Internet CME Course: MedPEP, the Medical Professionals Empowerment Program MedPEP) – Episode 19: Career Development

Activity ID

2959

Expires

January 24, 2025

Format Type

Internet

CME Credit

1.0

Fee

$0

CME Provider: Massachusetts Medical Society

Description of CME Course

MedPEP, the Medical Professionals Empowerment Program, is a Free podcast series jointly provided by Physician Health Services, Inc. (PHS) and the Massachusetts Medical Society. PHS is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, well-being and effectiveness of physicians and medical students.

Regulations, technology, organizational complexity, and the explosion of medical knowledge have created a perfect storm for most practicing health professionals. Physician burnout rates now exceed 50%. MedPEP’s star, Dr. Marie Curious, is a young, primary care internist who has started to fantasize about leaving the profession that she loves. On her MedPEP journey, Marie joins Dr. Les Schwab and a group of specialized physicians, coaches, and other experts, who offer a broad range of practical techniques to help her survive and thrive in today’s tough medical environment. The territory they cover includes nutrition, exercise, getting along with difficult colleagues, dealing with bureaucracy and bosses, multi-tasking, system improvement, meditation, and addiction. The MedPEP journey helps Marie, and other health professionals facing similar challenges, gain insight into practical methods for empowering themselves as well as their teams, employers, and the broken system.

At the beginning of this episode, Marie acknowledges to Les that she is continuing to mull over Dr. Green’s paradoxical suggestion (episode 18) that one way to overcome a sense of powerlessness is to embrace it. In today’s discussion with Dr. Liebschutz, they consider the possibility that some physicians may be able to overcome their sense of being overwhelmed and downtrodden by actually taking on more. Dr. Liebschutz, an accomplished physician leader at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, proposes to Marie that she may be able to overcome the frustration of being a “cog-in-the-wheel” generalist by “leaning in” and embracing a subspecialty area, a teaching role, or committee work that might open up the path to medical leadership. When Marie conveys her skepticism to Dr. Liebschutz, they then consider the possibility that Marie might leverage her value to her clinic by pushing for a temporary sabbatical or by reducing her work effort. They also discuss practical ways for getting more help at home. It is clear throughout this podcast that Marie is paying close attention to Dr. Liebschutz’s every word. Dr. Liebschutz comes across to Marie as a wise and experienced veteran physician, wife, and mother who has crafted a meaningful career by overcoming many of the same obstacles that are daunting to Marie. By the end of the conversation, Marie comes across as energized and inspired, ostensibly ready to put into practice many of the tips and strategies offered by MedPEP’s experts. All three physicians seem to share the view that going forward, Marie is going to chart the course of her career.

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