Sharing The Health Practitioner's Journey Through Speaking

I have been fortunate to be invited to speak several times recently. This has eventuated since the publishing of my book “The Health Practitioners journey”.

The notion of a career journey and how that journey can be built in stages has been what has resonated with those who have invited me to speak.

Being a health care practitioner to many is a chosen vocation to be in a position to serve, support and assist the injured or sick. All of us at some time will need to care of the many who choose such vocations. It is apparent that being clinically excellent with your tole is crucial but so is having a career that will provide satisfaction, enable growth and at the same time provide a sustainable income. It is because of the above that I have focussed on these matters in the presentations.

I spoke with Paul Wright's “practiceology” VIPs a few weeks ago and fielded questions about how to assist with motivating personnel, how to encourage people to consider taking up equity options with them at their practices and how generally to assist the practitioners to develop career options that extend beyond seeing and performing a great job treating their patients. The notion of how to be an effective mentor was discussed as well and teasing out how best to engage with staff and practitioners to see their practices grow and thrive.

Last week I delivered a webinar for Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) where practitioners and students from many disciplines were in attendance. It was encouraging to see the enthusiasm for a plan to develop career options, be more effective with managing time and understand the elements needed to advance a career. I also discussed how to build knowledge and networks by attending courses, volunteering at events and with local clubs, and to seek support from more experienced people to assist you. The webinar focused on both growth in your practice but also how that can lead to a career path as one harvests knowledge on their journey.

This week I will be working with learn.physio recording with Randall Cooper a series of round tables. Randall and I will host guests for three round table discussions that will cover:

Session 1

The First 2 Years Out with two recently grads, Laura Mackenzie and Dan Chang who will provide key perspectives on how to use the first years to set up your career. Laura works at Healesville Physio and Sports Medicine in Melbourne and Dan Chang has just started his own practice

Session 2

Career Crossroads with two successful clinicians who have built careers based on excellence and successful practices to work in academia and practice development. Cate Boyd operates a successful business in Eltham in Melbourne and has had roles with elite sport in Netball and Jill Cook a fabulous career as a clinician, tendon expert and now Emeritus Professor at Latrobe University

Session 3

Harvesting Knowledge where Randall and I will discuss what a career can look like once operating a practice has been achieved. I am pleased that Dr Peter Brukner (amongst his other accolades, author of best selling Clinical Sports Medicine with Prof Karim Khan) will join us in session three with Ms Anna Yerondais who has harvested her knowledge to move from being a regarded myotherapist operating her business to transitioning to be CEO of her discipline’s peak body.

Finally in August I will speak with Melbourne University Physio graduates about career development and then host a “Careers in Sports Medicine and Sports Science” event for SMA where six leaders in the disciplines of Physio, Podiatry, Sports Science, Dietetics, Sports and Exercise Medicine and in Orthopaedic Surgery with provide input on how to develop a career in sports medicine practice in the clinic, academia and in team environs. It is such a pleasure to meet and connect with those wanting to understand the stages of career development and thanks to all those who have attended already and will attend the events in the coming months.

Have a look at my speaking experiences here.