What do you like?

• Maybe it’s obvious, but to be an effective leader, you need to have a passion for what you do.
• Are you interested in policy and governmental issues? Working in legislative advocacy, locally or at the state level, might be a natural way to develop skills in that area.
• Do you feel called to serve a certain portion of the population (the economically disadvantaged, a certain ethnic group, the disabled)? Working with local agencies, social or medical, could set you on the right path.
• Is there a public health issue, like environmental protection or smoking cessation, about which you feel strongly?
• Joining forces with those in your community who share your passion will give you the opportunity to make a difference in the public health arena.
• If you like to teach, volunteering to teach medical students or residents in your area can give you more experience, and can be a rewarding way to help develop new physicians and give something back to the educational system that brought you this far.

How much can you do?
You’re already working long hours, and recent graduates of your program keep telling you they’re working even harder out in practice. Then there are the personal relationships you’ve been trying to balance with work all these years. Who has time to be a leader?

The good news is that you’re not looking at another full-time endeavor here. Most leadership opportunities can take a surprisingly small amount of your time. Taking part in a LAFP Committee that meets two or three times per year or taking on a medical student one half-day per week can all be made to fit into your already busy life.

Leadership = Involvement