Dr. Worksalot: Personality and Getting Started

Abstract

Dr. Worksalot (Dr. W) was named chair of a clinical department one and one-half years ago. The dean selected him because his academic credentials were superior to anyone in the department, and the dean had fond hopes that Dr. W could add a much-needed NIH presence to the mostly clinical department. Early on, Dr. W. noted that the residents were not of a caliber acceptable to him, and, likewise, a couple of the faculty in his opinion should be released. He tried to energize the residency director to oust a resident at the year’s end, but the residency director produced repeated evaluations showing that the resident did “acceptable” to more than “expected” work. The residency committee rejected the new chair’s request.