Leadership is a key quality that all doctors need to posses. But sometime it is challenging to lead in a way that sits comfortably with you, whilst accepting the external reality. In this podcast, Ross tells me that authentic leadership is about specifically choosing the best response for a situation, based on what matters to each person as an individual. We talk about values, psychological flexibility, and he shares his top tips.Ross is an organisational and coaching psychologist. As a practitioner, he uses evidence-based psychology in all areas of his portfolio career. In his research role at City, University of London, he works alongside Dr Paul Flaxman in an academic/practitioner partnership where they design and deliver ACT Workplace Training for both the public and private sector. He also lectures in organisational psychology at City, University of London and Birkbeck. Nine years ago, he founded the start-up, People Soup, which aims to cultivate well-being, adaptability, meaningful action and awareness in organisations. He has designed and delivered evidence-based training to over 23 NHS Trusts, HM Treasury, Nectar Loyalty, teachers, a global tech company, a global drinks company, hedge fund managers and a variety of ballet companies and independent dancers. Prior to his portfolio career, he spent over 20 years in Senior HR roles in the UK Civil Service. He has a BSc (Hons) in psychology from the University of Dundee and Masters degrees in Human Resource Management and Organisational Psychology. He’s a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Association for Coaching and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). He's also the founder and host of the award winning People Soup Podcast - which aims to make behavioural science, accessible, useful and fun for adults at work.You can find all of Ross' links here - https://linktr.ee/PeopleSoupListen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by PolachekYou can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.

As doctors our training focuses on clinical skills, yet sooner or later we all find ourselves in a position of being a team leader. In this episode, Declan tells me that leadership is a different set of skills, and one that can be learnt and developed. A mindset of listening, asking questions, and being open to try things is important, and modelling psychological safety through acknowledging uncertainties is key to creating an environment where others feel safe to belong and speak up. I love his idea that leadership is something that can move around the team depending on what is needed and what expertise team members have. Perhaps a key insight is noticing what's going on in the team, what it is that the team needs, and asking how things could be better.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like 87 how to become a senior medical leader, 86 how to become head of school of General Practice, and 59 how to create great teams.Dr. Declan Woods is a ‘top team’ Psychologist and Professor of Leadership Practice at King's College London (KCL) who specialises in working with boards and leadership teams in international blue-chip corporations and public sector bodies. He has significant experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors and with the NHS. He is the founding CEO of teamGenie, an international venture specialising in designing, coaching, and developing teams with the mission of transforming organisations through teams (see teamgenie.com). Declan used his expertise and research on teams to create the award-winning diagnostic tool, teamSalient, to help teams radically improve their impact (see teamsalient.com). Declan is the world’s first team Master Coach accredited with the Association for Coaching (AC), and a Chartered and HCPC-registered Psychologist. Declan created the global industry standard for team coaching (see associationforcoaching.com/page/TCADetails) and previously co-authored and launched coaching’s global code of ethics (globalcodeofethics.org) signed by the world's leading coaching and mentoring bodies and companies. He was made a lifetime Fellow of the Association for Coaching (AC) for this work raising standards of coaching in organisations globally.Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by PolachekYou can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.

David noticed a problem, got an idea, and brought it to fruition. The result was a book featuring 100 different voices and aiming to improve doctors' wellbeing. In this episode, we talk about creativity -  we all already are creative. It is important to notice to what excites and frustrates us, and to wake up and bring our whole selves to work. Great ideas might be sabotaged by fear of failure or worrying about what others think, but he advises that we cannot please everyone, and the attitude of trial and error is more important than aiming for perfect outcomes.In the spring of 2003, David Tamale-Sali [surname pronounced: Tah Mah Lay Sah Lee] attended a surprisingly life-changing lecture, and then four months later found himself kicked out of Medical School at the start of resitting his third year. He then spent the next two decades off the beaten path, having experiences such as summarising patient Medical notes in a GP surgery, selling products on the high street for a Hollywood makeup artist, freelance copywriting, raising a family whilst on benefits, hosting a Franchising podcast, being blackmailed by his Dad into going back to medical school, getting kicked out of Medical school during Lockdown…all while continuing to encourage distressed and frustrated Medics from around the world via email, private forums and his blog at Okaydoctor.net. David is married with 7 kids, a writer/bass player, and an encourager of all who are ready to leave Medicine to enjoy a fulfilling and abundant life. You can get a free copy of his latest project, Medic S.O.S, by going to www.okaydoctor.net/sosListen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by PolachekYou can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.

