Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Thanks for helping me reach 500 fans on Facebook (NonClinicalJobs.com)

I began a Facebook fan page for NonClinicalJobs.com last October. It's been 6 months and I've actually enjoyed this little social experiment. Even though I write 4 different blogs, NonClinicalJobs.com has gained a significant amount of momentum since I secured the URL last spring and it's been a great journey for me.

I want to thank all the fans out there for helping me reach 500 fans in 6 months!  If we got 500 fans in 6 months, how many fans can we get over the next 6 months? Will we exceed 1,000 fans by this October?  Given that the new health care reform bill may cause more physicians to explore non-clinical jobs and alternative careers, perhaps we'll see many more fans on Facebook.

Make sure to tell others about NonClinicalJobs.com so they can learn about non-clinical career options for physicians and other health care professionals who are interested in alternative careers in medicine. There aren't too many resources on the Internet for physicians who wish to transition out of clinical medicine and my hope is that this website and community (found on http://members.nonclinicaljobs.com) will help clinicians find the right non-clinical job opportunities.

If you're not a fan on Facebook, show your support: http://www.facebook.com/NonClinicalJobs

Alternative physician careers

When physicians choose to leave clinical medicine to pursue alternative careers, what motivates them to make such changes? Is it money? More time with family? Scheduling flexibility? Avoiding litigation? To pursue new challenges? Maybe you're getting bored with medicine.

Depending on that key motivating factor, physicians end up choosing all types of career paths. For instance, let's take a look at some of these motivators:
  • Money. Let's face it. Some physicians love money. They may be good at their job, but they have a stronger passion for a higher salary. If you're driven to make more money so that you can enjoy life's luxuries, then perhaps you plan to climb the corporate ladder and eventually rise to become a VP, Executive VP, Chief Medical Officer, or even President/CEO of a company. The earning potentials can go up exponentially if you've got the right business skills to excel in the corporate environment. Alternative careers in the business world can be financially rewarding if you've got the skills to excel in the business world.
  • Time with family. Maybe clinical medicine has you burned out. Perhaps you're looking for an alternative physician career because you don't want to spend so much time at work. You may see other people spending more time with their families and you want that as well. Certain alternative careers may give you more flexibility in your schedule. Perhaps you can even set your own schedule. Maybe you'd like to work from home so that you can take lunch breaks and eat with your family.
  • Pursuing new challenges. I seem to meet many physicians who are bored with clinical medicine. They see so many new business opportunities rising up in the world of health IT, consumer health education, online medicine, and other industries. Maybe you love clinical research and you want to be involved in drug development. Perhaps you've been bitten by the entrepreneurship bug and you'd like to start your own company.
Regardless of your reasons for wanting to pursue an alternative physician career, it's important to make sure that you know how to map out your career transition plan. It's not easy to leave clinical medicine and jump right into a company. There can be many challenges and barriers that you may need to overcome to prove your value to a business organization. Are you serious about making a career transition? Then you may wish to consider this special service: Finding a Non-Clinical Physician Career Coach

54 vs. 37 credits for an MBA

To get an MBA from Temple University Fox School of Business, you need to complete 54 credits. Similarly, to get an MBA from Drexel University LeBow School of Business, you need to complete 51 credits.

Now, to get an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Business, you only need to complete 37 credits of coursework. Why the difference of credits? Each of these business schools are accredited by the AACSB, so we know that they're delivering quality education. What's interesting about the UMass Amherst program is this: their full-time MBA is 55 credits, but the part-time MBA is only 37 credits. Here's the catch. If you didn't take many business courses during your undergraduate studies, you'll need to take "Foundations of Business" as a pre-requisite for the part-time MBA program. Alternatively, you can opt out of the Foundations of Business by following the ACPE (American College of Physician Executives) curriculum.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

ACPE webcast: "Careers in Pharmaceutical Medicine"

The ACPE (American College of Physician Executives) offers webcasts that can be viewed on your computer on your schedule. Some are free and others require a nominal fee. They have one titled, "Careers in Pharmaceutical Medicine." You can access this web lecture for free whether or not you're a member of ACPE.

