This is especially true for young leaders and underrepresented minorities. “What you experience as a woman or an underrepresented minority is not the same thing someone else experiences in a different cultural group,” Dr. Anne said. “It is important to share those experiences.”
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November 2018Relationships Matter
“The relationships I’ve made through leadership organizations have been critically important,” said Dr. Chelius. “It’s professionally made me a better advocate for my patients and my colleagues because it’s helped me to understand the processes that drive the environment in which we all have to practice medicine and the ways that we can impact that environment.”
As an academic with fellows under her supervision, laryngologist Gaelyn Garrett, MD, MMHC, senior executive medical director at the Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville and president elect of the Triological Society, said that knowing others in her field socially from annual meetings helps when referring those fellows for jobs. “I know the chairmen at other institutions, and very few of them are laryngologists,” she added. “But I know them through the Triological Society, and it just broadens your sphere of exposure and experience.”
Keep At It
Everyone is going to lose elections and get turned down for opportunities now and then. It’s part of the process, and you should never take that personally. “We’re all colleagues trying to figure out how to get this done in the best way possible, and it takes saying yes over and over again even after you’re denied an opportunity,” said Dr. Chelius. “You eventually end up in the right opportunity, so don’t ever be discouraged if a door is closed in a medical society. There are lots of other doors to be opened.”
Yes, It’s Going to Be Time Consuming
Dr. Chelius said it can be challenging to strike a balance among your volunteer life, your practice life, and your family life, and it’s very tempting to say yes to every volunteer opportunity that comes along. “That’s a pretty good strategy when you’re starting to be active in leadership roles,” he said, but you have to become strategic as you grow in those roles so you don’t find yourself overcommitted and underperforming. That’s a struggle most young leaders face as they come up through these organizations.”
Your Interests Can Shape Policy
See something in your field that’s upsetting on an ongoing basis? Holding a leadership role in a medical society gives you an opportunity develop guidelines, create policy, and actually implement changes that matter.