AJ Novick Group provides specialized disruptive physician coaching, professional behavior training, assessments, and communication programs for physicians and other healthcare professionals referred by hospitals, medical groups, physician well-being committees, medical staff leadership, attorneys, and other organizations.
Led by Ari Novick, Ph.D., our programs take an educational and skills-based approach to helping physicians address concerns involving workplace behavior, communication, professionalism, conflict, stress management, emotional intelligence, interpersonal effectiveness, and interactions with colleagues and staff.
Programs can be customized to the needs of the physician and referring organization and are available through full-day intensive training, individual coaching, and follow-up sessions.
Call 949-715-2694 to discuss a referral or program options.
Disruptive Physician Program Options
Physicians may participate voluntarily or be referred by a hospital, medical group, physician well-being committee, employer, attorney, or other organization.
Depending on the circumstances and goals of the referral, programs may include:
Individual Physician Coaching
Individual coaching provides physicians with focused, one-on-one sessions addressing specific areas identified through the referral, assessment, and coaching process.
Sessions may address communication, emotional intelligence, conflict management, stress management, interpersonal effectiveness, professional boundaries, judgment, impulse control, and responding constructively to feedback.
Individual coaching sessions can be conducted remotely via Zoom.
Full-Day Intensive Physician Program
AJ Novick Group also offers an intensive full-day, one-on-one disruptive physician training program.
The intensive format provides an opportunity to assess areas of concern, work through a structured educational curriculum, develop practical strategies for improving professional interactions, and establish goals for continued improvement.
Full-day intensive programs may be conducted in person or via Zoom video conferencing.
Follow-up coaching sessions can be incorporated to reinforce skills, address new situations, and support continued progress.
Customized Programs for Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations
Programs can also be customized for hospitals, medical groups, medical staff leadership, physician well-being committees, and other healthcare organizations.
When appropriate, AJ Novick Group can work with the referring organization to understand the concerns leading to the referral and tailor the educational program to the physician's individual needs.
Programs may also be provided at the physician's or organization's location by arrangement.
Contact AJ Novick Group at 949-715-2694 for program availability, pricing, and referral information.
What Does the Disruptive Physician Program Address?
Physicians may be referred for coaching because of concerns involving communication, workplace interactions, professionalism, conflict, or behavior under pressure.
Examples may include:
- Difficulty communicating effectively with colleagues or staff
- Anger, frustration, or inappropriate reactions under pressure
- Intimidating, demeaning, or disrespectful communication
- Difficulty receiving constructive feedback
- Conflict with colleagues, nurses, administrators, or other staff
- Problems with professional boundaries
- Unrealistic expectations of coworkers or staff
- Poor judgment or impulse control during stressful situations
- Passive-aggressive communication or behavior
- Difficulty managing interpersonal conflict
- Concerns involving empathy, emotional intelligence, or social awareness
The purpose of coaching is not simply to identify problematic behavior. The program focuses on helping physicians understand how their communication and behavior affect others and develop practical skills for responding more effectively in demanding professional environments.
Individualized Skills Assessment
The program may begin with an educational, skills-based assessment designed to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
Areas evaluated may include:
- Assertive communication
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Stress management
- Behavior under pressure
- Judgment and impulse control
- Interpersonal boundaries
- Deference and assertiveness
- Motivation for change
Assessment results can help guide the coaching process and identify areas that deserve additional attention.
This is an educational and skills-based assessment and is not represented as a psychiatric or psychological evaluation.
Skills Addressed in Physician Coaching
The program uses a structured educational curriculum focused on practical interpersonal and professional skills.
Depending on the needs of the physician, training may address:
- Assertive and respectful communication
- Stress management
- Emotional intelligence and empathy
- Conflict resolution
- Expectation management
- Judgment and impulse control
- Active listening
- Professional boundaries
- Responding constructively to criticism and feedback
- Managing anger and frustration
- Taking responsibility for behavior
- Maintaining professionalism under pressure
- Developing more productive interactions with colleagues and staff
The goal is to provide physicians with practical tools they can apply in real clinical and workplace situations.
Follow-Up Coaching and Progress
Follow-up coaching can be used to reinforce skills learned during the program and address challenges that arise after the initial training.
Depending on the program and referral arrangement, follow-up may include scheduled check-in sessions, continued individual coaching, progress documentation, and additional skills development.
Progress reports may be provided when requested by the physician and when appropriate within the terms of the program and applicable confidentiality requirements.
Why Professional Behavior and Communication Matter in Healthcare
Healthcare environments require physicians to make difficult decisions, communicate across multidisciplinary teams, manage significant stress, and respond effectively during high-pressure situations.
Problems involving intimidating or disruptive behavior can interfere with communication, teamwork, staff relationships, and organizational culture.
Effective intervention therefore involves more than simply telling a physician to change a particular behavior. Physicians may benefit from identifying the interpersonal patterns contributing to workplace conflict and developing specific skills they can use differently in future situations.
AJ Novick Group's program is designed around this educational and skills-development approach.
An Educational and Professional Development Approach
AJ Novick Group's disruptive physician programs focus on education, coaching, behavioral skills, and professional development.
The program is not psychotherapy and does not substitute for a psychiatric, psychological, medical, or fitness-for-duty evaluation when one is required.
When a referring organization requires a particular type of evaluation, treatment, documentation, or remediation program, those requirements should be discussed before enrollment so that the appropriate program can be identified.
Experience Working With Physicians and Healthcare Organizations
AJ Novick Group has provided professional behavior and disruptive physician programs for physicians and healthcare organizations and has worked with hospitals and other referring organizations seeking structured educational interventions.
Dr. Ari Novick has also presented on disruptive physician behavior and professional communication, including a presentation for the California Association of Neurological Surgeons (CANS).
Programs are designed to provide physicians with a professional, confidential, respectful, and educational environment in which they can examine areas of concern and develop practical strategies for improvement.
Referrals and Program Information
AJ Novick Group works with individual physicians as well as hospitals, medical groups, medical staff leadership, physician well-being committees, attorneys, employers, and other referring organizations.
Because referrals can involve different concerns and requirements, we recommend contacting our office before enrollment to discuss the appropriate program format.
Call AJ Novick Group at 949-715-2694 to discuss a physician referral, full-day intensive program, individual coaching, or organizational program.
Programs may be available in person or via Zoom, depending on the format and referral requirements.
References are available upon request.
For more information, please fill out our Contact Form.
Listed in the Federation of State Medical Boards Directory
AJ Novick Group's Professional Disruptive Physician Coaching Program is currently listed in the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Directory of Physician Assessment and Remedial Education Programs. The directory lists AJ Novick Group's program as offering 8 weekly sessions or a one-day intensive training program.
Federation of State Medical Boards website.