Ross Tonkens, MD gives a very nice overview about various career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. Do you know how to make the transition into pharmaceutical medicine? Dr. Tonkens mentions that it helps if you're involved in clinical research either as a PI (principal investigator) or within an IRB (institutional review board). I think that many physicians in private practice don't realize that they have multiple opportunities to get involved in research. You don't have to have an academic career to run some clinical studies and recruit patients. Finally, are you willing to consider the challenges and potential rewards of becoming a full-time pharmaceutical physician?

Click here to see a list of web lectures on the ACPE website. I recommend you view the one titled, "Careers in Pharmaceutical Medicine" if you're thinking about transitioning into the pharma industry.

3 Reasons to Choose a Non-Clinical Career

This is a guest post by Susan White. If you're interested in submitting a guest post, please contact me.

3 Reasons to Choose a Non-Clinical Career

There’s no doubt that being a doctor, nurse or any other health care professional is associated with certain advantages, but because of the stress involved, more and more doctors are turning to non-clinical careers. These may not be much prestige associated with these jobs, but they are valuable because:
• They involve normal working hours: When you’re a doctor, you could be mentally on-call all the time. It’s like you’re married to your patients and their families and you may find yourself spending more time with them than your own. You could be living in a hospital. This leads to internal stress within families and may end in a broken home. When you move to a non-clinical position, your work hours can be more regular (although this is not always guaranteed) and you can spend most of your evenings and weekends with your family.

• They are not stressful: This might be debatable. However, no one would doubt that a doctor’s job is stressful to say the least. You’re frequently worried about your patients and obsessing over their conditions and you’re drained emotionally at times when there is a death or when you have to bear news of terminal illness. Non-clinical jobs are not as stressful as clinical jobs – rather, they have the same amount of stress as any normal job, but much less than that of a physician or surgeon.

• You're less likely to burn out: Non-clinical positions may not be as emotionally demanding as careers in clinical positions. This is why there are fewer chances of burn out when you choose to make the switch. Depending on the type of non-clinical career you pick, you can work at a more relaxed pace and not have to worry about keeping up with the latest medical evidence or worry about medical malpractice. The atmosphere could be less competitive and you may not feel the need to achieve success. 
The switch, if it is made, must be based on careful thought and deliberation. Non-clinical careers are not for everyone, so make sure you know exactly what each may involve and what you will be giving up.
 
This guest post is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of Radiology Technician Schools in New York. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com.

Monday, March 29, 2010

International medical consulting opportunities

I've been asked to get involved in a few international medical consulting projects recently. Specifically, one involved medical tourism in Asia. Cosmetic procedures are especially popular. The second project involves a government health agency in Europe.

Both projects are very different, however both involve several key elements of health information technology, web development, and health information exchange or HIE. Although I live in the United States, it's always interesting to hear about health projects in other countries. Let's see what happens over the next few months.

What's interesting is that both of these opportunities presented themselves because of my presence on the Internet. One guy found me by searching on Google. Another guy approached me because I was tweeting about health IT and smartphones. Then, when he saw my blogs, he realized that we had several things in common. By expanding your presence online, you could reach potential clients who might never find you otherwise.

