mentors – Go Retire Psychiatrist

I’m coming up on my last 3 days for the academic year and reflecting now that my favorite season is upon us. Spring does that to me, especially now that I’ve been in the phased retirement contract for the last 2 years. I’ll be going into the 3^rd and final year as of July.

I just found out that next week I’ll be among those faculty members selected to receive the Excellence in Clinical Coaching Award from the Gradual Medical Education Office at the Leadership Symposium.

I’ve received teaching awards from the residents at graduation time (another sign of spring!) over the years and I’m always grateful for their recognition. The Excellence in Clinical Coaching Award is recognition from my department as a whole, the members of which put together a nomination package including letters from department leaders as well as trainees.

I’m also humbled by it because I’ve learned a lot from everyone with whom I’ve had the privilege of working, but my favorites are the trainees, including medical students. In fact, I learned from them again in the last week or so. Three talented medical students gave outstanding presentations about issues relevant to all physicians, not just psychiatrists.

They will be excellent physicians. They will teach others. They will lead and it’s a good thing—medicine needs them.

I like the coach idea. I know one of the internal medicine residents thought of me as a mentor. I’m aware of the differences between mentors and coaches as well as the similarities.

Coaches spend relatively less time with learners and the focus of the relationship is usually a set of specific skills which needs to be passed on. Mentors tend to develop longer term relationships and guide learners in broader ways in terms of career goals and more.

However, both mentors and coaches serve as role models, something all teachers do—including trainees.

That’s partly why I feel less troubled about retiring as my time to leave draws nearer. I trust the next generation of doctors and, just like the Supremes song says, “You better make way for the young folks.” It’s my time to leave. It’s their time to live.

Even the birds know that.

OK, it was a long day on the general hospital psychiatry consultation service. This post is going to be short. I put 3.4 miles and 29 floors on my step counter today and I’m feeling every one of them right now. It’s almost 10:30 at night and I’m trying to find a way to end the evening on a high note before I hit the sack .

I found it by listening again to the University of Iowa Shortcoat Podcast (via Radio Public) interview with a former internal medicine resident I had the pleasure of working with, Dr. Keenan Laraway. He’s doing a Nephrology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

The title of the podcast is “Night Float: Finding Mentors, Being a Mentor.” Although I’ve never thought of myself as a mentor, apparently Keenan thought I was one for him.

Dr. Keenan Laraway on mentorship.

Listen to the whole podcast, but just to feed my ego, won’t you please fast forward to about 10 minutes, 50 seconds and hear what Keenan has to say about Dr. Jim Amos?

It made my day. He gave me the highest compliment he can give anybody, which is that I think like an internist. He says that I taught him a whole lot about what it means to be a doctor.

That, more than anything, is going to be the hardest thing to leave when I retire.