All Physicians Lead: Redefining Physician Leadership for Better Patient Outcomes by Leon Moores is an interesting look at physician leadership. This book takes a look at how physicians can and should lead, taking specific cues from how this is done in the military. Physician leaders would benefit from this book, finding specific ideas for improving how they train other leaders. Interesting read overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I love the author's premise, that physicians should embrace leadership from early on in their careers. There are some excellent ideas on how they could do that. Sadly, what's missing, are the barriers.

A lot of doctors and other healthcare providers I know are reluctant to lead right now because of censorship. Look at what's happened to all the doctors and healthcare organizations that asked questions during the Covid-19 mess. Powerful organizations went after their licenses and reputations.

In order for doctors and healthcare providers to truly embrace leadership, they need to be able to discuss different opinions and perspectives on science.

Dr Moores comes to the topic of physician leadership through the military, an organization that is strongly focused on leadership development. Dr. Moores, a neurosurgeon, was instrumental in developing the leadership program at the Uniformed Services University for Health Sciences, the military medical school. He himself went through the formal military leadership training programs including, I believe, the War College. He is a worthy guide to this topic.

Dr Moores asserts that all physicians are, at some level, leaders, in that they are trying to influence others towards certain ends. At the most basic level, physicians try to influence patients, but it goes well beyond that. Physicians are, or should be, leaders of teams of professionals who are trying to maximize outcomes for individual patients. And later in their careers, physicians may be leaders of (or within) complex organizations that are working to maximize health but to also serve organizational goals. Dr Moores believes that physicians are, in general, unprepared for these roles and this book is an attempt to begin to address that challenge.<br /><br />I have been looking for a book on physician leadership for a long time, and have been surprised that there are few, if any, to be found. The topics and guidance provided here are not particularly novel- anyone who has read in leadership literature will recognize nearly all of what is provided. The specific application to the areas in which physicians operate is very helpful. And most helpful of all is the recommendations for topics to be covered in a leadership development program for physicians

The book is well-written and I would recommend it for anyone who is starting to explore the questions of physician leadership. I have no hesitations about the book and went back and forth on 5 stars vs 4, with my only downgrade being that there was not much novel in the content itself if one is familiar with the leadership literature. But, because this will introduce these concepts to an expanded audience, I think it's worth the higher rating.

Interesting and insightful read. Subject matter attracted me to read this book, Subject content was thoughtfully explored and well written.

Leon Moores is a distinguished vet who spend his military career in medicine.
The military trains leaders.
Medical schools do not.
He's trying to change that.
The change is already happening.

Whether you're premed or you have 20 years of experience, reading this book will be useful.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this review was written by my husband, a physician who leads:

As a Physician Leader in the latter stages of his career, I was pleased to read and review this book. The premise is a good one, that all Physicians find themselves as leaders throughout their careers, either by default through their medical practice or by taking on administrative leadership roles in their in institutions of work. As the author points out quite correctly, leadership skills are something that can and should be taught early in a physician’s training. This therefore, is a book I wish I had read at medical school or shortly after graduating.

Aside from the military and surgical spin which runs through the book and proved mildly distracting (the author after all served in the armed forces), the content is well structured, first starting with the “Why” of physician leadership before introducing a neat visual of the concentric circles of leadership with “self”at the centre, expanding outwards to incorporate leading another, leading teams and then organizations. Towards the end, the author gives more practical strategies for physician leaders which nicely rounds out the book.

Although I found little new or enlightening content in the book personally, I am conscious that the book was not aimed at me, an experienced physician leader of many years. I imagine that a new medical school graduate or a physician suddenly thrust into a new leadership role would find many more “light bulb” moments here. This, along with the sound structure of the book’s content and the useful real-life scenario illustrations that start each chapter, pace the reader well through the content and makes for an overall enjoyable and informative read. I shall be recommending this book to the medical students I encounter in my workplace and not just the ones that are interested in leadership. Congratulations should go to the author Dr. Moores for writing a book that fills an important gap in medical student education and for writing a book which I wish I had read 30 years ago.

Well written with leadership points clearly outlined. I think the comparison to the military and their training is cohesively displayed. These points could be used all aspects of leadership training not just physicians. Advanced practice providers could benefit greatly from leadership discussion in a collaborative manor.