Division leaders in academic medicine today must have many of the preferred requirements for chief executive officers of large corporations. As academic departments struggle to compete in an increasingly competitive world business climate, many leaders in America are turning to words of wisdom from coaches, some of our most exalted leaders, who truly understand competition.1 A stimulating article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, entitled "Triple Threat or Double Fake,"2 documents the current difficulty in making individuals or divisions "triple threaters" in efforts to develop excellence in education, teaching, or research, the three missions in academic medicine. Vince Lombardi1 offered outstanding advice for our young academic leaders when he stated that "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." This message has particular merit for academic section leaders.
Since medical schools and departments depend