Good medical leadership assessed by doctors in training

Abstract

Introduction: Medical leadership has only recently begun to be part of common medical terminology. Medical leadership consists of fully trained physicians occupying management positions relevant to practice of medicine. The need to further develop leadership skills of physicians has opened up a discussion to increase leadership studies also in medical training. Methods: Essays on good medical leadership and doctors as leaders in healthcare organizations. The essays (n=225) were written as part of leadership and management training for specialist degree in medicine in a Finnish university during years 2012-2013. Results: As assessed by specializing physicians, good medical leadership of doctor leaders consists of interpersonal and communication skills, appropriate management of medical expertise, and people and resources management abilities. In the results, emphasis was put on interpersonal and clinical skills of doctor leaders. In the observations made by doctors in training, no differences in leadership were found between specialized and primary healthcare. &RQFOXVLRQ The assessments on good medical leadership support the concept of transformative leadership in healthcare organizations. It would be important to promote further discussion and solving of leadership challenges during specialist training. Furthermore, the role played by the leaders of young physicians trained in healthcare organizations and the management skills of these doctor leaders is also an important topic to consider.