# Following
by Justin Chu, MD
In today’ s world, when you hear the word“ influencer” your mind likely jumps to social media personalities. Influencers aren’ t captivating based on the number of followers or subscribers they have, but by the message they put out into the world. It’ s their words, actions, comedic relief and even dancing that draw our attention. In medicine, true influence isn’ t measured in“ likes” or“ shares.” It’ s measured by impact. This is evident by the lives we touch, the culture we foster and the next generation we inspire. Even the smallest gestures can shape and inspire the next generation of physicians.
For me and many others, that influence comes from Dr. Jennifer Daily. More than her numerous titles: Professor, Head Team Physician, Fellowship Director – she has been a mentor, a leader and a constant source of guidance throughout my career. She embodies leadership, not just in her words but in her actions, showing me that to be a great physician, you must first be a great human being.
This is best exemplified with one story. As a sports medicine physician at an NCAA Division I school there are hundreds of athletes to take care of. The most efficient way to conduct pre-participation sports evaluations for this many athletes is to host a mass physical event. Organizing such events requires months of meticulous planning, coordination and logistical problem-solving. The day of the event is both physically and mentally exhausting for the entire staff after seeing nearly 300 athletes.
Like all major events there are minor hiccups that go unnoticed by the majority, and for our most recent mass physical event it was an insufficient number of free parking passes for the staff. Without skipping a beat, Dr. Daily stepped up to the parking kiosk in the rain
and scanned her pass repeatedly forcing the parking garage arm to swing up until every last vehicle exited the garage. First person there and the last one to the leave: the classic stance of the all-time greats of their craft. Selfless acts like this are influential, and I commonly share this experience with prospective sports medicine fellows during interviews. I encourage them to search for programs where their leadership looks out for their own with a genuine humanistic nature and creates a positive learning culture. This culture isn’ t built through words alone – it’ s cultivated through actions. That’ s the kind of influence that matters.
Amazingly enough, her influence extends beyond the clinic and sports coverage and pours out to the next generation through her work in the community. In true Dr. Daily fashion, when a medical student envisioned a program to provide mentoring through sports for children in Louisville, she immediately stepped up to serve as a faculty mentor. That program, We Got Next Mentoring, takes place monthly at the Southwick Community Center offering kids three hours of mentorship, sports coaching, crafts and a free lunch. The program continues to grow and last year we received the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Local Humanitarian Service Project Grant Award to secure additional funding. The impact of this program is undeniable. Seeing the way these children engage in discussions, respond to mentorship and celebrate their end-of-year prizes is a reminder that true influence is inspiring others to better themselves and the way they interact with others.
Unfortunately, part of the territory that comes with being an“ influencer” is the backlash and negativity in the comment section of the digital world. In medicine, leadership comes with its own microscope: every decision is closely evaluated and pleasing everyone is impossible.
20 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE