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Through my role as President-Elect of the Greater Louisville Medical Society( GLMS), I had the opportunity to participate in Leadership Louisville, a year-long series of activities, lectures and group engagement with fellow leaders of the greater Louisville community. The series attracts some of the brightest and most influential leaders in the city. However, what I was reminded of time and time again, was that out of the 60 or so attendees, I was the only physician.
I remember one particular activity vividly. The group was asked to list the community leaders who were the most influential to the Louisville community. I sat back and listened for a half hour as many names were called out and listed on a whiteboard. That is, until I had had enough, and I said,“ Do you all realize that you’ ve named activists, organizational presidents, celebrities, mayors, nurses, lawyers and many other very deserving individuals, but you have not mentioned a single physician.”
People like:
FROM THE PRESIDENT by Thomas Higgins, MD, MSPH, MBA
Doctors Diversify: The Rise of MD Innovation and Side Gigs
» Abraham Flexner, MD, the influential educational reformer from Louisville whose groundbreaking report at Johns Hopkins Medical School transformed American medical schools.
» Joseph Kutz, MD and Harold Kleinert, MD, pioneering Louisville hand surgeons, who transformed hand surgery globally through innovative microsurgical techniques and world-renowned training programs at the Kleinert Kutz Hand
Care Center in Louisville.
» Bruce Scott, MD, my fellow otolaryngologist, who was just the third Kentuckian to serve as President of the American Medical Association( AMA).
» And countless other physicians who should be recognized for their contributions to medical care both locally and nationally.
Physician Influence is a Hidden Gem of Society
Physicians save lives and improve the quality of life for countless people every day, yet these achievements often go unnoticed by the broader public. For example, I bet a trauma surgeon recently saved a patient’ s life following a devastating accident or trauma, stabilizing them through hours of complex surgery. I’ m certain it happened somewhere. It’ s routine, but it’ s also an amazing feat. Yet, I don’ t expect to see that heroism in the news. Meanwhile, a primary care physician is managing chronic comorbid conditions like diabetes mellitus or hypertension like it’ s a walk in the park, preventing complications and hospitalizations that could severely impact a patient’ s well-being. These everyday acts— whether in emergency facilities, clinics or operating rooms— quietly transform lives and sustain the health of entire communities, even though they rarely make headlines or receive public recognition.
Physicians possess knowledge and experience that no one else has. No one has seen what we have seen. No one has received the intensive training we have had: no one.
Many physicians eventually grow weary of the daily grind and the superhero-level work that often goes underappreciated, longing to share their stories. But no one seems to be listening. For some, one outlet is the excitement of discovering new things and finding innovative ways to approach work, both within and outside of medicine. Your creative side emerges, your energy is renewed and excitement returns.
Some of these accomplishments may even attract attention.
Physicians in Innovation, Leadership and Influence
You may not realize it, but Louisville has a vibrant and growing ecosystem that offers physicians exciting opportunities to pursue side gigs and drive innovation. Even as a practicing physician, you might seek ways to diversify your professional activities and contribute to the community beyond traditional clinical practice. Your unique knowledge and skill set are assets. With Louisville’ s dynamic health sector and burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit, all you need are the right resources to help you get started on these new pursuits.
The Rise of Physician Side Gigs
Physicians often turn to side gigs for extra income, personal fulfillment and professional growth. Many take on consulting roles with health care startups, lending their expertise to product development and strategy. Others embrace staying up-to-date with digital health trends.