Why Generalists Triumph in a World of Specialists
David Epstein’s novel “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” is based on the idea that our world is increasingly incentivized by demands and specialization. The presenters of this talk highlighted several key points from the book that were pertinent to hospitalists in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The audience was first asked the question “What makes a generalist uniquely valuable?” the audience responded in a word cloud with terms like “adaptable”, “comprehensive”, and “great communicators”. Sanjay A. Patel, MD, FACP, SFHM, a hospitalist at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, went on to emphasize that in general, everyone hopes for life to follow a linear path, however often, it frequently follows a more circuitous one with the same endpoint. He stressed that we are all like stem cells, shaped by our experiences, which we are constantly using to inform our decision making and future success.
Next, Allison Ashford, MD, a hospitalist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, went on to discuss the concept of a trial-and-error learning model, presenting that slow and difficult learning is what might be the best path of building knowledge that is translatable. Lessons learned from the past become applicable to future challenges. When you consider a CEO’s curriculum vitae, it’s filled with many different experiences that eventually led them to the top. The key she stated, was the concept of “desirable difficulty” and encouraged the audience to not shy away from tough learning. Striking a balance between being a generalist and specialist is what Bruno Alvarez Concejo, MD, a hospitalist at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport went on to discuss, highlighting both kind and wicked learning environments introduced in the novel.
He drew the comparison that medicine is representative of a wicked learning landscape which is where hospitalists with their wide-ranging skillsets thrive. Hospitalists understand the system and leverage it to the benefit of their patients. The novelist also stated that “In the wicked world, with ill-defined challenges and few rigid rules, range can be a life hack” Dr. Alvarez reminded the audience that everyone is on their own journey, and ended with the following quote—“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better,” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Dr. Spaeth
Dr. Spaeth is a first-year resident at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She serves on SHM’s Physicians-in-Training committee and is a former editorial board member of The Hospitalist magazine.