Look Sharp, Lead Well with Dr. Paul Thomas

Dr. Paul Thomas is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Detroit, Michigan. His practice is Plum Health DPC, a Direct Primary Care service that is the first of its kind in Detroit. His mission is to deliver affordable, accessible health care services in Detroit and beyond. He has been featured on WDIV-TV Channel 4, WXYZ Channel 7, Crain's Detroit Business and CBS Radio. 

He has been a speaker at TEDxDetroit. He is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine and now a Clinical Assistant Professor. Finally, he is an author of three books: Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System, Startup DPC: How to Start and Grow Your Direct Primary Care Practice, and Dressing for Medicine: what to wear for your medical school interviews and how to dress professionally throughout your career in medicine. 

We hope you enjoy this episode with Dr. Paul Thomas about how to dress and present yourself as a leader. 

Questions We Asked: 

• You just released a new book, Dressing for Medicine: what to wear for your medical school interviews and how to dress professionally throughout your career in medicine. What inspired you to write about this? 
• How should you dress for a medical school or residency interview? 
• How does virtual interviewing change things? 
  • How should you set up your background? 
• Where do you draw the line between standing out and blending in with your dress and attire? 
• How does appearance play into effectiveness leading teams and organizations? 
• Is there a way to dress well when you have to wear scrubs? 
• How do patient expectations change your dress? 
• How much of dress is reading the room vs. holding yourself to a higher standard? 
• You talk about house calls as a DPC physician, how does this change the interaction? 
• How did you learn how to dress and carry yourself well? 
• Book Suggestions? 

Quotes and Ideas: 

• Medical School Interview: Blue or gray suit, white shirt with a colored tie. Leather shoes and a belt that matches. 
• If you have a choice between a solid or swivel chair, choose the solid chair so you don’t fidget. 
• Virtually: face a light, make sure the camera is eye level, set up and test your microphone. Make your tech setup pristine. 
• Sprezzatura: When everything is perfect, you can introduce a splash of personality that highlights a creative part of yourself 
• You should dress with the goal of looking professional so you can instill confidence and better care for your patients. 
• Wear clothing that makes you look mature and confident. 
• If you are a physician in a leadership role, you should take the time to dress well and change if needed. 
• “If you want to be a leader… you should look the part and lean into dressing your best.” 
• “If dressing well makes you stand up straighter, speak more clearly and develop trusting relationships with your patients, then do it.” 

Book Suggestions: 

• Dressing for Medicine: what to wear for your medical school interviews and how to dress professionally throughout your career in medicine by Dr. Paul Thomas 
• Atomic Habits by James Clear