How to manage resentment for your medical colleagues

Medical workforce generational attitude and mood differences are causing resentment for colleagues. Examples are:

1. Work ethic
2. Attitudes about work-life balance
3. Private practice v employed practice
4. Board certified physicians v other practitioners
5. Internecine turf warfare
6. Income envy
7. On call requirements
8. Part-time v full-time workers
9. Family leave and caretaker clashes
10. The perspective and experience of US surgical program directors regarding maternity leave and postpartum support
11. Inequitable access to opportunity
12. Undervaluing teachers
13. The warrior mentality that demands getting out of the kitchen if you can't stand the heat.
14. The term "I appreciate you" is patronizing
15. Red medicine v blue medicine

Recently, DEI has come under fire and is being renamed MEI. It’s known as MEI, short for merit, excellence and intelligence. As described by Scale AI Chief Executive Alexandr Wang, who helped popularize the term, MEI means hiring the best candidates for open roles without considering demographics.

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Many leaders today are stretched beyond capacity, and in that state, feelings of resentment can readily emerge and take hold. Whether you’re already feeling resentful or just starting to feel the tinges of this emotion, try these five strategies to safeguard your and your team’s well-being and performance: pinpoint the source, step outside yourself, focus on solutions, communicate constructively, and let go.

Each new generation entering the workforce tends to puzzle management, and members of Generation Z are no exception.

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Or do you think generational stereotyping is not generalizable?

Reframe the resentment as opportunities

The Seven Sources

1. The Unexpected: COVID and changed political landscape
2. Industry and Market Disparities: The changing medical student persona
3. Process Vulnerabilities/Process Needs: Burnout
4. Incongruities: A sick care system instead of a health care system
5. Demographic Shifts: Fewer babies and more old people
6. Changes in Perception: The changing sick care professional clinical and entrepreneurial mindset
7. New Knowledge: Artificial intelligence

Professional resentment causes tribal warfare.

The casualties are grumpy, dissatisfied, undervalued workers who make more mistakes and sicker, unhappy patients.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs on Substack.