Being an early career doctor is a stressful time, and how medical work is structured may lead to few opportunities for support. Ollie Burton and I discuss that despite workload challenges, senior doctors can seek and create opportunities to support and train younger colleagues. This requires clinical leadership, and real understanding that training must be prioritises in order to develop future clinicians.Ollie is presently (at time of interview) a clinical research fellow in neurosurgery with interests in simulation, education and workforce development. He runs a YouTube channel and blog to help give insight into training as a doctor, and to educate students and patients. You can find him at https://ollieburton.com/.Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.You can find out more about Mat at www.MatDaniel.net.Production: Shot by Polachek

How do you get into leadership roles in medical education? In this episode, Komal Atta tells me that you need to be a good negotiator, open to change, and willing to experiment. We discuss how at the start of one's career it's good to have an overview of all different facets of education, but with seniority it better to become a real expert in one specific area. We talk about publishing in medical education, and discuss the importance of networking.Dr Komal Atta is Director Medical Education at University Medical and Dental College the University of Fiasalabad, she also serves on many national and international medical education boards, is an Associate Fellow of AMEE , an active member of ASME , an ambassador for Diversity In Medical Academia (DIMA) and also Director Media Medical Women Association Pakistan. Her interests are around curriculum development, social media in MedEd, Equity , diversity and inclusion and Technology enhanced learning Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by PolachekYou can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.

Helen has had a range of senior leadership roles, and in this episode she tells me how to get into leadership, how to progress, and the skills needed to succeed. Many people will have great skills, but they don't put themselves forward, they wait to be asked, or they wait for the perfect opportunity. However, this means that they may struggle to have the impact that they want, and Helen's tip is to go for it, learn and develop, and don't be afraid to fail. She tells me that it's important to keep eyes open for exciting opportunities, and this also means having to create space by letting go of other things. Our careers are not linear, they evolve all the time, and every step opens up a myriad of new doors and opportunities. Getting to know yourself is key to good leadership, as is knowing the people around you, and picking the battles that you choose to fight. I love her mantra "don't just moan, do something".Helen Stokes-Lampard, Professor of GP Education, is back at UoB following a three-year secondment (2020-23) as Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) through the Covid19 pandemic. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is the national body that represents and coordinates the UKs 24 Royal Colleges, Colleges and Medical Faculties that in turn represent all the main medical specialities that award higher professional medical qualifications. AoMRC ensures that patients are safely and properly cared for by setting standards for the ways doctors are educated, trained and monitored throughout their careers. She sits on the Expert Panel which advises the national AI Frontier Taskforce and Chairs the Independent clinical oversight group for the GRAIL/Galleri study. Additionally Helen is a GP Principal in Lichfield, the founding Chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), the founding Chair of the Dames Commander Society (DCS) and a Trustee of Macmillan Cancer. She was Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) 2016-2019 and has held many other national medical leadership positions. Helen was awarded a DBE for services to General Practice in the New Years Honours list January 2022. You can find out more at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/clinical-sciences/stokeslampard-helen and on her LinkedIn page.Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by PolachekYou can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.

