Coaching for Surgeons

...helping surgeons succeed in the OR, office, and life


Everything Else

Our programs help surgeons develop the skills they need to succeed…one-on-one, surgeon-to-surgeon. We provide specialized physician coaching and education for individual surgeons and healthcare organizations, including full day immersion in soft skills coaching, one-on-one. Dr. Hudson is experienced, both as a surgeon and as a coach. He has been helping surgeons for over a decade. If you find it hard to find time for individual sessions with Dr. Hudson we also provide online training including modules on soft skills, body language, work-life balance, time management, and anger management.

We help you develop the people skills and soft skills essential for modern surgical practice. Our services include coaching for burnout and stress reduction, anger management and disruptive physician coaching, marital & relationship coaching, malpractice support, time management, conflict resolution, career & retirement coaching, executive coaching, leadership development, and emotional intelligence & communication skills for surgeons. Only a surgeon can fully understand the life of a surgeon. We provide confidential coaching for surgeons, one-on-one and surgeon-to-surgeon. Our services for individual surgeons are listed below.

Our Services for Surgeons

Confidential One-On-One Coaching for Surgeons
If you are a surgeon, we are here to help you. These programs are designed primarily for surgeons who are otherwise high functioning and need to achieve their personal or professional goals. Executive coaching is often used by senior surgeons to develop their leadership style, or other skills, but the benefits of coaching are not limited to senior individuals. It is also used to improve communication, enhance motivation and develop people skills for all surgeons, whatever the stage of your career.
Emotional Intelligence & Communication Skills Coaching
Over the last few years, coaches have come to understand that when it comes to happiness and success, emotional intelligence (EQ) matters as much or more than intellectual ability (IQ). As a physician or surgeon, if you want to build stronger relationships, or succeed at work, then higher emotional intelligence usually helps. Highly successful people who achieve their career and personal goals are more likely to have a high EQ than a high IQ.
Malpractice Support
Dr. Hudson is available for malpractice support & prevention coaching for individuals and organizations. Litigation is a common cause of emotional distress for doctors and medical malpractice litigation takes a high toll on physicians and their families. After a lawsuit most doctors feel angry and irritable. Coaching for Physicians can support you through these times and help you define your goals for the future.For others the consequences can be more serious and many cannot sleep and feel isolated or alone. Mindfulness techniques and supportive coaching are especially valuable at these stressful times.
Marital & Relationship Coaching
While it is not true that doctors have a higher divorce rate than the general population, they are less happy in their marriages. A recent study showed that “divorce among physicians is less common than among non-healthcare workers and several health professions”. Women doctors do have a higher prevalence of divorce than male physicians, possibly due to the effect of the hours worked. Marital difficulties can increase the possibility of career dissatisfaction and burnout and increases the risk that physicians and their spouses will experience depression, drug abuse, suicide, alcoholism, and other emotional and psychiatric problems. Physicians and their spouse or partner also experience the issues that any couple can experience, like sexual dysfunction or communication problems.
Time Management
o you keep putting off important tasks? Poor time management skills & procrastination are likely the number one concern that makes physicians less productive and successful. Many get bogged down, endlessly putting off what they need to do to make their practice more successful. This impacts the quality of their patient care, their relationships and life in general.
Physician Retirement
The average retirement age today is 62 and every day 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the age of 65. One survey in 2013 suggested that more than half of physicians may consider retiring from medicine within next 3 years. Some physicians are ill prepared for the changes that occur after retirement. They are usually in good health and can anticipate living longer lives and it is possible will spend more time in retirement than in their working life.
Executive Coaching for Physicians
Executive coaching helps physicians concerned with performance, development and fulfillment at work. It often involves organizations as well as individuals and can improve the functioning of teams and whole organizations. Executive coaching is most often used by senior physicians and surgeons to develop their leadership style, or other skills, but the benefits of coaching are not limited to senior individuals. It is also used to improve communication, enhance motivation and develop skills for all employees.
DiSC and 5B Services
