Taking the First Steps on the Path to Leadership

“If you want to lead or mentor, raise your hand. Pull up your chair to the table—and pull up a chair alongside you.”

At 30, Phoebe Mellen, MD, is completing a fellowship, holding down a part-time faculty job, and applying for a retina fellowship for next year. She was last year’s chief resident at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and is the mother of a 6-month-old son.

More than half her classmates at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University were women. Already, they are making their mark in the medical world.

“It’s awesome to see us all blossoming and moving into fellowships and our medical careers,” Dr. Mellen says. “It’s a great, continued evolution and a wonderful time to be in medicine.”

Her career path is a personal journey in which she aspires to become a leader in medicine and research, as well as a mentor to others. It’s a goal she is confident she can achieve. As a girl, she learned the importance of stepping up and leaning in.

“I grew up with three brothers and no sisters,” she says. “From day one, I’ve been fighting for my voice to be heard at the dinner table, on the sports field, in the classroom. It’s inherent in me to keep doing that.”

Her goals are bolstered by a willingness to serve. In med school, she was a member of the student admissions committee.  At Wills, she served on the program evaluation committee, getting feedback from residents and putting forward their suggestions on improving rotations and other issues for doctors-in-training.

“I have always gravitated toward positions where I can mentor and move toward innovation and progress,” she says.

Mentorship and Career Choices

At Wills, she is benefiting from the mentorship of two seasoned leaders, Dr. Julia Haller, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, and Dr. Carol Shields, Chief of the Ocular Oncology Service. Dr. Haller also is president of the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation.

“They are passionate about supporting the next generation of physicians and have been exceptional in their support of women in medicine,” Dr. Mellen says.

In making career choices, she is intent on choosing positions and programs that advance her long-term goals. Because she aspires to a leadership position in research, she is drawn to programs that allow fellows to become involved in clinical trials. She sees robust opportunities for professional growth at high-volume medical centers with diverse patient populations. And mentors are a must.

“When I was on the interview trail, I was very open about looking for mentorship for the next two years and beyond,” she says. “Every program I am interested in has mentors in the retina community.”

She also seeks expert advice, attending a retreat for fellows who are in the process of deciding how to shape their careers.

On Leadership

Hard work and long hours enhance her odds of achieving her goals. But she also believes in good luck, in the twists of fate that can bring leaders to even greater heights.

“There’s an element of serendipity,” she says. 

Still, not every opportunity to lead is a wise or fulfilling choice. Successful leadership requires contemplation, balance, and foresight.

“Before you can take on a leadership position you have to think about travel time, time away from patients,” Dr. Mellen says. “You need to be able to say no to some positions.”

She believes the ascent to leadership is not a solitary pursuit. Getting input from colleagues, patients and other stakeholders is essential in nurturing positive growth and change. When ideas are shared, everyone flourishes.

“If you want to lead or mentor, raise your hand,” she says. “Pull up your chair to the table—and pull up a chair alongside you.”

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