The Mission
Palm trees grow in sand. They have a remarkable ability to grow despite the lack of nutrients and hydration from which they rise. How do they do this? By having deep roots that tap into their fundamental needs and by remaining flexible even during the roughest of weather. Despite these challenges they grow to be tall and majestic, offering sustenance, hydration, building materials and shade. The practice of medicine is not unlike the environment of a palm tree. With its long hours, heavy work loads, politics and moral distress— all of which are faced by most physicians at some point — it is no surprise that physician burnout is on the rise. Yet like the palm tree, somehow, physicians persevere and remain productive. Palm Physician Coaching Inc.™ aims to facilitate not just perseverance and productivity but thriving and fulfilment. As your physician coach, I will walk with you on your path to reconnecting to your roots— your core values— and finding flexible solutions to the issues you face not only in medical practice but in everyday life. Through setting goals, tracking progress and navigating change or distress, we will work together to align your true potential with your life’s mission.
About Me
Greetings and welcome to Palm Physician Coaching Inc.™! I have been a practicing General Internal Medicine physician in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada since 2012. I am also a wife, a mom of two kids, a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. These are some of the hats I wear. I came to professional coaching in 2019— as a coachee. My coach at that time was not a physician coach but was actually an organizational coach. I was at a stuck point in my career— 7 years in and feeling a bit unsure not only of my direction and goals, but of what the next steps might even be. Since that first coaching session I have dedicated my “extra-curricular” work to physician wellness. In January 2022, I became an American College of Physicians (ACP) Wellness Champion for the ACP Alberta Chapter; this further emphasized to me the value of physician coaching as a great contributor to physician wellness. In July 2023, I completed the Physician Coaching Institute (PCI) Healthcare Peer Coaching Fundamentals course and went on to complete the Master Physician Development Coach Certification through the PCI Certified Physician Development Coach program (September 2023 - March 2024), which is accredited through the International Coaching Federation. I have also completed training with the ACP Peer Coach Training Program (January - March 2024) and will be coaching ACP members. Along the way I have simultaneously completed several other courses covering physician burnout, diversity & inclusion, conflict resolution and trauma informed care.
Dr. Sheela Vijay, MD, FRCPC Master Certified Physician Development Coach
Physician coaching is a powerful partnership between coach and coachee. It is designed to enhance lifelong learning and effectiveness with the aim of maximizing personal and professional potential. The physician coach uses mindful listening, open-ended inquiry, perceptive reflections and keen observation to engage the coachee in self-reflection and discovery. Together, they form a collaboration that is focused on goal setting, intrinsic problem solving, and achievement of the coachee’s “best self” through sustainable change. Throughout the process, the coachee remains accountable for being open, motivated, challenged and for increasing their own self-awareness. These confidential* sessions are based on trust, psychological safety, positive regard and the knowledge that the solutions lie within the coachee; coaching considers the client as the expert on their life, possessing wisdom from their own experiences. Coaching differs from mentoring or therapy in that the coach does not offer assessment, evaluation, therapeutic treatment or advice but rather fosters growth through coachee-driven self-discovery. Coaching involves building on strengths to move forward by focusing on taking effective action towards thriving. *Confidentiality cannot be maintained in cases of concern for self or other harm but resources will be offered.
Is physician coaching right for you?
Addressing career concerns— at any stage— is essential for both individuals and organizations to maintain vibrant and inclusive work environments. Multiple studies have shown that physician coaching results in decreased burnout and decreased emotional exhaustion. Additional demonstrated benefits include improved retention, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, ability to manage complexity, and communication skills. Coaching has also been shown to help physicians achieve better interpersonal relationships, critical insights in boundary setting and prioritization, self-compassion and self-care, and increasing self-awareness. Ultimately this improves overall quality of life and builds resilience.
The process
The relationship between coach and coachee may be short or long; sessions may take an hour or longer, or can be shorter, “laser coaching” follow up sessions. The coaching process is heavily coachee‐driven and is most successful when the coachee clarifies their inner values and connects them to their outer goals and passions. Coaching is an iterative process of reflection on thoughts and circumstances wherein the coachee learns to question automatic thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions and to discern between facts, assumptions, and interpretation. Ultimately consciously shifting perspective reveals new options for action, thus increasing choice and control. Co-creating action steps and maintaining accountability are essential for successful coaching.
The Journey Begins
To wrap up, I would like to leave you with my commitment to offer my best to honour the process of physician coaching so that my coachees feel genuinely heard in a safe, confidential* space where we can explore a broad variety of challenges and goals…. All the while celebrating the growth and solutions that coachees devise for themselves. Coaching was such a gift for me — I hope to pay that forward.