MBA through the ACPE and UMass Amherst Isenberg

You can get an MBA with a focus on medical management through a joint partnership between the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Business and the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). Here's how it work:

Complete the ACPE Section I Curriculum (either by attending live ACPE meetings and/or through their InterAct distance learning courses). Then, you will need to complete Section II through UMass Amherst by taking online courses. 
The Isenberg School/ACPE Online Part-Time MBA with a focus in Medical Management is divided into two sections. Section I curriculum is presented by ACPE, in both live and online formats; it is a prerequisite to Section II. Section II is presented online by the Isenberg School of Management. The Online Part-Time MBA with a focus in Medical Management is awarded by the University of Massachusetts Amherst upon successful completion of Section II.
ACPE physician's who complete Section I curriculum receive:
  • Substantion discount on online courses
  • Waived from the Foundations of Business Program prerequisite
  • Granted 3 elective credits towards their MBA degree
Learn more here: http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/MBA/acpe

Free Resume Critique

I've partnered with GetInterviews to provide my readers with a free resume critique.  The best thing about this resume service is that they guarantee that you'll get an interview in 30 days. Otherwise, they'll rewrite your resume for free. Here's a little snippet about the organization:
Partnering your job search with GetInterviews.com is a GUARANTEE you will get interviews in 30 business days. Globally recognized as one of the largest and most successful cover letter / resume writing and CV writing firms, we suggest you take a moment to read through our information - if you like what you see at our website, just imagine what we can do for your resume and your career!

Our staff of Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRWs) has helped tens of thousands of clients in both up and down markets, and we can help you through these tough economic times. While other firms come and go, our methods have proven themselves for 15+ years. You don't stay in business in this industry as long as we have by letting clients fail! Our success is based on YOUR SUCCESS. Stop worrying about your future! Let us help you secure your next interview!
Find out how to Get More Interviews! Submit your resume for a Free Resume Critique.

Here's a summary of some of the staff credentials:
* Named the #1 Resume Writer of the Year by the Professional Association of Resume Writers
* PARW's Top 10 Industry Leaders
* Certified Professional Resume Writers – CPRW
* Internationally Certified Job and Career Transition Coaches – JCTC
* More than 500 published resumes in more than 50 career books
* Online presenters and bloggers on career issues
Submit your resume for a  Free Resume Critique by clicking here.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Google Blogger Releases a New Template Designer

Blogging can be a hobby. Blogging can also be a career. The most popular blogging platforms are probably WordPress and Google's Blogger.  I've tried both and I use Blogger for a variety of reasons. Well, Google recently announced that they now have a new template designer for Blogger. You can work with 15 new templates. You can have access to hundreds of background images from iStockphoto. You can easily create one-, two-, and three-column layouts for each template.

Read more about it on the Blogger in Draft: The Blogger Template Designer blog. 

Already using Blogger? Try the new template designer by clicking on: http://draft.blogger.com

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Save over 50% on Harvard Business Review

If I could recommend a single business magazine, it would be Harvard Business Review. I'm not biased since I went to MIT. Technology Review is a great magazine, but you won't find the type of business content that you'll find on Harvard Business Review.

I find myself more interested in business these days. This is one of the main reasons why I'm seriously thinking about business school. I just wish I had more time to keep up with my family, my side ventures, and everything else. If I were to add business school to my life right now, something would have to give. So, for now I will read business magazines and listen to business school podcasts during my drive to and from work.

I'll be speaking at the Medical Fusion conference this June

I hope you'll join me in San Diego for this conference:

Join me at the Medical Fusion conference in June (San Diego)


Make sure to use the following discount code (JKBLOGSD) prior to your registration and you'll save $25. I'll be speaking about 3 topics:
  • Non-Clinical Jobs
  • Blogging
  • Health Information Technology and Medical Informatics
Leverage Your Medical Training and Ignite Your Career.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Be a fan of NonClinicalJobs.com on Facebook

Many physicians who are interested in non-clinical careers don't know where to look. Those who search on Google may land here if they're typing "non-clinical physician job" or a similar search term.  If you're a regular reader, please become a fan of NonClinicalJobs.com on Facebook and tell your physician colleagues about this site.

http://www.facebook.com/NonClinicalJobs

Don't forget to register for the ACPE annual meeting

Just a reminder:

2010 ACPE Annual CME Conference in Washington D.C.


You won't want to miss the annual ACPE (American College of Physician Executives) meeting. The keynote will be presented by an MIT and Harvard alum, professor David Cutler. Harvard economics professor and senior health care advisor to President Barack Obama, Cutler was recently named one of the 30 people who could have a powerful impact on health care by Modern Healthcare magazine. 

