Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

What a psychiatrist learned when she tried to connect with her colleagues

Tracy Asamoah, MD
Physician
January 21, 2017
Share
Tweet
Share

Over the past couple of months, I have had the privilege of meeting with several colleagues in my community. When I contacted them, I offered to bring them lunch if they would give me a few minutes to share an idea about a project that I am really excited about. However, what I really wanted was a chance to engage with physicians who I knew little more than their name and specialty.

This experience was enlightening: Conversations were insightful and inspiring when I was able to actually meet my colleagues.  I fully expected the biggest challenge during these lunches would be colleagues who could not share my vision or were not interested in joining my efforts.

However, what surprised me was how difficult it was to actually get in front of other physicians. I called some and emailed others. I even made impromptu “drop ins” in a couple of offices to hand out some written information and hopefully schedule a future in-person meeting.  Many times, I just couldn’t get past the practice manager.

As a child psychiatrist who is bombarded by sales representatives, I sympathize with physicians who do not want to be bothered by company reps. However, my office door (and email) is always open to other physicians.  I view this not only as professional courtesy but pivotal to engaging with my medical community. These face to face connections with colleagues have allowed me to build my referral network and more importantly, build a support network of like-minded physicians. I was surprised and disillusioned by the barriers to connecting with other physicians.

However, when I did get the opportunity to sit down with them, we had rich conversations during which we shared our successes and struggles in practice. We got to know each other as people, not just another name in a directory that we refer to. I truly felt connected to my peers who share the same goal of providing great clinical care while protecting our own well-being.

Since this experience, I have reflected on the question, “What gets in the way of physicians making meaningful connections within the medical community?” I believe one quick answer is time. Who really has the time in the day to sit down, have lunch and just talk? Especially when there is another patient to see, chart to complete, or administrative meeting to attend. What would motivate us to go beyond our office door or beyond our hallways to engage with a colleague purely to hear their story? Unfortunately, you may not be able to answer these questions until you experience it.

I’ve learned some important things about myself during this process.

First, reaffirmation about my passion for connecting with others. This is undoubtedly why I chose to become a child psychiatrist in which physician-patient communication is the foundation of practice. I also learned the immense value of going beyond my comfort zone to form these new professional connections.  It was a time investment and in some cases a bruise to my ego when my invitations were rejected or not responded to. However, this network of physicians has invigorated me with great conversation and the sense of collegiality.  I wonder if these types of connections can be used to address some of the growing discontent so prevalent in our field.

So, here are some of the highlights of what I have learned.

1. When I set out to engage in meaningful and personal connections with my colleagues, I was able to relate to my colleagues as people, not just a consult or name. We all have good days and bad days and are often celebrating and struggling with the same things.

2. I have been able to grow my network to share both successes and struggles with. As evidenced by the growing use of professional platforms on social media, we crave to be part of a community who understands our experiences as physicians. These connections can be so much richer one-on-one and in-person.

3. I have started to form genuine relationships with physicians that I refer to. This is so much better than blindly choosing from a list of names.

4. I have learned new information in areas where my fund of knowledge was poor or dated.

ADVERTISEMENT

5. I have helped grow our collective strength as a community of physicians who can work together in the best interest of our patients and ourselves.

Let’s connect, evolve and grow individually and as a community.

Tracy Asamoah is a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A bloody baptism into emergency medicine

January 21, 2017 Kevin 2
…
Next

Why are Americans wary of advances in biotechnology?

January 22, 2017 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Psychiatry

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A bloody baptism into emergency medicine
Next Post >
Why are Americans wary of advances in biotechnology?

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Tracy Asamoah, MD

  • How shame tried to hijack my medical training

    Tracy Asamoah, MD
  • It’s time to focus medical education on training the whole person

    Tracy Asamoah, MD
  • A child psychiatrist’s tips for digital parenting during COVID

    Tracy Asamoah, MD

Related Posts

  • What I learned after being hacked on social media [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • My grandfather’s death: What I’ve learned about life

    Munera Ahmed
  • The lessons learned from street medicine

    Nicholas Bascou
  • To those looking to support their black colleagues

    Jasmine Arrington
  • What this medical student learned from running a marathon

    Shoshana Weiner
  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD

More in Physician

  • The man in seat 11A survived, but why don’t our patients?

    Dr. Vivek Podder
  • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

    Maureen Gibbons, MD
  • Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Why some doctors age gracefully—and others grow bitter

    Patrick Hudson, MD
  • The hidden incentives driving frivolous malpractice lawsuits

    Howard Smith, MD
  • Mastering medical presentations: Elevating your impact

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • When the diagnosis is personal: What my mother’s Alzheimer’s taught me about healing

      Pearl Jones, MD | Conditions
    • 2 hours to decide my future: How the SOAP residency match traps future doctors

      Nicolette V. S. Sewall, MD, MPH | Education
    • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why being a physician mom is harder than anyone admits

      Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Bureaucracy over care: How the U.S. health care system lost its way

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why we fear being forgotten more than death itself

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The man in seat 11A survived, but why don’t our patients?

      Dr. Vivek Podder | Physician
    • Why gambling addiction is America’s next health crisis

      Safina Adatia, MD | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How robotics are reshaping the future of vascular procedures

      David Fischel | Conditions
    • Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 4 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • When the diagnosis is personal: What my mother’s Alzheimer’s taught me about healing

      Pearl Jones, MD | Conditions
    • 2 hours to decide my future: How the SOAP residency match traps future doctors

      Nicolette V. S. Sewall, MD, MPH | Education
    • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why being a physician mom is harder than anyone admits

      Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Bureaucracy over care: How the U.S. health care system lost its way

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why we fear being forgotten more than death itself

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The man in seat 11A survived, but why don’t our patients?

      Dr. Vivek Podder | Physician
    • Why gambling addiction is America’s next health crisis

      Safina Adatia, MD | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How robotics are reshaping the future of vascular procedures

      David Fischel | Conditions
    • Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

What a psychiatrist learned when she tried to connect with her colleagues
4 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...