Over the last 50 years, the rates of women graduating from medical school have increased leaps and bounds, from women representing 7% of US graduates in the 1960s to ~47% in the 2010s.¹ The How I Work Smarter Series has had an appreciable yet still unbalanced number of women participants, with slightly more than 35% of posts from women leaders. However, in the top echelon of medicine, women are still dramatically under represented. According to AAMC, only 15% of department chairs are women.² Dr. Deborah Diercks is one of these 15%. As the newly appointed Chair of UT Southwestern Emergency Department, she has not only taken on departmental leadership, but is also playing a key role in the creation of two entirely new hospitals whose emergency departments will be staffed by UT Southwestern. This is pretty much the definition of task overload, yet she still manages to publish regularly and completed her How I work Smarter entry faster than most. Impressive. She kindly took a moment to share a few pearls.

(more…)

As the “How I Work Smarter” series matures, certain patterns emerge. One clear trend is that ultrasonographers have been present front and center. Today’s installment continue the course with Dr. John Bailitz (@AllInCoachMD) up at bat. Dr. Bailitz is an example to follow for future thinking EM clinician-academicians. While he has mastered the traditional avenues of academics via course leadership, publications, and national presentations, he has also embraced digital scholarship. He is the Chair of ACEP Online Education Subcommittee, blogs at How2TrainHeroes, and is on the organizing committee for SMACC 2015. He generously accepted Chris Nickson’s invitation to share his wisdom on how he works smarter.

(more…)

Dr. Christopher Doty (@PoppasPearls) is a dedicated educator who has helped train countless emergency physicians across two different top academic hospitals, SUNY-Downstate and currently the University of Kentucky. His efforts have earned him the Abraham Flexner Master Educator Award and the position of Vice Chair for Education at the University of Kentucky Department of Emergency Medicine. Oh, and also he can dance! In this How I Work Smarter series, Dr. Doty graciously accepted the nomination by Dr. Mike Stone to share how his approach to life management.

(more…)

Dr. Judd Hollander is among the most productive members of our speciality. He has over 400 peer review papers and chapters, including some heavy hitters like the recent New England Journal of Medicine CT Coronary Article and an early study of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for CHF that went on to be cited over 3,000 times. In addition to producing research, he curates it as a deputy editor at the Annals of Emergency Medicine. His academic prowess had lifted him to such positions as President of SAEM and now is the Associate Dean at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. How does he pull it off? Does it have to do with his interest in cocaine associated myocardial ischemia or his overnight stays in the office? Dr. Hollander generously shared a few of his secrets.

(more…)

If you’re still trying wrap your mind around the Karpman triangle, the 3 Cs, and Kairos from last week’s post, don’t worry, we have some back to the basics goodness for you. Dr. Heather Murray (@HeatherM211) is an emergency physician primarily but wears many hats: Medical School Leader, Teacher of Evidence-Based Medicine, Journal Editor, Epidemiologist, and Canadian National Board Examiner. I have been told that she is a budding meme expert. But beyond titles, she clearly leaves a lasting impression with her learners. Indeed, fourth year medical student Eve Purdy nominated her to be part of the series. Dr. Murray kindly shared her pearls of wisdom with us.

(more…)