Coaching, widely used in business and sports, is gaining traction in medical education as a way to help trainees reach their full potential. Unlike teaching or mentoring, coaching is trainee-centered—focusing on self-reflection, goal setting, and problem-solving rather than direct instruction. In gastroenterology fellowships, coaching improves performance (procedural/clinical skills), development (leadership, identity, time management), well-being (reducing burnout, boosting resilience), and remediation (leveraging strengths to overcome challenges).
By combining behavior modification and mindset coaching, fellows learn technical skills while also addressing beliefs and coping strategies that influence performance. Implementation, however, requires investment in faculty training, program structure, and protected time. Group coaching and non-physician coaches can expand reach, but confidentiality and avoiding evaluator roles are key. Long term, building a coaching culture could shift GI training away from rigid hierarchies toward adaptability, growth, and self-reliance—skills essential for future gastroenterologists navigating new technologies and care models.