Becoming Dr. Trump

Like him or not, Donald Trump has risen to the top of the polls. I'll leave the reasons why to the political pundits, but one cited reason is his mastery of the media and the sound bite, a key attribute for any 21st Century candidate.

Media doctors have the same skills, but when you have to bridge the ethics and professionalism of medicine with the ethics and professionalism of journalism, many have stepped into troubled waters.

Physician entrepreneurs have the same problems. There is a big difference between being a disruptive physician and being a disruptive physician entrepreneur. There is a big difference between being a team player and a pain in the neck as a physician intrapreneur. Medical misfits are rarely praised.

The key to resolving the issues to understand the cultures and their limits. When it comes to physician entrepreneurship, you are a doctor first and an entrepreneur second. The interest of the patient should remain primary. When you violate that contract, then you should hang up your white coat. Physician entrepreneurship is about practicing compassionate capitalism.

Physician entrepreneurs and physician journalists contribute a lot to society and its improvement. But, both have to know their boundaries and where to draw the line to be effective.

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons