Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Doctors as Leaders Historically, being a doctor has always been an honor and noble. For many years, doctors have been recognized as one of the most educated, most admired, and most intelligent individuals. Many considered them also the best paid individuals. Certainly, many years of schooling and practical training make doctors very well educated in medical science. However, like all other individuals, doctors are humans. They do not know everything. They often are very poor in business. Often, they know little about art. And most of them are very poor writers, not to mention their handwriting. One of the key aspects of doctors' professional life is the fact that they must continue learning as long as they practice. There are very strict requirements that need to be met to renew a medical license and even more strict rules to renew the specialty board certification. And the rules are not just a piece of cake. You must study for it. You must be up to date with novel therapies and modern discoveries. Not only it is necessary for the exams, but your daily life exams of seeing new patients keep doctors on a constant roll with education. The professional life of doctors changed with implementation of computers and internet. The old-fashioned doc, with a stethoscope and a bag full of first aide materials is no longer in business. I know of many such doctors who got overwhelmed with electronic records and sold their practices. Our patients have access to medical news on-line daily. They can look up their symptoms on their phones and come to see medical providers with a list of questions related to their problems. They can look up options in treatments and pick what they wish to try. Most patients still have a need to see the doctor; telemedicine is just not for everybody and every diagnosis. In dermatology, for instance, you cannot do on-line exams. You need to see skin changes, often touch them, and often biopsy them. Al may not be fully helpful either. At least for a while, we will have to count on doctors to assist us and treat us. Being a doctor requires a lot of additional traits supporting plain medical science knowledge. Doctors must 'feel other people'. They must be empathetic, personal, and easy to connect with others. They have to maintain neutral positions in many social and political aspects, as well as religious aspects. As doctors, we deal daily with all kinds of cultural challenges of our patients, patients' beliefs, orientations, and level of erudition. It is our role and duty to be able to move from one exam room to another and fit into the needs of who is in that room, even if the two rooms with patients represent opposite views. If we do not do that, we risk losing patients and our reputation. Doctors must also be as close to the truth as possible. I always repeat that medical science is in a constant changing mode, but being up to date with all the newest knowledge and discovery is our duty. And so is relating it to our patients. So, are all doctors supermen? No, not at all. They are humans like others. The difference is that they were educated and prepared to serve others with their brains and skills. And that service makes them great leaders. True leaders prioritize others before themselves. Like doctors who always put patients ahead of anything else. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Doctors as Leaders Historically , being a doctor has always been an honor and noble . For many years , doctors have been recognized as one of the most educated , most admired , and most intelligent individuals . Many considered them also the best paid individuals . Certainly , many years of schooling and practical training make doctors very well educated in medical science . However , like all other individuals , doctors are humans . They do not know everything . They often are very poor in business . Often , they know little about art . And most of them are very poor writers , not to mention their handwriting . One of the key aspects of doctors ' professional life is the fact that they must continue learning as long as they practice . There are very strict requirements that need to be met to renew a medical license and even more strict rules to renew the specialty board certification . And the rules are not just a piece of cake . You must study for it . You must be up to date with novel therapies and modern discoveries . Not only it is necessary for the exams , but your daily life exams of seeing new patients keep doctors on a constant roll with education . The professional life of doctors changed with implementation of computers and internet . The old - fashioned doc , with a stethoscope and a bag full of first aide materials is no longer in business . I know of many such doctors who got overwhelmed with electronic records and sold their practices . Our patients have access to medical news on - line daily . They can look up their symptoms on their phones and come to see medical providers with a list of questions related to their problems . They can look up options in treatments and pick what they wish to try . Most patients still have a need to see the doctor ; telemedicine is just not for everybody and every diagnosis . In dermatology , for instance , you cannot do on - line exams . You need to see skin changes , often touch them , and often biopsy them . Al may not be fully helpful either . At least for a while , we will have to count on doctors to assist us and treat us . Being a doctor requires a lot of additional traits supporting plain medical science knowledge . Doctors must ' feel other people ' . They must be empathetic , personal , and easy to connect with others . They have to maintain neutral positions in many social and political aspects , as well as religious aspects . As doctors , we deal daily with all kinds of cultural challenges of our patients , patients ' beliefs , orientations , and level of erudition . It is our role and duty to be able to move from one exam room to another and fit into the needs of who is in that room , even if the two rooms with patients represent opposite views . If we do not do that , we risk losing patients and our reputation . Doctors must also be as close to the truth as possible . I always repeat that medical science is in a constant changing mode , but being up to date with all the newest knowledge and discovery is our duty . And so is relating it to our patients . So , are all doctors supermen ? No , not at all . They are humans like others . The difference is that they were educated and prepared to serve others with their brains and skills . And that service makes them great leaders . True leaders prioritize others before themselves . Like doctors who always put patients ahead of anything else . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net