Coaching opens a new avenue for novel thought about oneself and their profession. The beauty of Sharon’s work lies in her ability to provide an objective evaluation of an individual with the goal of self-improvement – an outsider looking in. Everyone has something they can improve, and a coach can help you recognize what that quality is. However, it takes a person of understanding and patience to accept the criticism given by the coach. Medicine itself is a career of tenacious education that functions on constructive criticism. Those who choose not to accept this fact may very well risk dissatisfaction and unhappiness. That is not to say coaching is the sole means of self-improvement. However, coaching can aid individuals in realizing tangible goals or self-deprecating qualities that are not immediately relevant by mere self-reflection.

David Kurtyka, MD Candidate Georgetown University School of Medicine Class of 2021

What has coaching done for me? In the time spent with my coach, Julie Muroff, I have already made monumental changes in both my professional and my personal life. To be honest, I was skeptical of how a coach could actually help me bring about substantial change in my life, especially in such a short amount of time. I didn’t fully understand how my coach differed from my personal mentor back home. After the first hour talking with Julie, I quickly realized the difference. A mentor can help guide you on your path by giving helpful insight based upon his or her own experiences. A coach will address an issue, meticulously determine the core or underlying cause and then support your creation of actionable tasks to overcome or change that issue.

As a medical student, I endure copious amounts of stress, a tremendous amount of material to absorb, and high expectations. However, for me and I assume most other medical students, this type of lifestyle does not afford much time for social interaction, especially non-medical school related social interaction. I believe students’ dependence on their studies, nonetheless extremely important, dampens their social skills and ability to connect with others on a deeper level. In the long run, it very well may be that these social skills make the difference between life and death for future patients.

Julie perfectly exemplifies the way in which I want to interact with my patients; she is amiable, brilliant, consoling, meticulous, and honest. She has provided me with an insightful perspective on how to listen to others as well as ask key questions that allow others to open up. As future physicians, it is pertinent that we get to the root cause of our patient’s current condition. Having a coach has really opened my eyes to a different type of meaningful communication, one that allows for genuine empathy, a deeper connection, and a prosperous relationship.