See One, Do One, Teach One

All physicians know the adage “See one, do one, teach one” from medical school and residency training. Typically it’s used in reference to some procedure we need to master, like starting an arterial line or putting in a chest tube, etc. While it over simplifies the learning process we all go through, because we usually watch a procedure more than one time before trying it ourselves, it makes the point that you need to do something before you can teach it. Politicians in Washington may not understand the concept, since they seem intent on telling business folks how to run their businesses despite the fact that most of them have never run, much less started, a business. But all doctors “get it”.

Teaching doctors how to start and run a private practice should be accomplished with the same technique. Most of us received very little formal “business” training in medical school. I had a few lectures totaling less than a day or two over 4 years. But during our ambulatory care rotations we see how different practices were organized and run. The “private” practices operated in distinct contrast from the hospitals’ outpatient clinics. Not always better, but clearly different in many ways.

My thought is that the experienced doctors who have started and run their private practices successfully for years become the teachers to the next generation of doctors in medical school and residency right now. These students and residents need you to be their mentors, their advisors, so they can be successful right from the start. Instead of worrying about teaching future competitors, think about it from the standpoint of developing friendships and strong private practice networks. Plus these are the doctors who will take care of you in your old infirm age. You have the knowledge. Please be a mentor and teacher and share your knowledge. Seen many, done one or more, now teach.