Coaching, a must for Medical Career Progression

A career in Medicine is a long road, and in 2019 it’s arguably even longer thanks to significant changes in the medical landscape.

When it comes to navigating obstacles and opportunities that arise throughout their careers, it's little wonder Doctors are seeking advice from Coaches who can guide them through their personal challenges and set them on a strategic path to success.

As Career Advisor for the Australian Medical Association (AMA), I see the quagmire that is the prevocational training environment first hand.

Broadly put, a demanding university degree is followed by entry into the public hospital system until the doctor selects from a wide and diverse array of career options.

Here young doctors undertake continuous learning and professional development whilst working long hours.

Once they decide on a pathway (and plan B), they commit themselves to attaining the roles that will open the door to the next phase - specialty training.

These courses involve a further 3-10 years of rigorous study before fellowship status is attained.

Medicine has changed drastically over the past few decades, not only in terms of treatment options for patients, health care practices and technology, but also for the people who are working in the health sector.

In the lucrative world of universities, an increased number of medical students is welcomed, resulting in growing numbers of highly educated and trained new professionals entering the employment market.

It’s also worth considering that over 50% of graduates are women and there are increasing numbers of international medical graduates seeking to practice in Australia.

Many doctors I speak with say they feel the pressure of achieving their goals in this highly competitive environment. Junior doctors in particular, are only too aware of the competitive environment they have entered and are looking for guidance as to how to differentiate themselves from the others in their large cohort.

Determined to progress to the next role that will shore up their chance of gaining entry onto a specialty training program that offers a very limited number of places each year, they juggle demanding work, research projects, masters and PhD degrees, in addition to their own wellbeing and social life.

Throughout these years as intern then registrar, doctors are constantly developing their professional skills along with clinical knowledge and technical skill sets.

Working with people from all walks of life involves sophisticated communication and interpersonal skills – with patients and their families as well as multidisciplinary health professionals.

It’s also expected that doctors provide teaching to the juniors following behind them, adding an additional skill to their toolkit.

Additionally, the undertaking of clinical research is a prerequisite to some medical specialty training programs, adding further to the demands of this career.

The achievements that I see catalogued in the CVs that are sent to me never cease to impress.

Once the goal fellowship of is attained, a wide range of new opportunities is presented for those who wish to pursue other activities in addition to clinical practice.

I am regularly approached by Staff Specialists, department heads, executive managers and research academics, eager to pursue further learning, teaching and professional goals.

However, becoming a consultant in private and/or public practice is not for everyone and often the goals set down in high school undertake shifts between medical school and the steps taken toward those goals.

This can come about for an innumerable number of reasons including change of interest areas, the appearance of new opportunities, changed personal circumstances including health and living location and dissatisfaction.

New technologies are also opening up new fields such as e-health, med tech, digital health.

There is an increasing number of doctors exploring the possibilities that exist for people who possess clinical knowledge and experience, well-developed professional skills and a desire to deter from the more traditional pathways.

They are discovering the many varied career options, including

• Medical Advisor roles for medico-legal,

• Education,

• Technology,

• Devices,

• Insurance and

• Pharmaceutical interests within public sector and corporate entities.

There are many factors contributing to the need for coaching services for doctors and many areas where coaches can lend their expertise to assisting this group of professionals.

Here are 6 ways Career Coaches can help Doctors:

1. Formulate career plans including Plan B and Plan C

2. Polish application documents to get a seat at interview

3. Identify and articulate strengths and achievements they may have overlooked

4. Develop interview confidence

5. Guide return to work or career change out of Medicine

6. Reinforce the need to maintain personal interests alongside career interests.

If you would like to become a coach, here are 3 tips for immediate success:

1. Learn about the industry & medical training pathways

2. Empathise with the concerns of clients so you can support they through stressful processes

3. Understand selection processes so you can provide advice that will contribute to the doctors’ successful results.

Anita Fletcher

As the Career Advisor for the Australian Medical Association, Anita Fletcher provides support and coaching to doctors across Australia.

Anita’s comprehensive understanding of the many facets of succeeding as a doctor in the Australian medical landscape enables her to work closely with doctors to help them achieve their career goals. This includes building communication skills to approach critical interviews with confidence.

Her role involves public speaking for medical conferences, facilitating educational workshops within the workplace and authoring online learning modules.