Everything DiSC® is a personality assessment that helps you build more effective working relationships based on an understanding of different behavioral styles. The research-validated tool helps you understand yourself and others, saving you time, energy, and money Coaching for Physicians is an independent provider of DISC products and services for healthcare. We provide DISC services for individual physicians and healthcare organizations including medical groups, hospitals, medical societies, medical research organizations and insurance companies. We can help with education and assessment using all EverythingDiSC® products and can provide an EverythingDiSC® Certified Trainer to address your training needs.
Anger Management
If you, or a loved one, has started to develop issues with anger it is wise to seek help with an anger management coach before someone else, like an administrator, disciplinary board, or judge, mandates it for you. Some distressed physician programs paint a picture of a surgeon out of control. In our experience, when a surgeon is made aware of their anger and its impact, most are willing to make an effort to change their style of communication and improve their interpersonal skills. You do not want to risk getting labelled a disruptive physician. The Coaching for Physician’s anger management program for surgeons is a one-on-one program and sessions may be completed by telephone or in person. In this way those living at a distance can complete the training with fewer visits and less disruption to their work schedule. We recommend intensive day long anger management coaching at your location or ours. Surgeons are often the victims of bullying from other members of the healthcare team, including administrators, nurses and other doctors. One study suggests that physicians self identify as victims of bullying more than nurses.
Career Development
At some point, most surgeons question the direction of their life and wonder about their career direction, and life’s meaning and purpose. At these times coaching is an excellent method of self examination. Its aim is greater self understanding not just in the coaching session but in life in general. Executive Coaching for surgeons is concerned with performance, development and fulfillment at work, whether in the office or hospital. Most physicians promoted to executive positions do not have the background and skills needed to build teams and lead groups. When you need to advance your surgical career, executive coaching is a useful tool. Over the last few years coaches have come to understand that when it comes to happiness and success, emotional intelligence (EQ) matters more than intellectual ability (IQ). If you want to build stronger relationships, or succeed at work, then higher emotional intelligence usually helps.
Leadership
Modern medicine is practiced in teams of physicians, nurses, mid-levels, support and administrative staff. All surgical teams need a leader and in many cases the team leader in medicine is a surgeon. Even in a small, private office the physician is considered the team-leader. Unfortunately many surgeons lack the temperament or training to organize and manage effective healthcare teams. As the teamleader, the surgeon needs skills in communication, people management and an understanding of how teams work. In addition, they need a heightened awareness of social interactions and highly developed emotional intelligence skills. Most physicians promoted to executive positions do not have the background and skills needed to build teams and lead groups. When you need to advance your surgical career, executive coaching is a useful tool. Coaching for Physicians is here to help you develop the skills you need.
Burnout and Work-Life Balance
Coaching for Physicians works with individual surgeons and with organizations, like medical societies, hospitals and medical groups, to teach the skills needed to manage and prevent burnout and restore the joy to surgical practice. In modern medicine, burnout is common and the prevention and management of surgeon burnout is an urgent matter. The latest figures show that at any one time, almost every other physician is experiencing burnout and over a medical lifetime 80% may experience some signs. Whether newly trained residents or experienced surgeons the risk of burnout remains high, and seems to peak in mid-career. It is rare for engaged surgeons to become burned out. To that end, we also consult with organizations to develop and change the work environment so that it encourages physician engagement, reduces turnover and burnout and improves work-life balance. In so doing, both the surgeon and the organization gain from a reduced staff turnover, improved patent safety and a more functional and productive medical team. Coaching for Physicians is here to help you develop the skills you need for a successful work life balance.
Keynotes and Lectures
Dr. Patrick Hudson as the next motivational, keynote speaker for your surgical organization? He is available to speak to most healthcare groups, including physician groups, hospitals, medical societies, medical research organizations and insurance companies about issues of interest to physicians. As a licensed physician, board certified surgeon, psychotherapist and coach with over three decades of eclectic experience in medicine, Dr. Hudson can provide an inspiring and informative keynote about many areas of coaching and how they interface with physicians and surgeons. Topics include surgeon burnout, anger management, disruptive surgeon behavior, time management and procrastination, malpractice support and avoidance, physician marriages, team building and surgeon leadership, life coaching & transition for surgeons, emotional intelligence and communication. All talks can be tailored to the needs of your organization.