In this episode, Manjiri tells me how she became Head of School. We talk about the importance of role models in career planning, and discuss how as doctors we often have a very narrow view of the skills that we have. We discuss how some people have a tendency to talk themselves out of going for roles, and of the importance of confronting the fear that we have and consider what are the worst and best things that can happen. Manjiri tells me how one opportunity often leads to another, and that's it's important to have a mindset that looks for opportunities, development, and growth.You can also watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

How do you make career decisions? Our careers are never static, they change, we change, and the world around us changes. In this episode, Fiona Setch and I discuss our own career decisions, and identify the importance of doing moves that take you towards your desired future, rather than moves aimed at escaping the current challenges. The key to dealing with career dissatisfaction and critical incidents is then to identify what it is that you want, and to take your life and career in that direction. This might not mean large moves, sometimes small adjustments can help, as can conscious focus on what you enjoy about your current role.Fiona Setch is a coach. You can find her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-setch-3540a0a/If you liked this episode you might also enjoy episode 72 on career reinvention after 50, episode 70 in mid career reinvention, 66 on career decisions, 53  and 46 on life balance, episode 23 which contains my tips for making career decisions, and episode 38 and 9 that talk about career coaching.You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

Ellen Welch is a GP and a book author, and has had a variety of different roles in the past. In this episode we discuss portfolio careers. She outlines how she has reinvented herself multiple times, based on what she wanted and on how work fitted into the rest of her life. She outlines how being flexible is a real asset, even if flexible careers have both up and downsides. Making decent income from portfolio careers might not be easy, but as doctors we should always remember the value that we bring and the skills that we have. I love her can-do mindset, instead of moping about what is wrong, she has repeatedly gone out and made her desired future happen based on what she wants.Ellen is an NHS GP and writer based in Cumbria. With 20 years clinical experience, she has pursued a variety of portfolio roles worldwide, including stints as a a ski field doctor in New Zealand, an expedition medic in Tanzania and a Cruise Ship Doctor and repatriation doctor around the world. She holds a BA in medical journalism and has pursued her interest in writing alongside her clinical career. She has written  several books and has been published widely in both trade and National press. She has also appeared on TV and Radio in her previous role as co-chair for the Doctors’ Association UK. Her latest book “Why Can’t I See My GP: the past, present and future of General Practice” was released in February 2024. Find out more about her at https://linktr.ee/DrEllenWelchYou might also like Episode 81 on how to define career success, 77 on a career in General Practice, 66 on making career decisions, and 65 on portfolio careers.Watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos. Production: Shot by Polachek

Careers in medicine are rewarding, and at the same time full of stresses. In this episode, Matthew Fuller and I discuss how to manage challenging situations at work. Matthew tells me that it is important to distinguish emotions from facts, to recognise that emotions are data, and that it pays to step back and focus on what it is that you really want. Some challenges may not be easy to fix, but making a conscious choice on how to engage puts you in a powerful position going forwards.Matthew Fuller is an ICF-accredited coach specialising in stress and anxiety. He knows firsthand what it's like to be immobilised by stress and anxiety. The emotions and beliefs we carry with us have a huge impact on our success, the success of our teams, and our happiness. That's why he works with people to explore their internal blocks, be they outdated beliefs, negative thought patterns, or unhelpful habits. He works with others as a travel partner, exploring their internal world through a blend of mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC), and neuroscience to help them overcome the challenges in front of you. You can find him at  www.matthewctfuller.com, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/MatthewCTFuller/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/matthewctfuller.You can also watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

Phil is a doctor and an Irish Olympian rower. In this episode, we discuss how his understanding of elite sport performance can help doctors at work. He describes a great analogy of his whole life / career being a four legged stool, and that whilst you might only be able to function on three, you cannot do so on two legs. I love the idea of always making choices about what is prioritised today, and always understanding that there are long term as well as short term goals. He tells me that pressure is important for learning, and that the key is to understand what the pressure is and how it helps you progress. And I love how he talks about the importance of having mental clarity instead of jumping into situations in the middle of an adrenaline rush.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like Episode 56 how to perform under pressure, 82 what doctors can learn from elite athletes, and 80 optimising mental performance.You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

Career success means different things to different people. However, as doctors we compare ourselves to each other, and when applying for jobs we are compared against other candidates. In this episode Jason, who is a PGY3 doctor, tells me about his experiences of defining career success. We talk about how comparison with others can be good, but it can also be problematic. His advice is to focus on learning, people, and the "why", as much as on external indicators of success.Jason is a postgraduate year 3 doctor currently working as a medical education HMO in Melbourne. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, or on twitter @drjasoncottle.You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

