All physicians are leaders. The question isn’t if you’ll be asked to lead--it’s how you’ll respond.

That’s true whether you’re fresh out of training or the chief medical officer in a large healthcare system.

Good leaders everywhere have a few things in common. They’re authentic, curious and generous. They understand the power of culture and emotion. They bring out the best in the people around them. 

But physician leaders face some special challenges, just because of who we are and how we were trained. Often, the strengths that allowed us to compete and succeed in medicine are the same characteristics that hold us back when we set out to lead.

I’ve practiced medicine for over 30 years, and have mentored clinicians and clinician leaders for more than a decade. I can help you avoid some of the pitfalls I’ve experienced along the way, and find a way of practicing and leading that fits with who you are. 

Read more thoughts about medicine and leadership:

Services

  • Consulting, training and 1:1 coaching in leadership skills, communication, culture-building, work/life balance, workflow efficiency, and prevention/mitigation of burnout.

  • In-person and remote video coaching

  • Group coaching and training for providers and healthcare leaders

  • Comprehensive training for new leaders and new providers

What Do Coaches Do?

The best answer is the simplest one: a coach helps you define your goals, and then helps you reach them. We do that in many ways. 

First and foremost, we ask questions. We ask the questions you may not think to ask, or may be ignoring or avoiding. Then we listen. We listen to the answers you give, and listen for the ones you withhold. We listen for your passions and priorities, your yearnings, and your fears.

It’s also important to understand what coaches aren’t: 

  • We aren’t psychotherapists. We don’t heal emotional wounds or treat mental illness.

  • We aren’t instructors. We don’t impart a body of knowledge to be absorbed and learned.

  • We aren’t consultants. We don’t present solutions to business problems.

Coaching is really about you. What do you want? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? My job is to help you figure that out, and get there.

Jeff Lee, MD is a coach, physician, writer, speaker and teacher. He provides executive, professional and personal coaching to adult clients of all ages. For over three decades, he practiced Family Medicine in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood, the most diverse community, by primary language, in the United States. He is a graduate of Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency. He has taught courses on memoir and life stories at Stagebridge Performing Arts Institute, Cazadero Family Arts Camp and the Northwest Writer’s Weekend. His column on parenting, “The Dad Next Door” has appeared monthly in Seattle’s Child Magazine for over a decade, and he has published a non-fiction book on parenting (Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite) and a middle grade children’s novel (True Blue).

Jeff Lee, MD is a coach, consultant, physician, writer, speaker and teacher. He provides executive, professional and personal coaching to adult clients of all ages.

For over three decades, he practiced Family Medicine in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood, the most diverse community, by primary language, in the United States. He is a graduate of Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency.

He has taught courses on memoir and life stories at Stagebridge Performing Arts Institute, Cazadero Family Arts Camp and the Northwest Writer’s Weekend. His column on parenting, “The Dad Next Door” has appeared monthly in Seattle’s Child Magazine for over a decade, and he has published a non-fiction book on parenting (Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite) and a middle grade children’s novel (True Blue).

“Jeff has a deep understanding of systems and culture, but also great empathy and compassion for individual providers. That combination only comes with years of experience as both a leader and a clinician. It makes him a creative, insightful, remarkable coach.”

— Rob Saper, MD, Chair, Dept of Wellness and Preventive Medicine 

 

“Dr. Jeff Lee has been widely recognized in our organization as an innovative leader with the ability to express key points in a clear and concise voice. He has coached providers and staff at all levels of our organization, and also developed and taught our leadership training classes. He’s an innovative leader with the ability to express key points clearly and concisely.”

— Marcus Rempel, MD

 

“Dr. Jeff Lee served as a mentor to me during the first few years of my career. His wealth of knowledge and clinical expertise were invaluable to my growth as a medical provider. He has a calm and patient demeanor, and it created a safe learning environment. I am grateful for his mentorship and would highly recommend his coaching for anyone seeking to elevate their clinical or leadership competencies.”

— Elisa Apostle, MSN Public Health, FNP-C