title: How to be a good academic leader.
abstract: Individuals who take on leadership positions in academic health science centers help facilitate the mission of those institutions. However, they are often chosen on the basis of success in the core activities in research, education and patient care rather than on the basis of demonstrated leadership and management skills. Indeed, most academic leaders in the past have "learned on the job." This commentary provides practical advice on how to be an effective leader on the basis of the author's experiences as a Division Head and Chief of Medicine. It covers six themes (vision, managerial style, knowledge, people skills, organizational orientation and personal development) and offers 21 specific suggestions, one for each year of the author's leadership. It is hoped that this experience-derived advice will help future leaders in academic medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 600 University Avenue, Suite 429, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada. adetsky@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: Allan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Detsky
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
references.citation: Am J Med. 2006 Jul;119(7):617-21
references.pmid: 16828636
references.citation: JAMA. 2007 Aug 15;298(7):799-801
references.pmid: 17699013
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2001 Apr 23;161(8):1047-9
references.pmid: 11322837
references.citation: JAMA. 2007 May 16;297(19):2134-6
references.pmid: 17507350
references.citation: Acad Med. 2000 Feb;75(2):133-40
references.pmid: 10693843
references.citation: Am J Surg. 2000 Sep;180(3):187-92
references.pmid: 11084127
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Jun;23(6):748-54
references.pmid: 18327531