The Leadership Summit runs Fri and Sat. Here are some details:
No matter what happens with policy reform over the coming months, it’s going to be an exciting time to be in our nation’s capital. Those who attend this very special two-day workshop will get an insider’s perspective on the hot topics in health care and learn how to use this information to make a difference.
I will be there blogging and covering some of the highlights from the annual meeting, so I look forward to seeing you there! 

For more information, visit: http://www.acpe.org/annual

What Are the 5 Worst Tax Mistakes Physicians Make?

Don’t let it happen to you! In celebration of the forthcoming online destination of Physican’s Money Digest (PhysiciansMoneyDigest.net) we’re holding a FREE exclusive webinar on April 1st for a chance to win $500. The webinar, hosted by tax experts, will help you avoid costly mistakes when filing your taxes. REGISTER NOW AT: http://www.hcplive.com/pmd-webinar-signup

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The health care reform bill will boost traffic to this website

In the wake of major health care reform in this country, we will see more physicians considering non-clinical career options. Those who use Google to find information about non-clinical jobs will probably end up here. Others may find this site through word-of-mouth referrals. I'm collecting data to see how traffic to this site evolves now that the health care reform bill has passed.

Over the past few months, I've been very busy coaching physicians who wish to transition into non-clinical careers. This week, I received a handful of e-mails from physicians who are interested in finding non-clinical jobs. Is this just the beginning? How many more physicians will seriously consider a career transition out of clinical medicine? How many will make active plans to leave medicine?

Free GMATPrep® Test Preparation Software

If you're seriously thinking about applying to business school, it's time to prepare for the GMAT. If you're like many other physicians out there, you probably haven't studied for a non-medical standardized exam in a really long time.

Well, there's a free software resource that's provided by the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®). It's called GMATPrep and you can download the free software by clicking here.

If you're a physician and you don't want to study for the GMAT, then you have the option of applying to MBA programs that will waive the GMAT since you have a terminal degree.

GMATPrep software features:
  • A 15-question practice section for each type of GMAT question, with answers and explanations for each question
  • 2 full-length computer adaptive practice tests with answers (detailed explanations of answers are not included)
  • Accurate computing of Verbal and Quantitative scores, which you can use to judge how prepared you are for the actual GMAT exam
  • A comprehensive math review
  • Real-time scoring

Medical Consultant for the State of California

If you want to work in Administrative Medicine, the State of California is currently looking for some medical consultants. 

MEDICAL CONSULTANT I
MONTHLY-RANGED-SALARY - $8,711.00 to $12,280.00

MEDICAL CONSULTANT II
MONTHLY-RANGED-SALARY - $9,398.00 to $12,893.00

Those salary ranges seem reasonable. We're looking at roughly $105k to $155k per year. Plus, I'm sure you'll get some unique benefits as a state employee. Some of these openings are in the Department Of Health Care Services. Others are in the Department Of Social Services or in the Department of Public Health. 

You can find these jobs by visiting: http://jobs.ca.gov

The Future of Commercial Models in Pharma

There's a complimentary webinar coming up titled, "The Future of Commercial Models in Pharma."

Today, many pharmaceutical executives are asking:

How will we compete in a marketplace that, by 2015, will be 80% undifferentiated?

What industry imperatives do we need to address in the design and implementation of our new commercial model?

What does our organization need to do now in order to compete?

Get the answers to these questions and more at the April 20 webcast, "The Future of Commercial Models in Pharma," where you’ll hear IMS experts describe how your organization needs to align with the market and organize for the future in order to design, and implement, the most efficient and effective commercial model.

