Leadership Styles & Calling – Mitigating and Predicting Burnout for Physician Leaders

This session will introduce the audience to the concept of coping behaviour patterns of highly motivated physicians, whether they consider medicine a ‘calling’ or not, and how these can either predispose physicians to burnout or, alternatively, offer protection. This will include a review of the current evidence-based literature on the potential association between different calling orientations and physician burnout. Common additional threads through these discussions will be the importance of issues related to equity, incivility, diversity, connectedness and inclusion within the physician leadership community, along with the promotion of physician leader support and resilience.

Dr. Gary Ernest is a seasoned rural family physician and physician leader, who has taught medical learners for more than 40 years. He has held leadership positions at local, regional, provincial and national levels, including serving as President of Doctors Nova Scotia. In 2023, he was awarded the QEII Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to physicians and the public. Dr. Ernest is in the final stages of his Doctorate in Business Administration. His research interests focus on burnout in physicians, both in leadership and non-leadership roles.