Professor Pooshan Navathé FRACMA reflects on nine years supervising RACMA’s trainees, shares lessons he’s learnt and the immense personal benefit the role brings.
Professor Navathé FRACMA is a RACMA Board Member and Chair of its Education and Training Committee. He is Executive Director Medical Services for Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHA) and is a Senior Aviation Medicine Officer with the RAAF specialist reserves.
What was your journey to becoming a Supervisor?
Becoming a Supervisor felt like a natural progression in my healthcare career. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have incredible mentors who not only guided me professionally, but also taught me important life lessons and became lifelong friends. Their influence inspired me to give back and I expect our current cohort of Candidates will do this for the next generation.
What can you gain from becoming a Supervisor?
Working as a RACMA Supervisor provides the opportunity to both have a positive impact on the future healthcare landscape as well as achieve immense growth in your own professional career.
Supervising leads to significant personal growth. Engaging with younger professionals will challenge your own perspectives and practices and encourage you to reflect on what you’ve learned over the years. In today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment, these fresh perspectives on emerging trends and challenges are incredibly valuable.
The Supervisor/Candidate relationship encourages a dynamic exchange of ideas which fosters a deeper understanding of both traditional and modern approaches to healthcare management, making you a more effective leader.
You’ll learn how to provide constructive feedback, guide decision-making, and foster a collaborative environment. These skills not only enhance your ability as a Supervisor but also prepare you for future leadership roles within the healthcare system.
What key piece of advice do you provide to people embarking on their Supervisor journey?
A cornerstone of effective mentorship is the development of trusting relationships. As a Supervisor, you’ll spend time nurturing these connections, creating an environment where open communication thrives. In medical administration, where tasks can be complex and multi-faceted, it takes time—often more than 12 months—to foster this trust, but the resulting bond allows for authentic conversations where both parties can express their thoughts and concerns candidly.
What sort of personal rewards does the Supervisor role bring?
There’s immense satisfaction in witnessing the growth of your Candidates. Seeing someone work hard, overcome challenges and transform into a confident leader is an incredibly rewarding experience. I’ve had moments when colleagues have shared how my guidance made a difference in their journey or to someone that they know and, even years later, those conversations continue to inspire me.
Most doctors work in medicine because of the buzz when their treatment gifts a person a better quality of life. As a Supervisor, you get a similar buzz when you witness that ‘light bulb moment’ of a Candidate understanding something and becoming more competent.
Why do you think it is more important than ever to help develop future leaders?
Healthcare is facing more challenges and change than ever with the demands of an ageing population, greater economic division in society, climate change and rapid technological advancement. Through a structured program of training, learning and assessment RACMA’s Fellowship Training Program, equips the new Fellows with the competencies required to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. By supervising a Candidate undertaking the Fellowship Training Program you contribute significantly to this process. In my experience, two areas where a skilled Supervisor can make a real difference are in helping Candidates become leaders who are agile and able to quickly respond to change, and who operate with sound ethical frameworks.
The role of a RACMA Supervisor is more than a position; it’s an opportunity to influence the future of healthcare leadership. If you’re considering becoming a RACMA Supervisor, embrace the chance to cultivate talent, share your experiences, and contribute to a legacy of excellence in medical administration. The benefits of this role extend far beyond the immediate, shaping a brighter future for healthcare as a whole.
RACMA has made changes to the FTP training support roles to improve role clarity leading to more effective support for Candidates. For more info click here.
Author: Felicity Gallagher
7th November 2024
