis management, and catastrophes, and strategies surrounding collaboration with team members.
The sixth section, Leadership, asserts that all physicians are leaders, and that appreciation, humanism, humility, and physician leadership are essential in crisis and recovery.
The seventh section, Growth to Move Forward, explores work and life integration versus balance, complementary tensions, polarity, partisanship, ongoing progress, grief, human wellness, and ecology.
The final section, Conclusion, highlights the current state of affairs in engaged physician leadership.
This is a must-read for all physicians who want to reach their fullest potential and become more engaged while inspiring engagement in others. Creating a broader level of positive change in self and society is within each physician's reach.