How to Lead the System with Dr. Robert Morrison

Robert Morrison, MD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Morrison received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indiana, IN. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado. Dr. Morrison went on to complete his fellowship in infectious diseases at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Morrison’s career spans from serving in the US Army for 20 years and as the chief of medicine and program director for an army training hospital, to his current role as a clinician educator in the Department of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. What happens when we view ourselves as the leaders of the system—as opposed to working for it? Dr. Robert Morrison believes this is an antidote for physician burnout, and encourages us to shift our perspective. “We have got to be the leaders. The system won’t lead us,” says Dr. Morrison. He also reminds us of the importance of doing the right thing: The right thing for the patient is the right thing for everyone else, always. It is important to align the factors of healthcare to benefit the patient—without ever sacrificing their needs. In the words of Sir William Osler “We begin with the patient, stay with the patient, and end with the patient.” Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Everything begins and ends with the patient. In the words of Sir William Osler, “We begin with the patient, stay with the patient, and end with the patient.” 2. We can better avoid burnout when we view ourselves as leading the system, rather than working for it. 3. If we want to do the right thing, sometimes we need to think outside the box and align the needs of the institution and businessmen without sacrificing the needs of our patients.