This edition of EMPower interviews critical care guru Scott Weingart, MD! After completing 3 fellowships to hone his knowledge, he built the EMCrit Podcast, which has amassed more than 50 million downloads as physicians around the world seek to master the world of critical care.
Dr. Weingart received his medical degree and completed a residency in EM at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He then completed fellowships in trauma, surgical critical care, and ECMO at the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He is a professor of emergency medicine at Nassau University Medical Center and an adjunct professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In addition, Dr. Weingart is a physician coach concentrating on the promotion of eudaimonia and optimal performance. He is famous for his podcast, EMCrit (reminder: EMRA members get special rates!).
What is your favorite thing about emergency medicine?
There aren’t too many professions where just by showing up to work, you’re doing good for the world. Our job has intrinsic good. We are providing a service that allows us to make the world a better place.
If you were restarting residency, what advice would you give yourself?
If anything was going on in the department, no matter where I was assigned, I was in the mix. Getting involved makes a huge difference, but not everyone in the department can do this, or the department will come to halt. The exposure is insane in our training, and experiencing a variety of good cases is definitely an amazing opportunity.
What is the best career insight that you want to pass along?
The key is to have fun. As a part of my career, I’ve added on coaching to take people who were already astounding in their career and make them better. I think a lot of people get burnt out in emergency medicine, and we can forget that it’s supposed to be fun. Emergency medicine has the most potential to have the 8-12 hours we are on shift be just pure joy. There’s no reason it can’t be enjoyable. A lot of these things can be self-imposed, like not going to the bathroom or drinking water. Keep it fun! You have far more agency in that regard than you think.
What is the most important trait for a leader to have?
The kind of leader I always wanted to be was “the innovator.” Figuring out new and better ways to do things. However, this has to be balanced with real care and compassion for the team members. Otherwise, it is brutal and relentless.
What is one thing you have learned from failure?
You can’t take it too seriously. Mistakes are the best teacher. You can either get it right, or you can learn, and those are great options.
What is your best time management tip?
Being a chief was my first time to have a significant amount of tasks on my plate. I’ve kept with a key precept from “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, which is that your mind should be for creating and making connections, not remembering things. There are external processes that can keep up with those things, like schedules and lists.
Favorite chief complaint: Altered mental status/unresponsive
What is the most significant risk you have taken and the outcome?
Career wise, doing critical care when there was no certification and no guarantee that there would be any jobs. Thanks to those who have fought for the certification pathway, it is a totally accepted pathway. Either way, I’m so glad I made that choice.
Share two things that are on your desk right now.
- A skull, because of the stoic practice of memento morie (remember death). We are all mortal. Consider that each day could be our last, so live it. Let silly things go. Don't waste time.
- A nice fountain pen. I still believe in the roots of our profession prior to technology!
What is the best on-shift snack?
- Free pizza (but it’s not great for you)
- Something fatty and high protein. I’m a big fan of having a real meal on shift. Take time to eat for 5 minutes.
What is the most recent book you read?
“Beautyland” by Bertino. It’s about a girl who is convinced she is an alien and follows her throughout her life.
What are you learning about right now?
Learning is a full-time job. What I’m currently exploring is whether vasopressin could be a push or bolus dose.
What is your favorite song to hype you up before a shift?
Painted Black by the Rolling Stones
What message would you pass along to EMRA members?
Remember how you were as a trainee when you become an attending. Trainees are not supposed to know better. They don’t have the same understanding and knowledge as you do now, on day one.
Remember that even when it gets dark, this is the best job, and we are so lucky to be doing it. If you start having a more high-level view that most of the world would trade places with you in a heartbeat, that will give you a better perspective.
Do you have an idea for someone you want to hear and learn from on EMPower? Please let us know, at emresident@emra.org.