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

Physicians and the importance of servant leadership

Faith A. Coleman, MD
Physician
August 9, 2021
Share
Tweet
Share

Dear resident physicians:

Soon you’ll finish residency, and you may be wondering what’s next. Some of you will start fellowships, but most of you will practice your specialty. You may be looking for opportunities that are a good match with your needs and wants.  Virtually all of you are looking forward to greater income. I hope that this ending is also a beginning – a renewal of your commitment to the life-long learning that is medicine.

One of the current concerns of our society is the possibility of a physician shortage. Some of that shortfall is attributed to a mass exodus of physicians experiencing “burnout.” Pervasive pessimism is the rule. It’s time to break the rule. You can thrive, not just survive.

Mahatma Gandhi made it his mission to spread the word. John C. Maxwell built an empire on the concept. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired it in multitudes. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner [When Bad Things Happen to Good People] became an authority on the topic. It exalted Mother Teresa to sainthood. Dr. Francis W. Peabody described it in a paper which has become the most cited, most revered article in the medical literature.

All these people achieved success, renowned for their leadership. In each, that leadership was born of servanthood.

Robert K. Greenleaf is credited with launching the modern movement of servant leadership, starting with the 1970 publication of his classic essay “The Servant as Leader.” He coined the terms servant leader and servant leadership. The servant’s heart is a fundamental characteristic of a servant leader – helpless to do anything but give. Adding the conscious choice to serve will ignite a fervent ambition to lead. It contrasts with those who want to be leaders just to experience power or acquire material possessions.

The servant meets the needs of family (including self), patients, colleagues, and community. You will see those you serve grow as persons, becoming healthier, wiser, and more autonomous. You’ll experience the soul-deep fulfillment, which is pure gratitude.

Serving isn’t about being servile, or about false humility. It does not mean being submissive or weak. It does not mean dictating or dominating. It does not mean self-denial or neglecting family. One of the most important ways you serve your patients will be as a living example. Care for you and your family first, whatever constitutes family to you. Work with intention. Eat good food, exercise, play, rest, and explore what spirituality means to you.

These wise words of our heroes are both encouraging and a radical challenge:

Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

John C. Maxwell: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner: “Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people brings happiness.”

Mother Teresa: “Three things in life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Francis W. Peabody: “The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”

Faith A. Coleman: “It is not possible to give your patients more than your patients have already given you.” [Disclaimer: I do not attribute to myself the leadership or greatness of the people quoted above.]

All that being said – don’t take yourself too seriously.

Faith A. Coleman is a family physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How to start reversing the clinician shortage today

August 9, 2021 Kevin 2
…
Next

Put yourself in the shoes of a nursing home resident [PODCAST]

August 9, 2021 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Residency

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How to start reversing the clinician shortage today
Next Post >
Put yourself in the shoes of a nursing home resident [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Faith A. Coleman, MD

  • The doctor’s duty: Delivering bad news with care and compassion

    Faith A. Coleman, MD
  • The scourge of electronic health records

    Faith A. Coleman, MD

Related Posts

  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • The risk physicians take when going on social media

    Anonymous
  • Beware of pseudoscience: The desperate need for physicians on social media

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • When physicians are cyberbullied: an interview with ZDoggMD

    Monique Tello, MD
  • Surprising and unlikely rewards of social media engagement by physicians

    Lisa Chan, MD
  • Physicians who don’t play the social media game may be left behind

    Xrayvsn, MD

More in Physician

  • The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?

    Pamela Adelstein, MD
  • When rock bottom is a turning point: Why the turmoil at HHS may be a blessing in disguise

    Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD
  • How grief transformed a psychiatrist’s approach to patient care

    Devina Maya Wadhwa, MD
  • Fear of other people’s opinions nearly killed me. Here’s what freed me.

    Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD
  • What independent and locum tenens doctors need to know about fair market value

    Dennis Hursh, Esq
  • How one simple breakfast question can transform patient care

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

      Martha Rosenberg | Policy
    • Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
    • The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
  • Recent Posts

    • Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Expert Q&A: Dr. Jared Pelo, ambient clinical pioneer, explains how Dragon Copilot helps clinicians deliver better care

      Jared Pelo, MD & Microsoft & Nuance Communications | Sponsored
    • The lab behind the lens: Equity begins with diagnosis

      Michael Misialek, MD | Policy
    • Venous leak syndrome: a silent challenge faced by all men

      Elliot Justin, MD | Conditions
    • Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?

      Pamela Adelstein, 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

Leave a Comment

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

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Meds
    • Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies

      Martha Rosenberg | Policy
    • Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting

      American College of Physicians | Physician
    • The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • What happened to real care in health care?

      Christopher H. Foster, PhD, MPA | Policy
    • Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?

      Jacob Murphy | Education
    • The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
  • Recent Posts

    • Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Expert Q&A: Dr. Jared Pelo, ambient clinical pioneer, explains how Dragon Copilot helps clinicians deliver better care

      Jared Pelo, MD & Microsoft & Nuance Communications | Sponsored
    • The lab behind the lens: Equity begins with diagnosis

      Michael Misialek, MD | Policy
    • Venous leak syndrome: a silent challenge faced by all men

      Elliot Justin, MD | Conditions
    • Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?

      Pamela Adelstein, 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

Leave a Comment

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

Loading Comments...