There are many ways to Rome, but in my experience there are three major keys to a successful medical career. Here they are:

1. Find out what your boss wants – and overdeliver.

   This Jack Welch quotation is by far the most important key and is right for every field – but certainly for medicine.
   Every boss will expect you to take good care of the patients and get the work done.

   But most bosses have one additional flaw, something he always wants to know or have done. If you find out, what he really cares about and what gives him a serotonin kick, be ready to be his darling.

   Here are some examples of the attendings I have worked with over time

   One attending wanted to know all about the immunosuppressant regime of the patient. Regardless of the reason the patient was in the hospital. When was which drug changed and why???

   Another one always checked whether all nephrologic patients were on a sodium-deprived diet. If one didn’t have that, his day was ruined.

   A surgeon didn’t want to be called to the OR until EVERYTHING was prepared, neat and tidy.

   One Internist I worked with just loved social history. Be prepared to tell him, which professions the patient worked in. To him the chief complaint was secondary.

   So when I start a new rotation I always ask my colleagues what the attending really likes and cares about.
   Once you found out – give him what he wants!

2. Become an expert and learn how to deliver presentations

   To make a great career you have to be perceived as an expert. It is pretty much irrelevant which topic you become an expert in (Well, not really, but almost), mainly you just have to be an expert.

   So rather sooner or later you should find a topic you are interested in, acquire knowledge and experience and start giving presentations (to students, nurses, colleagues, the Nobel comitee) and become an expert.

   It’s easier than you think because medicine is such a big field, there are so many topics, just pick one.

   It’s helpful if you can show for some research or even practical experience in that area but it is certainly not required!

   If you have access to pubmed and some review articles and own a laptop with powerpoint, there is nothing in your way. Get started!

3. Be passionate about your work.

   You can only deliver high quality work if you deeply care about the outcome of your work. Be passionate about your job and show it.

   There are many even young doctors, who are unsatisfied with their work circumstances and talk about it all day. No great results come from this attitude.

   Of course there are things that have to be advanced in the medical workfield, but complaining about it in front of the patient does not change a thing. While at work focus on the things you CAN change. Focus on the patient and what you can do for him.

   Dave Ramsey says: “Come in five minutes early, leave five minutes late and smile while you are at work- I promise, you’ll make a great career.” He is right.

   The good news is : it is really easy to be passionate about helping, and healing other people. Tax attorneys have to be passionate about income tax. That appears fairly difficult to me.

   Helping others can give you lots of joy and is pretty easy to be passionate about.

   Question: What do you think is another key factor for a great career? Leave a comment!