Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

“Remember, your choice to become a doctor is meant to enable an extraordinary life. The key is always knowing your Ideal Practice Description and use it as the target for your job search. Knowwhat would be ideal for you and your family, and don't settle for anything less.” – Dike Drummond, MD F I E L D N O T E S you each step of the way. The good news is, you still have a lot of people to help you. If you’re still wondering about how to articulate your own purpose, here’s an example of mission, vision, and values: Mission: “To make a difference in the world by offering my services as a physician to patients and families so they can live their best lives.” Vision: “I’m the physician of choice for patients who are seekingmy [andmypartners’] expertise.” Values: “Compassion, empathy, collaboration, excellence, and curiosity.” Why is it so important to understand your mission, vision, and values? These build a solid foundation for a career that will sustain you over time. You’ll want to be able to articulate these with potential employers, partners, and colleagues. When your mission alignswith themission of the organization for whom you work, there’s a synergy and momentum that moves you forward. Your vision and values are touchpoints for your search. Use them to measure each opportunity and look for the closest fit. Fit is everything when it comes to job satisfaction. R E A D : Search Methods There is no one rightway to secure an opportunity; in fact, you will want to use a combination of methods to broaden and deepen your search. Whether you look online, respond to direct mail or a journal ad, activate your network, or contact a physician recruiting firm directly, the key is to leverage each search method so you can make the right decision for you and your family. Search Strategy 155 WWW.PHYSICIANCAREERPLANNING.COM