Leadership in medicine: where are the leaders?

• Despite leadership roles being critical, we persist with outmoded models of organisations and pay inadequate attention to developing individual leaders and new models of leadership within the medical profession. • New forms of leadership are required. Among many important roles, leaders are called on: • to enhance the meaningful identity of a profession; • to create effective linkages with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders, as well as with healthcare system managers; • to interpret complexity so that their institutions and followers can operate successfully in uncertain times; and • to consistently model ethical behaviour.