Active vs. Passive Job Candidates

How many of you are currently actively looking for a job as an active job candidate? I know many people who are struggling right now because of the recession. They are applying to a handful of jobs each day, and few are receiving return phone calls. The latest statistics say there are 6 people applying for every job opening.

Perhaps you've been following this blog as a passive job candidate. You're not actively looking for a change, but if the right one came along and peaked your interest, then you may be willing to explore such an opportunity and give it some serious consideration.

Sometimes I wonder how many practicing physicians are passive job candidates. Maybe they haven't been presented with the right opportunity. Perhaps they are not satisfied with their work and they'd like to do something different. Maybe they feel trapped. Job recruiters may have difficulty reaching such physicians because these doctors are so busy with their work and phone calls are generally screened and filtered by the receptionist. Is there a way to identify and reach out to these passive job candidates?

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Spring MBA for a Day

Do you live near Philadelphia? What are you doing on April 24? It's a Saturday, so do you have any major weekend plans? I hope to attend the Fox School of Business Spring MBA for a Day!


Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. is your chance to experience the MBA/MS programs at the Fox School of Business first hand!

*Meet current students, faculty, staff, and alumni as you explore our graduate business programs
*Experience a sample class from our award-winning faculty
*View a presentation on our Enterprise Management Consulting Practice, recently featured in the Financial Times.

The following programs will be featured at MBA for a Day:
  • Fox MBA
  • Professional MBA
  • Accelerated Professional MBA
  • Executive MBA
  • International MBA
  • Online MBA
  • 9 Specialized Masters Programs
Learn more here: http://sbm.temple.edu/grad/landing.php

Medicus Firm survey in the NEJM: Health Reform May Lead to Significant Reduction in Physician Workforce

The Medicus Firm recently conducted a survey titled, "Physician Survey: Health Reform’s Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care." The results were published on the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) here, but then it appears that the NEJM removed the information and placed a link to the Medicus Firm and emphasized:
The opinions expressed in the article linked to above represent those of The Medicus Firm only. That article does not represent the opinions of the New England Journal of Medicine or the Massachusetts Medical Society.
So, let's take a look at the survey conducted by the Medicus Firm. They state: "Health Reform May Lead to Significant Reduction in Physician Workforce."

Here are some relevant snippets from the survey report:
  • Nearly one-third of physicians responding to the survey indicated that they will want to leave medical practice after health reform is implemented.
  • “What many people may not realize is that health reform could impact physician supply in such a way that the quality of health care could suffer,” said Steve Marsh, managing partner at The Medicus Firm in Dallas. “The reality is that there may not be enough doctors to provide quality medical care to the millions of newly insured patients.”
  • Based on the survey results, health reform could, over time, prove to be counterproductive, in that it could decrease patients’ access to medical care while the objective is to improve access.
  • Doctors want change, but only 28.7 percent of physicians responded in favor of a public option as part of health reform.
  • An overwhelming 63 percent of physicians prefer a more gradual, targeted approach to health reform, as opposed to one sweeping overhaul. 
We need to encourage physicians to stay in medicine and to care for all these people who need medical care. If all our doctors left clinical medicine to pursue non-clinical careers, who's going to take care of us? Some physicians may be tempted to switch to a cash practice or a concierge model. How will that help all those patients who will gain access to the public option?

To read the Medicus Firm report about the physician survey titled, "Physician Survey: Health Reform’s Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care," click here.

Many physicians will leave clinical practice due to health care reform

Recently, I had the chance to poll physicians (and I'd like to thank all those physicians who helped me with this). It was an informal poll, but I wanted to know how many physicians were planning on leaving clinical practice now that the health care reform bill has been passed. It's no surprise, but an overwhelming majority of physicians were more determined to look for a transition into the non-clinical field of medicine. To some, this may mean a career in administrative medicine. To others, it could be medical writing or medical education. Some want to get into the pharmaceutical industry.

