Physician Coaching and Academic Well-Being

As physicians, we’re trained to solve problems. So when a colleague comes to us and says something like, “things need to change,” our instinct is often to fix the problem. Coaching asks us to resist that reflex by listening and supporting, rather than searching for a resolution. 

Let’s also be clear: Physician Coaching and Peer Support are not the same thing. Though they share some common skills and objectives, it’s important to distinguish between the two and know when to use each. 

Why Peer Coaching for Physicians?

A new study by Carla L. Spagnoletti and colleagues, published in Academia Mental Health and Well-Being, describes a peer-coaching program that trains physicians and PhD scientists to coach their colleagues.

Professional coaching is increasingly used in medical settings to support physician well-being. But coaching can be difficult to scale. Hiring external coaches or sending large numbers of faculty through certification programs isn't realistic for many health systems.

The authors took a different approach by building coaching capacity inside the institution.

Colleagues with similar professional experiences may be particularly well positioned to establish trust and psychological safety in a coaching role. For physicians, that shared experience means your peer coach understands the realities of working in healthcare.

Coaching Isn't Mentorship

The program explicitly distinguishes coaching from mentoring, consulting, advising, and therapy. Instead of telling a colleague what to do, a coach helps them clarify the problem, identify goals, consider options, and decide what to do next.

Overall, participants enjoyed the program, and all 44 who completed the post-training survey said the training was rewarding and that they would recommend it to colleagues. Participants also reported greater confidence in their ability to coach effectively.

Don't Make Peer Coaching Another Wellness Assignment

This model is appealing because it could allow health systems to develop internal coaching programs for physicians. However, if peer coaching simply becomes another unpaid responsibility for already overwhelmed physicians, it could be detrimental.

Coaching requires protected time, institutional support, appropriate boundaries, and supervision. Additionally, it cannot substitute for fixing broken systems. Peer coaching should be one of many components of physician well-being.

Physician Coach Training

Physician Coach Training is a program designed for physicians, by physicians. It is a program for physicians who want to integrate coaching skills into clinical care, leadership, and personal growth. Learn coaching skills on demand with live practice in a peer community with Physician Coach Training!

Source:

https://www.academia.edu/2997-9196/3/3/10.20935/MHealthWellB8455