Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intelligence in Academic Medicine: Practical Strategies for Physician Leaders

Emotional intelligence (EQ) has emerged as a vital competency for physician leaders. It is relevant to the four core areas of academic medicine: teaching, research, patient care, and service. EQ requires self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management — skills that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened throughout medical training and professional development. This article explores the relevance of EQ in the core areas of academic medicine and highlights EQ’s potential to foster effective, compassionate, and resilient healthcare relationships and environments. Additionally, because EQ can be taught, practiced, and strengthened, it considers how medical schools, postgraduate training programs, and professional development activities can raise awareness of EQ and prioritize the development of these skills in teachers, researchers, clinical providers, and administrators.