As doctors we have to perform to a high standard in many settings, whether this is leading a ward round, cardiac arrest, or operating. Our technical skills are important, and out mindset matters too. In this episode, Krystle and I discuss mental performance. We talk about career transitions and how they relate to our own self identity, and discuss the need to be aware of what matters to you, and the need to let go of some things from the past. We talk about how strengths can also become a weakness, and that doing things at the extreme is probably not going to be good; ask whether this belief is serving you or harming you. Mental performance starts with self awareness, and self awareness is a life long journey not something that you do once and then forget about it. Self awareness includes thoughts, feelings, as well as body sensations; the latter can be particularly useful indicators. When difficulties arise, we need to identify what we are afraid of, what's the worst that could happen, what's at stake, and what exactly the issues are (it may be a learning need or style as much as anything related to thinking); this needs to be done with no judgement, so we convert limiting thoughts into thoughts that serve us. Visualisation is a really useful tool to prepare for the future; visualisation is not about magical thinking, it's about mentally preparing and planning for whatever you need to achieve. And mind is like a muscle, so the more you visualise, self-reflect, and reframe, the better it gets.Krystle Kustanovich, an accredited mental performance coach is renowned for her transformative work with top athletes and high achievers. With a unique focus on the intricacies of the mental game, Krystle empowers individuals to conquer their inner barriers and unleash their full potential. Grounded in neuroscience, Krystle's approach offers practical techniques that drive tangible results, enabling clients to surpass limitations and achieve unparalleled success.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystlekustanovich/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystle.coach/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystle.coachTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.millennialcoachPodcast: "I never thought of it that way" https://open.spotify.com/show/0KvGzdOydPMg1hbMUdhuZj?si=f45cba449107453fWebsite: https://mentalperformance.co.za/You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

Our work seems to consist of one crisis after another. In this episode, Matt tells me about the importance of identifying what's urgent and what's important. This can be learnt, and asking others can be a useful way to develop this prioritisation skill. Checklists have a place too, as long as we don't forget the importance of human interaction. Regular stress and pressure also means that looking after ourselves is important, and we need to dedicate time to strategic and long term thinking as well as to today's emergency.Matt Morgan is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, adjunct Clinical Professor and regular BMJ columnist. He has contributed to >50 scientific articles following his PhD in artificial intelligence including the NEJM, Lancet and JAMA. After appearing on television and radio, he gave the 2023 Woodridge Lecture and was nominated for the Royal Society’s David Attenborough prize for public engagement. His first book CRITICAL tells remarkable stories of patients in the intensive care unit. His second book, ONE MEDICINE, explores how understanding animals can help treat human disease. His third book will look at the lives of patients after surviving a cardiac arrest. His is a member of the BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS and is the medical advisor for The National Theatre’ in London’s production of "Nye", the story of Aneurin Bevan. He lives in Cardiff with his family. You can find him on LinkedIn and Twitter @dr_mattmorgan and Instagram @dr_mattmorgan.You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videosProduction: Shot by Polachek

What is emotional intelligence and how do you develop it? Tracy tells me that emotional intelligence is about how you relate to yourself and to others. We all have a tendency for events to lead to emotions without us pausing and considering what is going on, so the key is to actually slow down the move from event to emotion and examine the thoughts that are determining how we feel. Once we recognise the thoughts as well as emotions at play, we can then make choices based on how we really want to be, instead of doing things that we later regret. Better emotional intelligence makes us happier in the long term, and it also improves workplace interactions with colleagues.Tracy L Davis, MD PhD is mid-career dermatopathologist and anatomic pathologist in the southwest U.S., currently working in companion diagnostics in the pharmaceutical industry at Roche. Her career has also spanned hospital practice, academic medicine, and private practice. Outside of medicine, she is also a speaker and certified life coach who is passionate about Happiness Studies. She is the author of the weekly newsletter, The Happy Physician: A Practical Guide. She helps physicians who want more out of life, despite seeming to “have-it-all”, to create the life they dream of, so that they can achieve greater happiness and live their best life.You can find her at  thehappyphysician.com, www.linkedin.com/in/tracydavismd, and www.facebook.com/davist07You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.Production: Shot by Polachek

