July/August 2026

Physician Leadership Journal

July/August 2026

Vol. 13, No. 4 · 12 articles

  1. What the Doctors Said: The Qualitative Story Within Physician Leadership Development Research

    PLJ July/August 2026 Mark Hertling, DBA, Kim Smith-Jentsch, PhD

    The article analyzes physician narratives from a study on leadership development, revealing themes like trust, communication, and reflection. It highlights how safe environments foster growth and reduce burnout.

  2. What Physician Leaders Need to Know About Change Management for AI

    PLJ July/August 2026 Lola Butcher

    Physician leaders must navigate change management as AI transforms clinical care, tackling challenges without a clear playbook to guide this pivotal shift.

  3. What Physician Leaders Can Learn From Counseling Psychology

    PLJ July/August 2026 Robert Hicks, PhD, Brian A. Hicks, PhD, LPC

    Physician leaders face high-pressure environments, balancing clinical duties, organizational demands, and leadership. Counseling psychology offers tools to coach colleagues and manage emotional challenges effectively.

  4. The Market for Physician-Researchers’ Labor: Unpaid Work, Paid Access

    PLJ July/August 2026 Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA, CPE, DFAAPL

    Academic publishing drives medical progress but relies on unpaid physician-researchers while imposing financial barriers and limiting access. This article critiques systemic flaws and proposes ethical reforms.

  5. The CPE Credential as a Catalyst for Healthcare Transformation: A Personal and Organizational Perspective

    PLJ July/August 2026 Claude D. Brunson, MD, MSCHS, CPE, FAAPL, FASA

    The Certified Physician Executive (CPE) equips physicians with leadership skills to manage complex healthcare systems, enhancing individual and organizational performance.

  6. Shaping Your Healthcare Team at Every Level

    PLJ July/August 2026 Kylan Steele, BS, John Gunaldo, BS, Peter DeBlieux, MD, Sandy Hyatt, PsyD, Erika Rajo, PsyD, Rachel Fiore, PhD, CCC-SLP

    Effective communication is vital for healthcare teams to prevent errors, burnout, and poor outcomes. Self-awareness, connection-building, and recognition foster collaboration and resilience.

  7. Reducing Clinical Variation Through Interdisciplinary Leadership: A Field Report from a Large Academic Medical Center

    PLJ July/August 2026 Harpreet Pall, MD, MBA, CPE, Brian Walch, MS, PT, MBA, Annamarie Cutroneo, MHA, CPXP

    In 2025, Jersey Shore University Medical Center implemented a clinical variation reduction (CVR) model, improving length-of-stay, discharge rates, patient experience, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration thro...

  8. Physicians and Impostor Syndrome: Between Selflessness and Self-Mastery

    PLJ July/August 2026 Mark D. Olszyk, MD, MBA, CPE, FACEP, FACHE

    Impostor syndrome affects physicians with self-doubt despite competence, driven by perfectionism and cultural norms. Balancing humility and excellence worsens it, but mentorship and psychological safety can help.

  9. Improving Physician Organizational Attitudes and Leadership Self-Efficacy

    PLJ July/August 2026 Lee Scheinbart, MD, CPE, Mark Hertling, DBA, Jessica L. Wildman, PhD

    A study on a 12-month chief medical officer leadership program found significant improvements in leader self-efficacy, shared vision, and organizational commitment, enhancing leadership confidence and alignment.

  10. Finding Your Voice: A Physician Leader’s Guide to Public Speaking

    PLJ July/August 2026 Teresa Schrader, MD

    Public speaking is vital for physician leaders but often causes anxiety. This article offers strategies like preparation, audience focus, and organized content to help healthcare professionals present effectively.

  11. Conversations with the Past

    PLJ July/August 2026 Ronald Dwinnells, MD, MBA, CPE

    The article examines 65 years of changes in medicine from one physician's viewpoint, exploring advancements in technology, training, patient care, and bureaucracy, while emphasizing the need to preserve humanistic val...

  12. A Purpose-Driven Framework for Career Sustainability Among Physician Leaders in Academic Medicine

    PLJ July/August 2026 Mohan V. Belthur, MD, MS (CTS), FRCSC, FRCS (Tr & Orth), FAAOS, Jasmine K.M. Lopez, BS, BA, Benjamin Cordy, MD, Guadalupe Federico-Martinez, PhD

    This review presents a framework to help physician leaders align values, reflect, and make strategic decisions for sustainable, fulfilling academic medicine careers.