This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (4)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Topic Collections  • Academic Medical Centers  • Humanities  • Humanities, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic

Mark Linzer, MD
Madison, Wis

JAMA. 1998;279:341.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Whom are we willing to sacrifice?

In the past 6 years, I have worked at two academic institutions, both of which have had four deans each during the same period. Did we not choose well? Or did wise leaders opt out of undoable jobs?

I have known many chairs, chiefs, and deans. When I ask "How's the job?" they invariably reply, "Impossible," or "Awful," or "I can't stand it anymore." If I suggest that they take charge of their work and allow more time for family and exercise, even relaxation and contemplation, they laugh as if I am living in some other universe. They note that they often leave work feeling they are failing—failing their staff, bosses, and families. Burnout, turnover, and impairment—these are some of the outcomes we hold out to our most revered leaders.

Being a leader is tough stuff, and some would-be leaders will . . . [Full Text of this Article]

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

On Being a Physician: Choices, Sacrifice, and Balance
Volpintesta et al.
JAMA 1998;279:1609-1609.
FULL TEXT