Ace Your New Attending Job
Description
SHOW NOTES
Episode 18: Your First Attending Job – Setting the Stage for a Career You Love
In this episode of the Medical Mentor Coaching Podcast, Dr. Stacey Ishman welcomes new attending physicians with a practical and empowering guide to launching a fulfilling academic medical career. Drawing on two decades of mentoring and her own experience navigating academic medicine, she shares tangible strategies to help you create a career with intention—from crafting an ideal weekly schedule to choosing the right “yes” opportunities.
🎧 No need to take notes—get the Academic Launchpad Guide for New Attendings by emailing staceyishmancoach@gmail.com or DMing @sishmancoach on Instagram.
🔑 Key Points & Timestamps:
1. Welcome Back & Episode Purpose (0:00 – 1:07 )
Acknowledge the podcast's return
Purpose: Support for early-career attendings as they step into leadership and autonomy
2. The Power of Intentional Career Design (1:07 – 2:38 )
Your career doesn’t just happen—design it
Ask yourself what your ideal Tuesday looks like
Think about how clinical, teaching, and research time fit into your life
3. Academic Kickstarter Framework (2:38 – 3:59 )
Four key pillars:
Envisioning your ideal life
Setting up your practice
Creating your research plan
Building your promotion plan
Coaching as a GPS: accelerates clarity and progress
4. Vision Post-it Exercise (3:59 – 5:10 )
Create a sticky note with your top 3 career goals
Use it to guide decisions and set boundaries
5. Setting Up Your Clinical Practice (5:10 – 6:00 )
Clinic structure: slots, templates, breaks, smart scheduling
Aligning your clinical load with your energy
6. Building a Research and Promotion Plan (6:00 – 7:00 )
Know your niche—focus creates visibility
Promotion starts now—know your criteria early
7. Track Your Growth in Real-Time (7:00 – 7:53 )
Use a project sheet or enhanced CV
Include outcomes: number of patients, growth in volume, productivity stats
8. Strategic Yes and Gracious No (7:53 – 9:56 )
Yes isn’t forever—be strategic
Watch out for the “perpetual helper” trap
Sample scripts for respectful no’s and sponsor-style referrals
9. Invest in Relationships (9:56 – 11:28 )
Build vertically (mentors, sponsors) and laterally (peers)
Advice: “Work with people you like”
Consider a personal board of advisors
10. Protect Space for Growth (11:28 – 13:03 )
Academic time is sacred—don’t trade it away
Block time for strategic work weekly
Creative work and personal interests matter too
11. Final Thoughts & Call to Action (13:03 – End)
You get to lead your career—don’t outsource your path
Download the Academic Launchpad
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Connect:
Instagram: @sishmancoach
LinkedIn: Medical Mentor Coaching
Website: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com/welcome
Email: staceyishmancoach@gmail.com
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