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As I near the end of year 1 as faculty... @AndrewMIbrahim asked for advice on starting. I had too much to say for one reply so I thought I would make a thread...
Disclaimers: I have not succeeded at all of these tips. Portions/most of this advice liberally borrowed.
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Disclaimers: I have not succeeded at all of these tips. Portions/most of this advice liberally borrowed.
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1. You will never be less busy than you are at the start of your practice. Take advantage of those first weeks/months to set yourself up for success. Get organized. Make note templates, write down your patient care preferences, keep your email organized/cleaned up
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2. Whether you're starting at a new place or staying on, go out of your way to meet people. Learn the clinic nurses/MAs/schedulers names, same for the floor and OR.
3. For staff you work with closely learn (and write down!) birthdays, partner/child names, etc
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3. For staff you work with closely learn (and write down!) birthdays, partner/child names, etc
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4. Clinical (stolen from Ching Wei Tzeng) "Coward vs Cowboy" - Don't be a cowboy; bad outcomes early form a quick reputation. Swallow your pride and ask for help or refer the extra difficult case to a more experienced surgeon. Don't let anyone bully you into an operation.
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5. Clinical: Find allies early. People from other services (vascular, HPB, urology, etc) who you work well with and are available to help.
6. Clinical: Be kind to referring docs. Keep them in the loop. "Three A's" - affable, available, able.
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6. Clinical: Be kind to referring docs. Keep them in the loop. "Three A's" - affable, available, able.
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7: Complications: They will happen. You will lose sleep. When you have a complication, make yourself MORE available to the patients/families. Round 2x. This is practical - prevent "complication cascade" and psychosocial - patients and families need to know you are there.
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8. Teaching: You may not feel like you have the "expertise" yet. Or that it is hard to give autonomy. One of the biggest things you can do is let the trainees behind the curtain. Share with them your thoughts/feelings/anxieties/struggles as you grow into the faculty role.
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9. Most important: Mentorship! Find the people who can help you clinically, in the research arena, and who can keep an eye on the "big picture" i.e. keep an eye on your overall career trajectory.
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