Personal Code of Ethics
My Personal Code of Ethics
I’ve developed several guiding practices through years of experience, discernment, and hard-earned clarity. They didn’t arrive all at once. Each emerged from navigating real tensions, between roles, responsibilities, & values, in the nuanced spaces I work in. I’m sharing them here in the spirit of transparency and trust.
Dual Roles & Ethical Boundaries
Educational Roles
It is not my practice to use teaching, facilitation, or academic collaboration invitations to promote or recruit for coaching.
I do not initiate business conversations in settings where I’ve been invited to serve in an educational or collaborative role. However, I also do not obscure the fact that I own and operate a coaching business, and I disclose that role transparently, consistent with the ethical and professional standards expected in academic medicine and graduate medical education.
If an individual expresses interest in coaching in such a forum, I will defer the conversation to a more appropriate individual setting outside the group environment. In that setting, I will not promote my services but may offer my email or website for follow-up after the event. I will only consider coaching if they choose to initiate the relationship from there.
This preserves the integrity of the learning space while respecting individual autonomy.
Clinical Roles & Ethical Separation
It is not my practice to promote my coaching services in settings where I serve in a clinical role as a physician. I do not initiate business conversations with patients, staff, or physician colleagues in these environments. If a colleague independently expresses interest in coaching, I will defer the conversation to a separate setting, and only proceed if we mutually determine the relationship is appropriate, aligned, and professionally bounded.
This maintains the integrity of my clinical presence and protects against any confusion about roles, responsibilities, or intent.
Mentees and Former Learners
It is not my practice to coach individuals I currently consider mentees.
I will continue meeting with them as a mentor at no charge (and may even use a coaching-approach) unless they specifically request a formal coaching relationship involving more frequent and structured coaching sessions.
It is not my practice to initiate coaching relationships with residents or graduates for whom I’ve served as faculty.
I will consider coaching them only if I do not currently regard them as mentees and they independently initiate the relationship.
Other Professional & Personal Relationships
It is not my practice to initiate coaching relationships or promote my coaching services directly to individuals within my personal or professional circles.
I will consider coaching or collaboration only if they independently express interest and we mutually determine that the relationship is appropriate, aligned, and maintains professional boundaries.
It is also not my practice to use my immediate family members’ professional connections to promote my coaching business.
I will consider collaborative opportunities with those individuals if they initiate the relationship and if the partnership aligns with our mutual professional goals.
Other Actual or Perceived Conflicts of Interest
It is not my practice to proceed with a coaching relationship when there is an actual conflict of interest unless the issue has been transparently discussed, thoughtfully addressed with the client, and both of us feel confident about moving forward within the bounds we co-create.
In cases where there is only a potentially perceived conflict of interest, I may proceed if we co-define clear coaching boundaries and topics to ensure integrity and mutual clarity.
Related Practices
Resident Well-being Advisory Board
I invite some residents I’ve coached to serve on a Resident Well-Being Advisory Board. This is a reciprocal learning opportunity: they offer insights into the evolving needs of trainees, and I share evidence-based well-being strategies they can bring back to their training programs or future clinical practice. Participation is always optional and not tied to their coaching engagement.
In the past, I have expressed appreciation with a small welcome package, including items such as a journal, pen, bookmark, and a modest food delivery gift card for their team. Going forward, to better align with healthcare compliance standards, I no longer offer gift cards and instead provide a team snack basket or similar shared gesture. I continue to offer two complimentary coaching sessions after graduation and a certificate of participation as part of recognizing their contribution.
Consistent Discount for Self-Paying Trainees
In recognition of the financial constraints many trainees face—and in alignment with my values around access and fairness, I offer a reduced rate to residents and fellows who pay out of pocket for individual coaching. This rate is consistent and offered equally to all self-paying trainees. It applies only when coaching is not funded by their program or institution. I continue to offer this same rate for up to three years after training as they transition into independent practice.
This structure reflects a sustainable way to support early-career physicians in investing in their personal and professional growth.
Newsletter and Informed Consent
I no longer automatically enroll group coaching participants in my newsletter. In settings where it is appropriate, I may offer the option to sign up for Weekend Reads, my free newsletter for physicians that shares curated tools, insights, and stories. In more formal or institutional settings, I may include only a link in a confirmation or scheduling email, allowing individuals to explore the resource on their own if they are interested.
This ethics statement has been reviewed for alignment with the ICF Code of Ethics (2025), including Section 3: Professional Conduct and Conflicts of Interest.
