Managing a team: Lead with confidence
Leading a team is central to running a successful dermatology practice, because your staff shape both the patient experience and the daily operations of your office. Yet many early-career dermatologists step into a leadership role with little formal training in staff oversight or human resources, which can feel especially challenging when you are leading a team without owning the practice.
The AAD offers resources to help you build these skills. We connect you with advice from fellow dermatologists, practical guidance on staffing and HR fundamentals, leadership development opportunities, and support for navigating team leadership when you are not the practice owner.
Listen to the Career Launch podcast series
Access our extensive Dialogues in Dermatology Career Launch podcast series, with firsthand guidance from dermatologists on a wide variety of early-career subjects.
Staffing and human resources
Dermatologists often have significant oversight of other clinicians and staff. Use the AAD’s staffing and HR resources to help you understand the basics. Resources include:
Hire your team: Learn how to assess staffing needs, write clear job descriptions, and run a structured hiring process that helps you attract and select the right candidates.
Onboard staff: Get a practical framework for preparing new hires, structuring orientation and training, and tracking compliance requirements so new team members succeed from day one.
Develop your employees: Discover how to set clear expectations, deliver regular feedback, and support ongoing professional growth to build a more engaged, capable team.
Build a positive workplace culture: Explore strategies for strengthening communication, recognizing contributions, and preventing burnout to improve engagement and retention.
Manage performance: Understand how to address performance concerns early, coach employees effectively, and handle corrective action and separations professionally.
Seek HR support when needed: Learn how to evaluate your practice’s HR needs and choose the right outside resources, from consultants to PEOs, as your practice grows.
Access related resources: Find staffing and HR documentation, plus related Academy resources, to support your team through every stage of the employee lifecycle.
Leadership skills
The AAD’s Leadership Forum is designed for early-career dermatologists who are ready to take the next step in their careers. The forum brings together senior leaders and participants for a popular weekend program. Learn vital skills to help you become a more effective leader in your practice and professional organizations at the Leadership Forum.
Leading when you’re not the owner
Early-career dermatologists often have to navigate the tension between being the leader of the care team but not the owner of the practice. That is, you’re a leader, but you’re not necessarily the boss. Read a DermWorld interview with a young physician who has become a leader even in a large multispecialty group.
This content was created with the particular needs of early-career dermatologists in mind. See the rest of our Career Launch resources for young physicians.
