MD Coaches - Physician Coaching by Physicians

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 When I was a little girl, about 7 years old, my teacher gave our class an assignment to fill in the blanks to the following sentences:

When I grow up I want to be a ____.  Some things I will do in my work are _____.

I remember my classmates and I having fun with the assignment.  Paper, crayons, and pencils became the tools with which we would use to declare our vocational missions. I don't remember anyone struggling with the assignment or grappling with "finding their life’s purpose.” 

As children do, we expressed truthfully and innocently what was in our hearts while finding joy as we did so. I proudly stated I wanted to be a nurse and knew my role would be to help doctors help other people. I punctuated the offering with a hand-drawn picture of what I would look like in the nurse's role, thus sowing a seed in my soul and plotting a course that would direct my steps, educational choices, and professional decisions into my adult years.

As I grew and pursued my learning through academic endeavors and life's lessons, I made good on that promise and became a Registered Nurse.  As wonderful and thorough as my nursing professors were, their preparation only provided me the opportunity to learn from the lessons awaiting me. You know, those real-life experiences my patients, colleagues and administrators offered.  

My experience as a nurse has afforded me the privilege to witness the heights and depths of the human condition.  I've laughed, I've cried, I've worried, I've sighed in frustration and relief, and a myriad of other emotions with patients, family members and healthcare providers alike.  The experiences have enriched my knowledge, my life and my soul; I am ever grateful for each one. I have fulfilled my mission to "help doctors help other people."

In this most recent phase of my journey, I have observed the many challenges my physician colleagues have experienced with the ever-changing healthcare landscape.  Physicians are relied upon to help develop and implement new methods of care delivery, increase quality of care, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce costs.  All while spending less time with patients (what they are interested in most), more time with electronic health records (what they are interested in least), and many times being left out of the goal-setting/problem- solving equation entirely. 

These concerns have led to diminishing physician engagement and a silencing of their voices while adding to the ever-growing physician shortage through early retirement, changing career paths and decreasing medical school enrollments, all very real concerns for the healthcare consumer.

With these thoughts and observations in mind, the meaning of my childhood declaration and drawing has changed.  At this stage of my journey, it has a deeper meaning and representation within my work. I recommit to my childhood declaration with my work at MD Coaches.  

Every day, my team of physician coaches and I strive to empower physicians to discover and actualize their vision of a fulfilling life. In doing so, I truly "help doctors help other people."  

Professional Achievements

• Registered Nurse
• Clinical Staff Nurse
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Leadership Development Coach
• Master’s in Business Administration
• Founder and CEO, MD Coaches

"As Chief Medical Officer for Healogics Specialty Physicians, it has been my pleasure to work with Rhonda in her capacity to recruit physicians, build significant trust and relationships with her colleagues, and manage their practice to achieve the greatest level of success for themselves and the company.  She is an integral part of our growth and our ability to integrate physicians into a new specialty organization and culture."

- Dr Chris Morrison, CMO, Healogics Specialty Physicians

"Rhonda has excellent leadership coaching talents.  She is skilled at leveraging the individual's strengths in achieving high levels of excellence with mindfulness of team dynamics and team-building.  She is very committed to the people with whom she works."

- Dr Pedram Zendehrouh, Regional Medical Director, Healogics Specialty Physicians