September/October 2025

Physician Leadership Journal

September/October 2025

Vol. 12, No. 5 · 15 articles

  1. The Power of Words

    PLJ September/October 2025 Roger Kapoor, MD, MBA

    Words and thoughts hold significant power in shaping our lives. By using positive affirmations, managing negativity, and aligning actions with desired outcomes, we can rewire our minds for success and create a more fu...

  2. Managing a Productive Prima Donna

    PLJ September/October 2025 Laura Hills, DA

    Managing prima donnas in healthcare organizations is challenging because of their high productivity but disruptive behavior. Strategies include setting clear expectations, offering autonomy, and balancing team morale ...

  3. Care Boss: Leadership Strategies and Resources for Family Caregivers

    PLJ September/October 2025 Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD, Michael J. Sacopulos, JD

    Caregiving should be approached as a leadership role, requiring preparation, planning, and support. Caregivers deserve recognition, resources, and assistance to navigate their vital responsibilities effectively.

  4. What Are Your Needs?

    PLJ September/October 2025 Kent A. Corso, PsyD, BCBA-D, Christopher L. Hunter, PhD, ABPP, Owen J. Dahl, MBA, FACHE, LSSMBB, Gene A. Kallenberg, MD, Lesley Manson, PsyD

    Integrating behavioral health into primary care requires assessing clinic needs, securing stakeholder support, and careful planning to align staff, goals, and resources.

  5. Lessons Learned: From One New Leader to Another

    PLJ September/October 2025 Huma Farid, MD

    Stepping into leadership during turmoil offers opportunities but poses challenges like burnout, poor communication, rushed changes, and ignoring feedback. Success requires collaboration, learning, and adaptability.

  6. How to Conduct At-Home Financial Tests — Part 1

    PLJ September/October 2025 Enpo Tu, CFP, CHFC, CLU, CAP, RICP, MSFS, Kaylin Dillon, CFP

    This article uses a scientific approach to help you assess your personal finances, much like health check-ups, offering tips to detect and address financial distress.

  7. The Transformative Journey to Becoming a High-Reliability Organization (HRO)

    PLJ September/October 2025 Kevin Lin, MBA, Sam Karim, MBA, PMP, Esmaeil Porsa, MD, MPH, MBA, CCHP-A, Steven D. Brass, MD, MPH, MBA, FACHE

    Achieving HRO status in healthcare requires a unified strategy emphasizing cultural change, leadership, safety, continuous improvement, and measurable progress to enhance patient outcomes and care quality.

  8. Physician Leaders’ Role in the Development of “Smart” Ambulatory Medical Facilities

    PLJ September/October 2025 Daniel K. Zismer, PhD, Elliot D. Zismer, MS, Gary S. Schwartz, MD, MHA

    The U.S. healthcare industry is expanding specialized ambulatory facilities, emphasizing physician leaders' active involvement from vision to completion.

  9. Entropy as a Force of Nature

    PLJ September/October 2025 Ronald Dwinnells, MD, MBA, CPE

    Entropy disrupts order in workplaces, including healthcare. Leaders must grasp and manage it proactively to prevent chaos, damaged relationships, and business harm.

  10. Report on a Formalized Case-Based Peer Support Program to Improve Physician Well-being

    PLJ September/October 2025 Lucy Willis, MD, Matthew E. McCarty, MD, Christie Lech, MD, Antonio Dajer, MD, Brenna M. Farmer, MD, MBA, Mark Curato, DO, FACEP, Renu Mital, MD, FACEP, Wenna Xi, PhD, Snezana Nena Osorio, MD, MS

    This pilot study evaluated a peer support program for physicians facing malpractice and quality review stress. Results showed high emotional stress rates and strong appreciation for peer support post-intervention.

  11. Leadership Lessons from the Scoutmaster’s Handbook

    PLJ September/October 2025 Mark D. Olszyk, MD, MBA, CPE, FACEP, FACHE

    Leadership skills are honed beyond traditional settings. Volunteering, like in Scouting, fosters trust, integrity, and duty. True leaders inspire through actions, earning respect rather than relying on titles.

  12. Hospital Walls May Have Ears? Ambient Listening Tech

    PLJ September/October 2025 Michael J. Sacopulos, JD, Laura Landro

    AI-driven ambient listening technology in healthcare offers promising benefits like reducing physician burnout and improving patient care, its adoption must be approached with caution to address critical concerns abou...

  13. Leadership Is Learned: Rewriting the Physician Leadership Script

    PLJ September/October 2025 Peter B. Angood, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, MCCM, FAAPL(Hon)

    Leadership is a skill that can be learned and cultivated, and when physicians embrace leadership, they have the power to transform healthcare and positively impact lives.

  14. Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intelligence in Academic Medicine: Practical Strategies for Physician Leaders

    PLJ September/October 2025 Michael D. Patrick, MD, Erica L. Banta, MBA

    This article explores the relevance of EQ in the core areas of academic medicine and highlights EQ’s potential to foster effective, compassionate, and resilient healthcare relationships and environments.

  15. CMOs and CNOs Work Together to Address Staffing Challenges

    PLJ September/October 2025 Lola Butcher

    Strong CMO-CNO collaboration, respect, and communication can ease staffing issues, fostering system solutions and reducing friction in healthcare teams.