Ranj tells me that General Practice in an exciting specialty with wide variety of conditions and interactions. Good communication skills and teamwork are important, as is an ability to manage uncertainty. We discuss the many different ways that GPs can work, including portfolio careers. I love the way his Practice has created structures that enable staff to connect and get support from each other.Dr Ranj Sagoo is a UK trained and GMC licenced doctor of over 15 years’ experience. He gained his medical degree (MBCHB) at Leicester University in 2006 after which he trained in Orthopaedics and Surgery before becoming a GP in 2013 obtaining Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP).Early in his GP career he developed an interest in Dermatology and completed the Cardiff Diploma of Practical Dermatology, followed by the Cardiff Certificate in Dermoscopy. Combining this with his surgical skills Dr Ranj developed an expertise in diagnosing and managing chronic skin conditions, diagnosing skin lesions and performing skin surgery.As he progressed in his career Dr Ranj felt that there was so much more that we can do to help people not only manage their health problems but prevent them from occurring. Dr Ranj has a firm belief that we are in control of our health and those people that struggle with their health have the power within them to regain that control. We are not destined to develop certain conditions because they are in the family, nor should people feel restricted by their health problems as they are very reversible. Dr Ranj began to look at health as a complex interaction of multiple contexts of life. Core to his belief is seeing the person as a whole and not the illness that they present with. Developing a deeper understanding of the person, their values, purpose and their circumstances, holds the key to helping them with their health problems.He began to explore the psychology of health behaviour and the drivers of motivation to change. Dr Ranj developed an awareness of the need for a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. He developed a fascination with lifestyle and nutritional approaches to health and wellbeing. He has since become certified in counselling, a Professional Coach and NLP Practitioner accredited by the Association of Professional Coaches (APC) and European Association of Neurolinguistic Programming (EANLP). Dr Ranj has also achieved the Level 3 Award for Nutritional Intervention in Exercise, Wellbeing and Weight Management with the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and completed the Diploma of Lifestyle Medicine with the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) and is a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician.  With his Health & Wellbeing programs, Dr Ranj helps clients achieve their health goals by bringing together his wealth of knowledge in conventional, nutritional and lifestyle medicine. Using his skills in counselling, coaching and NLP he helps clients make deep discovery, find alignment with their values and make sustainable life-long change. A true journey to creating a healthier and happier life, not only for the client but their family and loved ones through transferable learning.Outside of medicine, Dr Ranj is an Award-winning Fine Art wildlife artist, having won the 2022 BritishContemporary.Art ‘Artist of the Year’ award. He is also keen on sports and fitness and enjoys playing football, tennis, and kickboxing. As well as this Dr Ranj enjoys travelling and exploring different cultures and cuisines with his family.You can find him at www.drranjsagoo.com, Instagram @drranj_healthcoach; Youtube @drranj_healthcoach; www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ranjit-sagoo; and https://www.facebook.com/groups/drranjsagoo/. The mindful Mixtape Podcast is at instagram @the.mindfulmixtape.podcast

This episode is a recording of my appearance on Funke's Thriving in the NHS huddle, where we discussed career tips for IMGs.Ibifunke Pegba-Otemolu is a Higher Surgical Trainee in the East of Scotland deanery. She runs Thriving in the NHS an organisation that provides resources to support International Medical Graduates in the UK to thrive in their lives and careers.  You can find her work at www.thrivinginthenhs.co.uk .Production: Shot by Polachek

Starting work as a doctor is a challenging time. Wen has researched this period, and in this episode she tells me that many of the challenges revolve around uncertainty. Senior doctors can help new doctors successfully enter the world of work, and new doctors  can themselves create change for themselves and for others. New doctors are the senior leaders of the future, and can start influencing culture right from today onwards.Dr Wen Wang is an Associate Professor in Human Resource Managment (HRM) at the University of Leicester. I am a researcher who explores inclusive and fair people management at workplace by utilising innovative dataset. My mission is to disseminate good HRM practices of our time to bring the best out of employees to achieve goals of the organisation and individuals. My work on the employment experience of NHS staff was included in two UK Parliament policy documents in 2022.  The trainee doctors' retention project in the talk has produced numerous free  materials and digital resources to support doctors' career progression. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and X @DrWenWang.Production: Shot by Polachek

