director roles), demonstrate increasing levels of responsibility
(moving from committee member to committee chair,
responsibilities that require reporting directly to top levels of
administration), and offer the potential to build or develop new
elements of care delivery (care pathways, service lines). Never
assume that people know that you are interested in leadership
roles. Declare your intentions! Sometimes it makes sense to put
your name in for consideration for a position before it is even
open. Keep an eye out for an unidentified need or leadership gap
and you may be able to create your own leadership role.
Faculty often move during their career. At what stage(s), or
under what circumstances, does changing institutions/positions
make sense?
The most important thing when picking a long-term employer is
to make sure your values align with the values of the institution.
There are times when leaving a job makes sense. Obviously,
in 2018, no one should tolerate an abusive work place. This
includes being underpaid. Seriously, if you aren’t making a fair
salary as a neurointensivist, find a new job. I can’t tell you what
a “fair” salary is since it varies based on setting, training and
experience, but you shouldn’t feel genuinely underpaid. Even
if you are “OK” with undervaluing yourself, consider that you
are depressing the market for others by tolerating low pay. If
your job is getting in the way of your family or other important
relationships, you need to either fix the underlying problems
or move on. Be open to the notion that you may be part of the
underlying problem, however, so that you don’t jump ship and
just end up in the same problematic situation.
On that note, the grass is not always greener at another institution.
Every place has weaknesses and hard-to-take members. This is
where skills like negotiation and conflict resolution are essential.
Common triggers for leaving a job are: failure to advance, family
commitments, health issues or financial stress. If you do feel
that you are off pace, in a situation with limited advancement
opportunities or mismatched priorities, a change may be in order.
A new opportunity might motivate your current employer to meet
your needs, but beware of “threatening” to leave. You should be
prepared to leave if your bluff is called. Rather, be open minded to
any counter offers from your home institution.
What does it mean to have a Fellow in Neurocritical Care Society
(FNCS) designation, and how does FNCS help one’s career?
Being credentialed with the honorific Fellow of the Neurocritical
Care Society means that you have made exceptional
contributions to the field of neurocritical care in the areas
of program development, scholarship, leadership and
professionalism. It’s not so much that the honor itself helps ones
career, but rather many of the milestones in career advancement
align with the FNCS distinction. Certainly, it is beneficial when
seeking promotion to list the FNCS designation on your CV,
but the honor also comes with responsibilities. It means that
your colleagues expect great things from you. It means that early
career members are paying attention to what you are doing and
how you are presenting yourself.
What must a neurointensivist achieve to become FNCS-eligible?
The FNCS Credentialing Committee uses four scoring
categories: program development, scholarship, leadership
and professionalism/collaborative practice. The committee
considers contributions within neurocritical care the field, but
service to the Neurocritical Care Society, specifically, is required.
Contributions are considered “exceptional” when they make
an impact on at least the regional (but preferably the national
or international) level. The committee recently updated the
Process Outline and Scoring Criteria, which are now available to
potential applicants on the NCS website. Potential applicants are
also free to contact FNCS or committee members for advice or
clarification on the process.
How can a mid-career attending transition to becoming a leader
in NCC and NCS?
As far as the NCS, just ask! An important first step is serving on
an NCS committee. If you have interest in a particular area, a
corresponding committee is a good place to start, but be open
to taking open assignments that might seem less desirable.
Be willing to collaborate and cooperate on projects that need
person-power. Many times, these initial steps will open up a lot
of opportunities. As far as neurocritical care, the field, feel free to
look around NCS. If you see members who have had successes
in certain areas, ask how they got there and what resources they
used. One of the many benefits of NCS is the wealth of smart,
ambitious, creative members!
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