How did your involvement in clubs and organizations grow you as a student leader?
As future physicians, we will be the leaders of an interdisciplinary team of physician assistants, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, dieticians, psychologists, social workers, and more. We are going to be looked at as the leader who steps up to make the difficult decisions when a patient is “coding.” Others will turn to us for our expert opinion in a consultation. We will be viewed as a teacher and a mentor to future medical learners. We will be called upon to advocate for our patients. As future physicians, so many of the roles we fill simply expect that we know how to be great leaders. However, there are very few experiences in medical school that actually prepare us for these enormous responsibilities.
My involvement in clubs and organizations has given me the experiences that I need to feel comfortable leading a team, making decisions quickly and confidently in high-stress environments, giving my opinion, mentoring others, and speaking up to advocate for my future patients.
What kind of leader do you want to be as a physician?
As a physician, I hope to always lead by listening, and to be the kind of leader that creates space for multiple voices to be heard. One of my mentors shared this quote with me and I think it really captures what every leader should strive for: “When I talk to managers, I get the feeling that they are important. When I talk to leaders, I get the feeling that I am important.” I hope to continue to grow as a future physician-leader to make my colleagues, teammates, and patients feel respected, supported, and valued. <>
“We are actively shaping this profession, and our means of affecting change right now is through leadership in these clubs and organizations.”