For Fellows & Trainees
In this special section, ASH Clinical News invites clinicians and researchers to share resources
and advice for fellows and trainees in hematology. Here, Jean L. Koff, MD, offers tips for time
management for early-career hematologists transitioning from training to faculty.
Dr. Koff is an instructor of hematology and medical oncology at the Emory University School of
Medicine in Atlanta. She also is a candidate for a Master of Science in clinical research and a past
participant in the American Society of Hematology’s Clinical Research Training Institute.
Every Minute Counts:
Time-Management Tips and
Tricks for New Doctors
s hematologists, we strive to be “whole per-
sons” – to provide excellent patient care and
develop our careers, while enjoying a fulfill-
ing personal life and prioritizing mental,
emotional, and physical wellbeing.
However, there are a couple of hard truths that
make achieving these goals difficult. There is no
“magic recipe” for career and personal fulfillment, and
there are only 24 hours in a day.
While seasoned physicians know what to expect from
their demanding schedules, younger doctors are facing
these challenges for the first time. Trainees transitioning
to new careers are busy trying to shrink the experience
deficit and close the knowledge gap between themselves
and senior colleagues. Many new doctors also have young
families, so their personal lives can be extra demanding.
We can’t prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach for
happiness, and we can’t add more hours to the day, but
we can draw inspiration from those who have lived
through these struggles and find what works best for us.
Be Proactive
As obligations start piling up, it’s easy to lose track of
them. So, before something slips through the cracks, get
organized.
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ASH Clinical News
I maintain a running to-do list on my phone be-
cause, unlike Post-It notes stuck to my desk, my phone
goes where I go. To help me stay on track, I organize my
list into short- and long-term goals – and, since I am a
clinician-researcher, into what needs to get done in the
lab and what needs to get done in the clinic.
I also set aside time to review the tasks for the week
ahead and check in regularly with my list. There’s noth-
ing better than marking a task as “complete.”
Along with that to-do list, set up an accessible
calendar that’s visible to anyone who helps manage your
schedule; this avoids unnecessary questions about your
availability. Fill out your calendar with work-related
events, but also make sure to schedule time with friends
and family so your personal life does not disappear
under the weight of work obligations.
Work With Your Natural Schedule
Each of us has our own internal schedule, so work with
it, not against it. Identify conditions for peak productiv-
ity and plan accordingly.
Some people like to burn the midnight oil, but I’m
a morning person. My most productive hours are from
7 to 11 a.m.; I can use that time to conduct research,
finish up my notes, write a grant proposal, study for
boards, or check off items on my to-do list.
I closely guard this time. I make sure that I’m in a
place conducive to working (for me, that’s not at home
with my toddler). I also try to minimize disruptions by
scheduling meetings during delegated blocks of time so
that my day isn’t chopped up and by letting my cowork-
ers know when I am in “emergency-only” contact mode.
Because managing my email inbox can eat up large
chunks of time, I also devised a workable reading-and-
responding strategy: When I check for new emails,
I either respond to them, flag them for follow-up, or
delete them. It saves me the hassle of searching for mes-
sages and limits the possibility that things will get lost
in the shuffle and wind up surprising me hours before a
deadline.
Finally, know your bandwidth. As ambitious young
doctors eager to prove ourselves, we tend to want to say
yes to every project that comes our way, but we need to
learn when to say no.
Assemble Your Team
Just like when we were trainees, as new doctors we need
to rely on senior faculty members for guidance.
Mentors help us develop expertise in the field, guide
us toward defining feasible short- and long-term goals,
May 2018