LEADERS IN MEDICINE
Leadership Earned
by JOHN DAVID KOLTER , MD
Leadership , without a doubt , is the buzzword of our professional times . It is the currency of corporate speak , oft an educational folly , and fodder for resume amplification . There is a great chasm , though , between the trappings of leadership bestowed and that of leadership earned . A true leader earns pride of place , not by a curriculum vitae or title alone , but in the hearts and minds of those whom they lead .
Dr . Michael Adams , the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Georgetown University Hospital , was the ultimate example of leadership earned . I was fortunate , now more than a decade ago , to serve as an intern , resident and Chief Resident under his helm . Citing a residency director as a model leader , to many in the Louisville medical community , may feel rather predictable , given the legacy of Dr . Barbara Casper ’ s capable and engaging tenure as the Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the
University of Louisville . A trite example or not , both directors were adept in leading others with competency and compassion , cementing their reputation as leaders in their respective communities .
Dr . Adams , a former Georgetown resident and Chief Resident himself , distinguished his residency program from others in Washington , D . C ., starting on interview days for prospective interns . A competitive urban environment with no shortage of accomplished credentials amongst the populace , D . C . often conveyed an air of indifference to the individual . Interview days for prospective residents ran against this grain and were intentionally inviting , replete with jovial banter and relaxed lunches overlooking Georgetown ’ s campus . Dr . Adams was the first face prospective residents saw as they stepped off the elevator in the morning , surrounded by the equally genial staff of the department , forming an unmistakable first impression . Dr . Adams was interested in the person , and he engaged with each prospective resident individually . His approach would vary little for those who matched at Georgetown , under his guidance , for residency .
8 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE