PAGNY Health and Research Foundation

Coaching Skills Development Project

The PAGNY Health & Research Foundation, Inc. (PHRF) will provide a Coaching Skills Development Program for physicians in the NYC public hospital system. This course will supplement PAGNY’s successful Physician Leadership Development Program, which has graduated 73 physician leaders, many of whom have gone on to higher leadership/managerial roles. Instilling coaching skills in our physician leaders will likely result in less physician burnout, higher physician engagement, lower per-capita healthcare costs, and better patient outcomes for the vulnerable populations we serve.

Despite years of training, most physicians lack the skills to coach their teams effectively. At PAGNY, which sees some of the most challenging and heartbreaking cases in NYC, good leadership, including coaching, is essential to overcome the challenges of serving the dire needs of a low-income, high-needs, marginalized population. Good coaching from supervisors can lessen the progression of burnout and depression, according to research. Additionally, coaching lacks the stigma often associated with counseling or therapy; thus, it may be more palatable. The ability to offer 1-1 physician support is highly desirable, as evidenced by feedback from PLDP participants who requested the addition of a coaching module.