Cultivating a humble and modest professional demeanor

[drusso]

Should PainSpecialists strive to cultivate a humble and modest professional demeanor like pediatricians or family practice docs or should we be more “in your face” specialty like plastics, deem, or spine surgery?

Imagine if no one Pain dressed up in fancy suits at conference ms and drove fast, expensive cars and instead just cane “as you are” in comfortable Dad jeans and JCPenny shirts and ties?

Would purposely presenting ourselves this improve the specialty’s reputation and would current fellows, new grad’s, and KOL’s embrace the effort?

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[Ligament]

I personally think humility as a physician is very important, but maybe that is why I'm very poor compared to most other pain docs.

 

[lobelsteve]

Confidence. Never a problem.

 

[tmvguy03]

What I lack in confidence I make up for in my lambo...who am I kidding, I rock an 06 Saturn Ion.

 

[geauxg8rs]

What I lack in confidence I make up for in my lambo...who am I kidding, I rock an 06 Saturn Ion.

02 maxima Here.

 

[deleted993114]

Should PainSpecialists strive to cultivate a humble and modest professional demeanor like pediatricians or family practice docs or should we be more “in your face” specialty like plastics, deem, or spine surgery?

Imagine if no one Pain dressed up in fancy suits at conference ms and drove fast, expensive cars and instead just cane “as you are” in comfortable Dad jeans and JCPenny shirts and ties?

Would purposely presenting ourselves this improve the specialty’s reputation and would current fellows, new grad’s, and KOL’s embrace the effort?

I always wear worn blue jeans, boots, and an untucked muted plaid shirt to conferences. I feel great, but don't do it to project an image- it's how I dress all the time when I'm not at work. When I work on my farm in the summer, I wear bib overalls, work boots, and a WB t-shirt with no shirt. I guess I do look like a bum compared to everyone else, but I would feel odd in a suit. I only wear suits to funerals.

I think you should always try to be "under the radar" as a physician and let your results and perception of your skills do the talking. Just like sports in high school (and for some- college), when you talk smack, the best you can do is break even. Most of the time, you look like an idiot.

 

[Apollyon]

I always wear worn blue jeans, boots, and an untucked muted plaid shirt to conferences. I feel great, but don't do it to project an image- it's how I dress all the time when I'm not at work. When I work on my farm in the summer, I wear bib overalls, work boots, and a WB t-shirt with no shirt. I guess I do look like a bum compared to everyone else, but I would feel odd in a suit. I only wear suits to funerals.

I'm just a dumb ER doc, but, at my conference (ACEP), I wear an aloha shirt, and denim jeans. That's how I dress when I'm not at work. I hear you.

Under promise, and over perform.

 

[deleted993114]

I'm just a dumb ER doc, but, at my conference (ACEP), I wear an aloha shirt, and denim jeans. That's how I dress when I'm not at work. I hear you.

Under promise, and over perform.

Hawaiian shirt? I love them! My kids say you have to be over 50 and have no sense of style to be able to properly wear them, which describes me very well. Life is too short to be uptight and dress up all the time.

Under promise and over perform? I really like that!

 

[cowboydoc]

Hawaiian shirt? I love them! My kids say you have to be over 50 and have no sense of style to be able to properly wear them, which describes me very well. Life is too short to be uptight and dress up all the time.

Under promise and over perform? I really like that!

One more reason for my wife to call me boomer!

 

[Shufflin]

Confidence. Never a problem.

Hubris, you're confusing confidence with hubris doc SL.

 

[SommeRiver]

I haven't worn a watch in years, and at this point in my life I think they're exclusively fashion. If you wear a Rolex or some other absurd status symbol around me I will silently judge you.

At least smart watches give you email access and texts, etc...But a mechanical watch? That's showmanship...

 

[Agast]

I haven't worn a watch in years, and at this point in my life I think they're exclusively fashion. If you wear a Rolex or some other absurd status symbol around me I will silently judge you.

At least smart watches give you email access and texts, etc...But a mechanical watch? That's showmanship...

This is why Hermès has an Apple Watch partnership. So you can log your steps and check your emails without sacrificing the ability to let others know you’re still better than them.

