Careers in Family Medicine: Academic Leadership

We are continuing our blog series Careers in Family Medicine. Each week, I will highlight a family physician and their career path. Each one will share their pearls. So far, we have highlighted examples of Rural Practice, Value Based Care, Academic Medicine, US Department of State, Multi-specialty group and Leadership, Direct Primary Care, FQHC practices, Hospital Medicine, Tribal Health, Military Medicine, Concierge Practice in an Academic Setting, and Traditional Private Practice. Today we peer a little deeper into Family Medicine Academia, specifically at Academic Leadership, with Dr. Ehab Molokhia who has served within his department for 24 years.

Ehab, please give the readers an overview of your career in family medicine.

Serving as chief resident in my last year was an introduction to academic medicine for me, and I quickly realized that I enjoyed teaching and that this setting was a great fit for me. Through the years, I was fortunate to serve in a number of leadership positions within the department as well as in my institution. This helped me experience the different roles involved in academic family medicine and culminated in me gravitating towards Graduate Medical Education, where I started off as core faculty and moved to leadership, serving initially as associate program director and finally in the role of residency director and interim chair of the department which are my current positions.

You have sustained your career within your department for many years. What enabled you do stick in there for the long haul?

I feel I was lucky to work with a great team along the way, while the teams have changed over the years, there was always the sense of family within our department. In addition, I was fortunate to have great mentors along the way who were encouraging and kept the workplace stimulating and rewarding.

What are all the benefits of remaining in one institution? 

I feel like it depends on the institution. I believe that, regardless, one needs to look for an environment that is nurturing and conducive to personal growth, one that creates an atmosphere that is enjoyable to work in, and I was lucky to find that place.

It wasn't necessarily a conscious decision for any specific advantage to remain at the same institution. For me, it was the enjoyment of working with a great team and having a mentor - who I really credit for my success, advancement, and engagement in academics and healthcare policy, which is a passion of mine

What have been the challenges you have faced, and how did you overcome them? 

Obviously, as is the case anywhere else, challenges will come along the way. Being a small department, the workforce often gets subjected to the stressors of a reduced workforce. However, working with a great team, everyone was always willing and constantly volunteering to help support one another.

Another big challenge is delivering primary care to an underserved population. While this is one of the stated missions of our department and a passion of mine, finding the resources to deliver advanced primary care to our community has always been challenging.

What have been the greatest rewards in your roles? 

There has been so many rewards along the way. Merely accomplishing what we intended, which is delivering healthcare in a PCMH to an underserved community, is in itself incredibly rewarding. Contributing to the solution of closing the equity gap in healthcare has also been rewarding.  In addition, working in a smaller institution also presents the opportunity to get involved in leadership roles and to grow personally and professionally. This helped keep my role in the department always stimulating with a sense of fulfillment. Furthermore, as is the case with all program directors who enjoy teaching residents and students, contributing to the education of the next generation of physicians is incredibly rewarding.

What specific approaches do you take to enhance your personal and professional fulfillment and joy?

On a personal level, finding a good work/life balance was crucial to me. Learning how to organize my schedule and work efficiently allowed me to protect my personal time at home to enjoy being with my family when it really matters.

On a professional level, as is the advice I give to learners, is that it is very important to pursue a career that you will enjoy on a day-to-day basis. A career is a lot more than merely an 8-5 job commitment. Finding a profession and a work environment that you enjoy being a part off is incredibly important for your wellness, and I was fortunate to find this in my workplace.

Any tips for those looking at their first job (or those who are looking to pivot) on how to decide?

My advice is to figure out what you’re passionate about, what is it that will make the work you do enjoyable. Make sure that the colleagues and team members you will work with share your passion and can help create the work environment that you can thrive in. Look for leadership that will support your ambitions and help you achieve your goals. 

Are there any tips or perspectives you'd like to share with readers considering academic leadership?

Academic medicine may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy teaching and helping contribute to the next generation of physicians, its worth exploring. While academic leadership is challenging at times, I’ve certainly enjoyed every minute of my journey and encourage aspiring educators to reach out to colleagues in leadership positions to explore their opportunities. There are many venues provided through our academies to accomplish that. 

Great! Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom with the readers. How can people find you if they want to learn more? I’m happy to speak to anyone regarding a career in academic family medicine [email protected].

So many inspiring family physicians! I hope there are things in each interview that resonate deeply with you and gain you some clarity regarding your career. 

Next week the series continues with another in Academics - Dr. Deborah Clements, FM Department Chair - Stay tuned! Don't miss any in this series; sign-up to have them delivered to your inbox. 

Until then - Have a joy-filled week!  Tonya