Reflection:

My philosophy of leadership is someone who leads by example. They must be the kind of person they wish to have working for them. This includes being open minded, collaborative, respectful, and taking responsibility for their actions. Coming into this semester I had a vague idea of what I thought a leader was. I typically saw them as someone respected and successful. However, after this class and my internship I realize there is much more to being a leader. A leader not only is successful, but they must also relate to others in a positive way. They push others to be the best they possibly can be. I think good leaders are humble. Specifically, in the health-care field I see this exemplified when clinicians take the time to make some sort of personal connection with their patients. I understand that clinicians are busy with treating patients and the endless documentation, however they should never prioritize that over the patient themself. By establishing a personal connection you are saying that you are both equals. Doing this allows for a more open dialogue between clinician and patient and could lead to a more effective and smooth treatment for the patient. My learning artifact I chose for this section is my final essay from my philosophy of medicine class I took last semester. In the paper I argue that the practice of medicine is more of an art than a science because the practice of medicine is treating humans. I go into further depth in my essay about the benefits of treating each patient as a whole rather than as their symptoms alone. The article “Exploring Leadership” that we read is what really opened my eyes to the diversity in terms of types of leaders someone can be. It was very interesting to see how the definitions of leadership have changed throughout time. I think this is mirrored in how the role of a physician has changed in the medical community over time as well. Physicians used to adopt a more paternalistic approach, however in contemporary society, physicians tend to be seeking a more collaborative approach to work with the patient to reach a decision rather than deciding on behalf of the patient. In the article it discussed how modern leadership can be likened to a symphony, in which the conductor works with the musicians to create something beautiful. This is how I wish to lead. I want to work with my employees and patients to restore them to health rather than dictating a treatment plan. I understand I will have a responsibility as the therapist because I will possess the expertise needed to design a treatment plan, however I want the patient to be included as much as possible throughout their treatment; their input is essential.

My learning artifact is my final paper I wrote for my philosophy of medicine class last semester. It addresses what I think the physician’s role is in medicine. This is directly applicable to how I view leadership. In my paper I argued that medicine should be treated as more of an art than a science. I argued that having scientific knowledge is not enough to be a good clinician, there is also an art aspect because the practice of medicine is treating humans, not symptoms alone. This parallels what I believe makes a good leader: not only someone who has been successful, but also someone who can relate well to others and encourage them to create their own success.

Phil 369 Essay by Rachel Brady on Scribd

Gallup Report by Rachel Brady on Scribd