 

[soccrwz]

why depend on watches with batteries--- thats why I only use sundial watches using the power of the sun

 

[lobelsteve]

Hubris, you're confusing confidence with hubris doc SL.

I checked for hubris. Nope, I am better than that.

 

[deleted993114]

I haven't worn a watch in years, and at this point in my life I think they're exclusively fashion. If you wear a Rolex or some other absurd status symbol around me I will silently judge you.

At least smart watches give you email access and texts, etc...But a mechanical watch? That's showmanship...

Geezers like me actually rely upon watches, so it is combined function and fashion. We use our cell phones like "walkie talkies" and that is about it. EVERYONE used to wear a watch of some form. How do you take a pulse without a watch?

Among "watch people", Rolexes are considered to be "white trash" watches. Rolex cranks out about 1 million per year, so they are considered to be "tier 3" watches and the movement is not that great. The best Rolexes are the old Daytonas where Zenith made the movement. I bought each of my boys a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony when they graduated from college. Why? They are far better than a Rolex and have a sublime appearance that does not attract attention. Same with a Patek Calatrava. I wear my Rolex datejusts when I work on my farm, as no one is there and those things can take beating. My kids wear their Rolexes when they are out in the mountains or doing work around their house for the same reason. They drive cheap cars too and live in very modest homes. Of course, a $100 Timex quartz will keep better time than a $500K A Lange&Sohne Pour le Merite, so self winders have emerged as niche market items since the advent of quartz watches in the 1960s.

"Watch people" can spot a nice watch, but few others can. I was buying a car for my wife yesterday (a Ford, of course, not a high end European job) and the salesman spotted my one of my Pateks on my wrist, which looks like a Timex to everyone else (it's from my consumer days- I buy damn near nothing anymore except cheap clothes and simple trips- I woke up about ten years ago).

If you get a nice watch, don't be an idiot like me and buy them used from like Chrono 24. You can buy a five year old watch for about 1/2 the price that looks like new. Just be careful and make sure they are an authorized dealer for the brand. There are a lot of fakes which don't have the correct movement in them for the watch. Watches mostly lose value and are thus a complete waste of money; Pateks and oddly Rolex hold their prices the best. They are "generational" watches that can be passed to kids as a rememberence.

 

[deleted993114]

I checked for hubris. Nope, I am better than that.

Well................ for what it is worth, I like your style. I really like the fact that you take time to teach other docs at the ISIS courses- that is a personal sacrifice for the field. Gotta have confidence in our field, otherwise you will fail to progress over time.

 

[SommeRiver]

I have a Rolex that belonged to my dad from 1967. I have had to repair it once already and it still doesn't work. I never wear it.

Edit - Your comment about Rolex being WT according to "watch guys" is an example of what I despise about people who care about material things. It's a watch for God's sake...A friggin watch...

I guess I do admit I'm a gun snob...But I look at a gun as a potential life saving tool so I see it a little differently.

 

[Ferrismonk]

This is why Hermès has an Apple Watch partnership. So you can log your steps and check your emails without sacrificing the ability to let others know you’re still better than them.

I thought that was what Apple was all about?

Regarding all this talk about watches, they are a fomite and tear gloves. I count a pulse with a pulse ox, a wall clock, or in dire circumstances, my phone which is automatically updated with better time than any other watch you can buy. They are a status symbol or something you use where there is no cell service.

 

[Ducttape]

watches are like any piece of equipment.

they can be utilitarian, or they can be expensive exhibitions of ones view of their worth.

I wear a watch not as a status symbol but because it does give me information.

 

[lobelsteve]

Only when I am training. Though the text from my iphone coming through can be nice.

 

[deleted993114]

I have a Rolex that belonged to my dad from 1967. I have had to repair it once already and it still doesn't work. I never wear it.

Edit - Your comment about Rolex being WT according to "watch guys" is an example of what I despise about people who care about material things. It's a watch for God's sake...A friggin watch...

I guess I do admit I'm a gun snob...But I look at a gun as a potential life saving tool so I see it a little differently.

