Leader?

Many times over the course of my career

I have felt inadequate and inferior

For not being considered for a leadership position

I continue to be a workhorse physician

Hearing the phrase “physician leader” sends me

Into a downward spiral of inadequacy

I worry I have not in my career progressed

My growing patient panel does not equate success

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I came across an article regarding leadership as a physician

On the subject of physician leader, it had a slightly different position

The article explained and in fact, reminded me

That every physician is a leader in their role primary

It is true that I lead my team, in hospital rounds and in emergencies

In fact, being a team leader is one of my responsibilities

Then why am I so fixated on leadership as defined

By presence in the C-suite- that’s not where I would find

Fulfillment as a leader, I am made to lead at bedside

That’s the kind of leadership in which I take pride