Faculty PD Team Hosts First Networking Event

What did you wear to your last networking event? Business casual? Or maybe a suit? Did you debate tie versus no tie? Whether you should wrangle yourself into some shapewear?

Dr. Stephanie Chao greeted guests to the department’s latest networking event in her hospital-issue blue scrubs. Although she had removed the hot pink cap, popsicles still dangled from her ears.

“Drs. Mary Hawn, Pete Lorenz, and I all wanted the event to be low key so it would not take people a lot of effort to mosey over from the hospital. Hence scrubs are ok.” said Chao, who serves as associate vice chair of professional development and hosted the event.

Surgeons from each of the department’s six divisions mingled and chatted as the tantalizing aromas of carne asada and al pastor wafted from the nearby taco truck.

“We wanted our faculty to have an opportunity to get to know each other better as our department continues to grow and recruit. Many of us have never had a chance to meet each other in person,” said Chao.

As the sun started to set, the group moved indoors for a “fireside” chat with Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB).

“I thought, who better to be the speaker for our first networking event than an expert in networking!” said Chao.

Although Abraham’s fundamental course, “Essentials of Strategic Communications,” is geared towards would-be business executives and entrepreneurs, many of his mnemonic devices can be tailored for any professional, even a surgeon.

“Communication permeates our daily work and personal lives,” said Dr. Karl Sylvester, a pediatric surgeon. “It was important to hear that communicating—from making small talk to giving pitches and presentations—is a skill.”

Abrahams started his talk by delving into his “Six Steps to Better Spontaneous Speaking” which comprises the first part of his new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Copies were purchased by the Department for all attendees (either hardcopy or audiobook) to help them continue developing their expertise after the event had drawn to a close.

“Practice, iterate, and improve is a process all surgeons are familiar with just not typically in the art of communicating—until now,” said Sylvester.

With a crowd of 30 surgeons, Chao and Lorenz said they consider the event a success and "in line with expectations." They look forward to planning future professional development opportunities for faculty. (Suggestions welcome!)

“The business school has so many interesting courses and lecturers, that it was a natural place to start,” said Chao. “I think part of the richness of Stanford is that we are part of a world-class university campus. I want our department to see all that the university has to offer.”

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