I like guns, but don't look down on anyone's weapon; it is analogous to criticizing the car that someone drives or their job. I have LOTS of guns, particularly WW2 guns, lots of AR-10s, AR-15s, AKs, hunting rifles, shotguns, lots of pistols, ect.......I have given away about as many guns as I currently have. It is way too much work to maintain a large number of weapons properly.

Rolexes are nearly unbreakable.................................. however, you should have them serviced every five years, or you will have the problems you experienced. That is true of essentially every self winding watch. I am just reporting to you what people who are really into watches think about Rolex. I don't share that sentiment, but never wear them in clinic, as everyone knows what they are. They are good farm/outdoor watches, as they are tough as hell and waterproof.

I sense your scorn- that's okay. However, I am no longer a "material guy" and just have stuff as a vestige of a previous life. I got rid of lots of cars, watches, guns, collections, ect, as things do nothing for me any longer. I drive an old truck and live in a very modest house. My cell phone is an I-phone from the 1800s. The stuff I have is stuff that none of my kids or friends wanted and land that the kids did not want to maintain, so I am stuck with them. I don't look upon people with nice things in disgust at all- if it makes them happy, then that is just fine. It's just not my thing anymore, but I don't care to have a say in anyone else's life, thus I don't give a rip what they do.

 

[SeniorWrangler]

Your location and clientele matters a lot; working in a ritzy suburb, you probably need to dress up because people wouldn’t trust a doctor wearing Men’s Wearhouse.

 

[lobelsteve]

I’m intrigued that anyone in our field would wear anything but scrubs.

 

[deleted993114]

I’m intrigued that anyone in our field would wear anything but scrubs.

It's funny you say that (but logical and correct). My two partners only wear scrubs. I always wear khakis and a blue shirt (unless in the OR, of course) and they think that practice is very odd.

All the fellow "geezers" I know wear the same "costume" I do. However, this is simply by routine, and I think I am going to start wearing scrubs as well. It makes no sense whatsoever to wear "clinic clothes", as I trash too many shirts and pants every year. When we get stuck in a routine, you don't stop and think as to whether it makes sense or not.

It will be a big, scary step............................ but next week I am going to start wearing scrubs and move into the 21st century.

 

[callmeanesthesia]

It's funny you say that (but logical and correct). My two partners only wear scrubs. I always wear khakis and a blue shirt (unless in the OR, of course) and they think that practice is very odd.

All the fellow "geezers" I know wear the same "costume" I do. However, this is simply by routine, and I think I am going to start wearing scrubs as well. It makes no sense whatsoever to wear "clinic clothes", as I trash too many shirts and pants every year. When we get stuck in a routine, you don't stop and think as to whether it makes sense or not.

It will be a big, scary step............................ but next week I am going to start wearing scrubs and move into the 21st century.

I wore “clinic clothes” in fellowship because it seemed expected. Now that I’m out I wear scrubs almost all the time (Figs brand - would recommend, very soft and comfy). Every so often I mix it up and wear clinic clothes. Sort of an inverse casual Friday.

 

[Ducttape]

I primarily wear a dress shirt, and dress khakis. don't wear scrubs to the office. if doing primary procedures all day in the office, I might on those occasions wear scrubs. I dress very casually when I am at ASC - change to scrubs there.


it is in no small part based on perception by patients. im not a surgeon, and neurosurgeons and spine doctors all dress very well and very professionally and that does give off an aura.

how many spine doctors do you see wear scrubs in their office?

 

[Baron Samedi]

Save your suits for the rep dinners. Scrubs in office.

 

[Ducttape]

as usual, I see things differently from you guys.

drug reps don't deserve formal attire.

 

[Centurion38]

Many of my patients dress up to see me. Why would I not extend them the same courtesy?

 

[Baron Samedi]

Many of my patients dress up to see me. Why would I not extend them the same courtesy?

If your patients want to dress like a used car salesman, that's on them. They're not performing sterile procedures.

 

[lobelsteve]

Benefit scrubs are softer than figs. Like PJs.
I have 4 pairs and will add more.

 

[cowboydoc]

as usual, I see things differently from you guys.

drug reps don't deserve formal attire.

Scrubs and boots in clinic/procedure suite. Jeans untucked shirt and boots at dinners.

I have a few white coats that only get worn if I spill something on my scrubs or the heat goes out.