Medical Leadership Development (MLD): the need of change and the way to approach it

Document Type : Letter to Editor

Authors

1 Research Center for Health Services Management, Research Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Medical Education Leadership and Management Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

There are multiple challenges embedded in the health care system which put medical organizations and schools at a crossroad. These challenges are not limited but they can be related to the substantial increases of costs in health care, the pressing need of changing the education of health professionals, poverty and socio-economic disparities, to name a few.  These obstacles make the practice of medicine difficult and put the community at a greater risk if appropriate actions for an improvement in the competencies of medical students as well as medical teachers towards leadership are not called upon. Such instances have been emphasized by experts and relevant bodies in which effective leadership can be a panacea. Therefore, our health care delivery system is in direct need for transitions and rearrangement as well as necessary transformative changes in terms of medical leadership to efficiently improve and achieve excellent outcomes. “Leadership is the process through which an individual attempts to intentionally influence another individual or group in order to accomplish a predetermined set of goals”; thus leadership is a process and a performing art. It is highly important to mention that physicians are the driving force in health care organizations not only in Primary Health Care (PHC) endeavors, but also in directing services and acting as the focal points of health care services. They work as managers, hospital administrators, trainers and researchers. Thus, they are at the frontline of healthcare and they play a pivotal role in leadership and management of others. Consequently, there is a need to make them competent concerning leadership skills. In this regard, if we educate and train medical doctors concerning leadership issues while they are in undergraduate, postgraduate or continuing practice, the resultant would have long-term implications in the delivery of health care services due to the their inspiration, wisdom and charisma, due to their inspiration, wisdom, charisma, etc. Conversely, negligence and circumventing leadership training can negatively impact the health care system.

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Future of Medical Education Journal
Volume 9, Issue 4
Winter
December 2019
Pages 70-72

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