Edited by Chris Carruthers MD, Patricia Lightfoot DPhil (Canadian Society of Physician Executives and Canadian Medical Association). Recently our medical school introduced a unit with topics like governance of the health care system, public health and advocacy. Many students engage with the material, but some don’t see its relevance. Wouldn’t their time be better spent memorizing the Kreb cycle than learning about social determinants of health?
The physician leaders in this slim book (88 pages) might say doctors should develop both medical expertise and competence in systems-based practice. Leading from the Front is a collection of essays by 14 physicians in leadership positions with health care institutions, government, regulatory bodies and nongovernmental organizations. Many emphasize that they did not enter medicine expecting to become leaders. They are candid about the challenges of leadership, yet speak with enthusiasm about the rewards. As Dr. Oscar Howell writes, “You can’t have the high, if you don’t have the stress.” Readers uninterested in formal leadership can still find useful tips. Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese reminds us to expect opposition. Dr. Gaetan Tardif had to learn to overcome his tendency to “diagnose” a situation and tell people how to “fix it.” Dr. Richard Lessard advises us to “find the right words, the right emotion, and the right tone to be understood.” Those seeking detailed guidance on how to be an effective physician leader should know that this is essentially a series of essays in which people tell their own stories: there are other resources available from these joint publishers that might provide more comprehensive advice. Nonetheless, Leading from the Front is concise, highly readable and may inspire those considering leadership roles in their medical careers.
Editor’s note
CMAJ had no involvement in the writing or production of this book and will not profit from its sale.
Footnotes
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Leading from the front can be accessed free online at www.cma.ca/pmiresources or purchased for $19.95.