The Second Post-Graduate Year and Beyond; Making Yourself Valuable

Brian Potts, MD MBA FAAEM
YPS Vice President

Last year, I reflected on completing my first year out of residency and provided some advice for new graduates. After making it through that transition phase, our careers move into an important development phase. I'll provide some brief ideas about how recent graduates who are two to three years out of residency might approach this next phase.

Emergency physicians practice in a variety of settings, whether as a partner in a group, an employee in an academic setting, an independent contractor in a locum tenens position, or in a range of other possibilities. Whatever your specific situation, you want to make yourself into a valuable member of your group. What can you do to add value as an employee, partner, or faculty member? There are many ways to accomplish this.

In this article, I will focus on the non-clinical aspects of emergency medicine. Clearly, sound clinical skills and good productivity are desirable. A physician with strong clinical skills and a good bedside manner who is efficient (patients per hour, RVUs, or whatever metric you want to use) and works well with the rest of the team will always be seen as a valuable contributor to their group. But, what other activities can compliment this?

Group Management - For any group to operate successfully, it needs individuals who want to be involved in the management of the group. There are many opportunities for this, from executive leadership (chair, CEO, CFO, treasurer) to management (medical director) to committee leadership (quality assurance, peer review, finance, education, risk management). These positions and committees are important for creating a strong group, operationally and financially. Seek out one or two positions in your group as a starting point. As your leadership recognizes your interest, and you will likely find yourself being given opportunities to move up the ranks within your group. Groups with a more robust leadership team tend to be more successful and will place a high value on people who contribute.

Hospital Committees - Hospital and medical staff committees are another way to become more involved with your colleagues and benefit your group. Your group will want a strong voice on those committees whose guidelines and decisions can dramatically affect the emergency department. Like many organizations or companies, hospitals can be very "political", pitting different interests against each other. When budgets are being reviewed, capital improvement decisions are being made, and patient care protocols are being created, you want your group to have representation at the table. Weak departments or groups that do not have representation on key committees tend to get stepped on by other more powerful players. You will be a more valuable part of the group if you become an active and influential member of one of these committees. You can benefit by representing your group as well as networking and getting to know the hospital leadership and other active members of the medical staff. When push comes to shove, you want these individuals in your corner.

Community Work and Volunteerism - Volunteerism is a very rewarding experience, and the range of opportunities is too wide to mention everything possible. Volunteers get to help out the community where they work and provide education or other assistance. Often, local physicians are asked to help out at community fairs for things like blood pressure screenings or staff an education tent sponsored by the hospital. Other events are looking for speakers to talk about health related topics. Consider taking on a role as the person in your department who helps to coordinate your group's participation in local community events and volunteer activities.

Research and Teaching - Working in a community ED since graduating from residency, I will keep this section short, but that should not minimize its importance. For those of you working in the academic realm, this could be at the top of the list in terms of adding value within your department. Other YPS members involved with academics have written articles providing guidance for young faculty. The best advice that I can give is to find a good mentor in your department and figure out a niche that you can investigate and make your own. Be diligent and involve medical students or residents in your plans. You can accomplish more if you work with a good team. The most academically productive people that I have seen usually have a good cadre of talent around them.

Public Policy and Organized Medicine - Last but not least, this is an obvious one that I would like to have stick in your mind after reading this article. Seek out a role with your county or state medical association. Meet with public policy makers or other influential organizations and work to benefit your community and local hospitals, as well as your own emergency department. Become more involved in national organizations such as AAEM. Join your state chapter and also an AAEM committee. Help guide AAEM's efforts with education and advocacy. If you are a recent graduate, I hope that you continue your membership with AAEM for years to come. Run for a position on the Young Physician Section Board of Directors. You can make a difference, and your group should value and encourage involvement in organized medicine.