Mick Connors and I discuss the importance of interpersonal connections at work. Our careers are busier than ever, but somewhere along the line we have lost the deep personal connections that we used to have with colleagues and patients too. Instead of focusing on the person in front of us, we are focused on processes, electronic systems, and targets. Technological advances are certainly useful, we just need to remember that human relationships matter too. The structures that fostered connections 20 years may not exist, and it is up to us to make sure that we continue to build these connections in the modern technological world. Approaching interaction with humility, respect, and patient focus helps, as does an open mindset focused on growth.J Michael Connors is an experienced physician leader with a steadfast passion for elevating healthcare through the strategic execution of best practices, especially those rooted in relationship building. He has a proven track record of excelling in clinical, leadership, and financial realms of healthcare. He has specialized expertise in innovation, digital health, organizational structuring, and business acumen, all geared towards steering organizations towards a harmonious blend of financial growth and mission-driven success. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, and read about his ideas here and here.You can also watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos. Production: Shot by Polachek.

Sarwar tells me that occupational medicine is a very varied specialty, which draws on a range of skills particularly problem solving, negotiation, and report writing. Much practice occurs outside the NHS, and the routes into the specialty include both NHS and training outside the NHS. It's one of the few areas of medicine where doctors get to spend 45 minutes or longer talking to a patient, and his career allows him to practice medicine whilst at the same time working with many different non-NHS contexts.Sarwar Chowdhury has several years experience as an Occupational Health Physician (OHP) and is Medical Director for Medigold Health. He operates as a Senior Lead Occupational Health Physician for a Tertiary NHS trust as part of a wider MDT of Occupational clinicians. He has extensive experience with undertaking complex medical management referrals, pre-placement medicals, health surveillance, blood bourne virus (BBV) monitoring, treating clinician referrals, clinical governance and policy writing. He has expertise in private Occupational Health for SME/businesses conducting high quality assessments including Management Case Conferences, Complex Management Referrals, Driver Medicals (Group 1 & 2 licences), Rail, Firefighter, Local Authorities, White Collar businesses, Biological Monitoring, Health Surveillance and Ill Health Retirement (range of industries including NHS). He acts as the Medical Review Officer (MRO) for verifying Drug and Alcohol Test and Screening results is involved with clinical governance and auditing of Rail Work as the Duty Rail Doctor covering a wide range of Train Operating companies and supervision/support of dozens of clinicians across the UK. He practises as an AFOM - Associate of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and is certified as an Office of Rail and Road Doctor (ORRDOC), FOM Tier 4 HAVS approved, HSE appointed in Asbestos & Ionising Radiation. He is close to completing a prospective CESR route training (4th Year) for Accredited Specialist status in Occupational Medicine as a Consultant Occupational Health Physician. This involves also completing his MSc in Occupational Medicine at Manchester University and currently holds AdvDipOccMed status after 2 years of the course.He co-founded and runs the Occupational Health Academy demonstrating entrepreneurship to create a brand and website, leadership in co-running the course, teaching skills with delivering courses in medical education in Occupational Medicine for the Diploma of Occupational Medicine (DOccMed) exam & MFOM Part 1.Aside from his work, he volunteers as the CESR 'training' Representative for the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), guiding and liaising with Occupational Health Physicians seeking to gain MFOM (ad eundem) outside of the traditional CCT route.You can connect with Sarwar on LinkedIn.You can find out more about Occupational Medicine on the following resources.https://occupationalhealthacademy.co.uk/resources; https://www.fom.ac.uk/careers; https://www.som.org.uk/careers; https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/occupational-medicine; https://medicfootprints.org/occupational-medicine-career-guide/; https://rcpconferences.co.uk/rcp-medicine-careers-week; https://youtu.be/zRXk5GTdK_A?si=QFQk3iYVkyGzhh1s