In the past, many physicians would have indicated a strong desire to work for insurance companies. That trend has changed and I think physicians recognize that career opportunities in the health insurance industry may be diminishing as the government rolls out a public option and creates some serious competition.

How will patients receive proper medical care if so many existing physicians choose to leave clinical practice? What's going to happen in areas where physician shortages are causing patients to drive several hours to receive care? More physicians may plan to retire early instead of hassling with the public option and with the electronic health record requirements outlined in the HITECH Act.  Our nation will experience some significant changes in the health care world, but will these be overwhelmingly positive or negative for the public?

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

An opportunity of a lifetime?

How would you define an opportunity of a lifetime? Starting your own company? Making a successful career transition? Having a family? Leaving clinical medicine? Getting married? Becoming an entrepreneur?

Maybe you've recently been faced with a few scenarios that you would describe as potential "opportunities of a lifetime." Are you willing to take some risks? I'm generally a fairly risk-adverse type of person, but I've been listening to some great business podcasts from iTunes U (the U is for University) and I've been inspired to take some risks in my life.

These are exciting times given that we're going t see some significant advances in medical technology and adoption in health IT will increase dramatically. As our nation goes through health care reform, new challenges will also mean new opportunities for those who are creative and who are forward-thinking.

10 most popular topic categories on NonClinicalJobs.com

You'll see that I have a long list of topic categories on the far right column of this website.

Have you ever wondered which topic categories are most popular? Here are the top 10 topic categories that are currently seeing the highest volume of traffic:
  1. consulting 
  2. non-clinical opportunities 
  3. non-clinical physician jobs 
  4. medical writing 
  5. cme 
  6. blogging  
  7. non-clinical careers 
  8. McKinsey 
  9. clinical research 
  10. careers 
Now, what does this seem to suggest? I'm actually a bit surprised to see that people aren't clicking on health it or pharma. Maybe those individuals are using the search box instead.  People also can't forget about the power behind Social Networking 

Well, I'd like to thank all my readers for your support and for telling others about this resource. I'm always open to suggestions, so please make sure to contact me if you'd like me to write about certain topics. 

Monday, March 22, 2010

Harvard Business Review focuses on health care

The April edition of the Harvard Business Review (HBR) has a section titled, "Spotlight on Fixing Health Care." This edition places a heavy focus on health care and starting on page 50, you'll see 5 great articles that evaluate different components of our current health care system. Those article are:
  • Turning Doctors Into Leaders
  • Medicine Needs a New Kind of Hero
  • Fixing Health Care on the Front Lines
  • Premium Price, Poor Performance
  • Five Reasons Why Costs Are So High and How to Tackle Them
I've really been enjoying my complimentary subscription to HBR (more about that later). It's a great business magazine and it's really motivating me to enroll in business school ASAP. HBR is not an inexpensive magazine, but it's well worth the investment. I also read BusinessWeek and a few others, but HBR is my favorite business magazine. You can get a great deal (save over 50%) by subscribing through Amazon.com below:


Speaking of business school, make sure you don't miss out on some great business podcasts on iTunes and also on iTunes U. My favorite business podcasts have been from Stanford and Wharton so far.

State Medical Licensure Requirements (for continuing medical education or CME)

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an annual document that outlines the CME requirements for each state. For 2010, you can see that there have not been any significant changes. Sixty-two boards require continuing medical education (CME) for license reregistration (Table 16). Some states also mandate CME content, such as HIV/AIDS, risk management, or end of life palliative care.

What are you doing to stay current on your CME requirements? Are you still paying for CME when so much free CME is readily available online?

To view the 2010 requirements on the AMA website, click here

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Are You a Shutterbug? Consider a Career in Medical Photography

This is a guest post by Kitty Holman. If you're interested in submitting a guest post, please contact me.

