From focusing on collaboration to an evolving healthcare workforce, seven physicians joined Becker's to discuss what new physicians need to know.
Question: What's one thing all new physicians need to know?
Editor's note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and length.
Eric Esrailian, MD. Gastroenterologist and Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA (Los Angeles): Every generation of physicians seems to have concerns about changes in the healthcare landscape. Despite facing different types of challenges, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in medicine and science. We have the potential to prevent, diagnose, treat and possibly cure diseases like never before. Physicians also have more information than ever at their fingertips. Continue to read and stay a life-long learner. The best is yet to come!
Melvin Freeman, MD. Former Ophthalmology Specialist in Yarrow Point, Wash.: Medicine is an exciting and challenging endeavor. Like all life work, there are ups and downs. Take the downs as a challenge and enjoy the ups as a reward for a professional career well accomplished. Like in all careers, always plan ahead, select your direction and be prepared to make changes as one's career and life changes.
Michael Gomez, MD. Natal Intensive Care Unit Medical Director at Pediatrix Medical Group (Orlando, Fla.): You must know more about your profession than anyone else to keep it viable. There are no shortcuts or easy solutions to being successful in practice and in the business of medicine.
James Leavitt, MD. Director of Clinical Quality and Outcomes of Gastro Health (Miami): Don’t chase the money. Gastroenterologists have the potential to make a significant steady salary. With reasonable planning and investment, a gastroenterologist should be able to assure themselves of financial security over the life of their career. But no matter how much you make, if you are working in a miserable environment and/or with miserable people you will most likely be miserable. Find the place you want to live and the people you would look forward to working with every day and success and satisfaction will be yours for the taking.
Aparna Padiyar, MD. Nephrologist at University Hospitals (Cleveland): New physicians need to know that medicine is a team sport. Fostering a collaborative environment requires building trust and mutual respect among all team members — nurses, specialists and support staff. This involves acknowledging and valuing each persons' contributions, showing empathy, and maintaining a positive attitude. By creating an inclusive atmosphere where everyone's expertise is recognized and appreciated, physicians can enhance teamwork, improve patient outcomes, boost efficiency and create a more joyous and fulfilling healthcare environment for all.
Mark Thoma, MD. Anesthesiologist with The Permanente Medical Group (San Francisco): New physicians have to realize that medicine will have several changes throughout their career. It is incumbent on them to evolve along with it. The explosions of devices, technology, new procedures, and novel practice models all require new physicians to remember to keep looking ahead while they are in the