Carrying the torch for physicians and patients: What are the key ingredients of leadership?

AMA Leader Commentary. By Ronald M. Davis, MD, Feb. 18, 2008.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

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A message to all physicians from AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD.

The challenges facing medicine are well known to the readers of this publication -- physician payment cuts, high medical liability insurance premiums, managed care abuses, administrative burdens, unfunded mandates and so on. To protect our profession and our patients, strong physician leadership is needed -- now more than ever before -- within our medical associations, hospitals and communities.

During my AMA presidency, I've been asked on several occasions to speak on the topic of leadership. When I first put that talk together, I thought about consulting the many books and Web sites devoted to this subject. But then I figured I should demonstrate leadership by developing a presentation on leadership based solely on personal reflection.

So let me share with you 10 ingredients of leadership that rose to the surface as I thought about the leadership I've observed during the three decades of my career in medicine.

1. Filling the vacuum. Leaders must step up to the plate and fill vacuums of leadership. Donald Berwick, MD, for example, was a pioneer in health care quality improvement when, in 1991, he co-founded the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, for which he continues to serve as president and CEO. He was a major catalyst behind the formation of the patient safety movement and the Institute of Medicine's landmark report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System (published in 1999).

2. Pursuing noble causes. A medical student colleague of mine used to say that ambition without ideology is dangerous. I worry about people who climb the political ladder in an organization or jurisdiction when their positions on issues are unknown. Are they seeking higher office only because they enjoy the trappings of leadership? We should choose leaders because we believe they will use their authority to carry the banner for noble causes.