Ace Your New Attending Job

Your First Attending Job – Setting the Stage for a Career You Love

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In this episode of the Medical Mentor Coaching Podcast, Dr. Stacey Ishman welcomes new attending physicians with a practical and empowering guide to launching a fulfilling academic medical career. Drawing on two decades of mentoring and her own experience navigating academic medicine, she shares tangible strategies to help you create a career with intention—from crafting an ideal weekly schedule to choosing the right “yes” opportunities.

🎧 No need to take notes—get the Academic Launchpad Guide for New Attendings by emailing [email protected] or DMing @sishmancoach on Instagram.

🔑 Key Points & Timestamps:

1. Welcome Back & Episode Purpose (0:00 – 1:07)

• Acknowledge the podcast's return

• Purpose: Support for early-career attendings as they step into leadership and autonomy

2. The Power of Intentional Career Design (1:07 – 2:38)

• Your career doesn’t just happen—design it

• Ask yourself what your ideal Tuesday looks like

• Think about how clinical, teaching, and research time fit into your life

3. Academic Kickstarter Framework (2:38 – 3:59)

• Four key pillars:

  1. Envisioning your ideal life

  2. Setting up your practice

  3. Creating your research plan

  4. Building your promotion plan

• Coaching as a GPS: accelerates clarity and progress

4. Vision Post-it Exercise (3:59 – 5:10)

• Create a sticky note with your top 3 career goals

• Use it to guide decisions and set boundaries

5. Setting Up Your Clinical Practice (5:10 – 6:00)

• Clinic structure: slots, templates, breaks, smart scheduling

• Aligning your clinical load with your energy

6. Building a Research and Promotion Plan (6:00 – 7:00)

• Know your niche—focus creates visibility

• Promotion starts now—know your criteria early

7. Track Your Growth in Real-Time (7:00 – 7:53)

• Use a project sheet or enhanced CV

• Include outcomes: number of patients, growth in volume, productivity stats

8. Strategic Yes and Gracious No (7:53 – 9:56)

• Yes isn’t forever—be strategic

• Watch out for the “perpetual helper” trap

• Sample scripts for respectful no’s and sponsor-style referrals

9. Invest in Relationships (9:56 – 11:28)

• Build vertically (mentors, sponsors) and laterally (peers)

• Advice: “Work with people you like”

• Consider a personal board of advisors

10. Protect Space for Growth (11:28 – 13:03)

• Academic time is sacred—don’t trade it away

• Block time for strategic work weekly

• Creative work and personal interests matter too

11. Final Thoughts & Call to Action (13:03 – End)

• You get to lead your career—don’t outsource your path

• Download the Academic Launchpad

• Rate, review, and follow the podcast

• Connect:

  • Instagram: @sishmancoach

  • LinkedIn: Medical Mentor Coaching

  • Website: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com/welcome

  • Email: [email protected]