Engaging Physicians in Leadership: Motivations, Challenges, and Identity-Based Considerations

Physician leadership has been associated with improved patient outcomes, increased provider satisfaction, and decreased physician burnout as well as more profitable, higher-quality healthcare delivery. However, physicians frequently struggle when assuming leadership positions, given the dissonance between their administrative and clinical roles. Informed by social identity theory, we aimed to identify why physicians lead, how they experience leadership roles, and the challenges they face during the transition into those roles.

We conducted 27 semistructured interviews with primary care physician leaders between January and April 2020. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Four themes were developed from the analysis, including (1) desire for change, (2) desire for growth, (3) challenges experienced during the transition to a leadership role, and (4) changes to professional identity. The results of this study identified aspects of leadership perceived by physicians as attractive and motivating. The study also revealed challenges that occur during the transition into leadership as well as shifts in professional identity experienced by physicians.

The results can be used by healthcare managers and executives to empower more physicians to take on leadership roles and implement changes that alleviate stresses associated with physicians transitioning into leadership roles.