As mentioned in a previous NonClinicalJobs blog post, medical professionals often indulge their creative side. Writing is one way to do so, but exploring the art of photography can easily become a fascinating and rewarding career option, too. If you’d like to fuse your medical expertise with your passion for photography, then consider getting involved with medical photography.

Surely you’ve read dozens of medical textbooks, manuals, and other medicine-related literature. Perhaps you’ve noticed that all these texts contain very detailed photography. Unlike, for example, wedding or news photographers, medical photographers require specialized knowledge that stretches beyond mere competence in the techniques of good photography. According to a very informative Encyclopedia article about medical photography, “…the medical photographer must have a good general knowledge of anatomy and an elementary knowledge of physiology and histology and be familiar with the common everyday terms used in pathology, bacteriology, radiology, and surgical procedures…”

Using GPS Technology to Improve Patient Care

This is a guest post by Greg Bartlett. If you're interested in submitting a guest post, please contact me.

A GPS tracker can be a pretty nifty device, regardless of which job you hold. Medical personnel are finding that these handy little objects can help them be more available for their clients, as well as for the rest of the hospital staff at a moment’s notice. Some hospitals have found that even individuals that are not involved in the bedside care of a patient can still benefit from using a GPS tracker. A recent group has put out phones that are specifically designed to aid and enrich the abilities of non-clinical personnel.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Have you found your classmates on Facebook?

Are you looking for a new job? Maybe you're planning a career transition. Do you know how to leverage your social network to help you in that process?

Physicians have a powerful network that often gets neglected and ignored. As physicians get more busy with work and life, they frequently get isolated from classmates and friends. Social networking websites have allowed many people to get reconnected, but many physicians still remain reluctant to join a network where their patients might find them.

Facebook continues to make changes to privacy settings. You can choose to stay hidden from search results on Facebook. You can almost be invisible (although you're never totally invisible since you want your friends to know that you're there).

I encourage you to give Facebook a try and see who you can find. Perhaps you'll soon discover that your classmates are in a position where they could either hire you or refer you for a job. While you're on Facebook, don't forget to become a fan of NonClinicalJobs.com by clicking here.

Medical Consultant for Oncimmune

Interested in leaving clinical medicine to pursue a medical consulting opportunity? You can view this entire job post by joining our LinkedIn Group "Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals - www.NonClinicalJobs.com"

Here's a snippet from the job post:
We are currently seeking a part time Medical Consultant to join our team. As an Oncimmune consultant, you will provide technical support to our field staff in the event that clinicians like yourself have questions about our EarlyCDT-Lung™ test. You will work closely with our Medical Director, Dr. William Jewell. Dr. Jewell is an outstanding thought leader in oncology and early cancer detection.

This is a great opportunity for you to gain exposure to other clinicians and to help to support Oncimmune’s primary goal: To advance early cancer detection to the greatest extent possible using autoantibody assay technology through early cancer detection testing.
To join our LinkedIn group, click here. Click on the "jobs" tab to see this job posting.

Friday, March 19, 2010

2010 ACPE Annual CME Conference in Washington D.C.

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) is having its Annual CME Conference in Washington D.C. April 30 - May 4, 2010. They have a great agenda scheduled for this powerful weekend and I'm sure there will be many physician executives traveling from all over the country to attend this meeting. Make sure to leverage the group discount if you're attending with several other physicians from your organization.

Physicians are discussing this meeting on the ACPE LinkedIn Group and it seems like the Leadership Summit and the Vanguard Program will be very popular this year. You can also view a video of

View an introductory video on the Annual Meeting by Barry Silbaugh, MD (CEO, ACPE)

April 30 - May 4, 2010.
Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD

Earning potentials in sales (business development)

People frequently ask, "how much can you make as a physician if you choose to leave clinical medicine?"

If you're a medical specialist and you're working for a pharma or biotech company in a "Medical Director" role, then you can expect to see a salary that's close to your current salary (or it's also very likely to be quite a bit higher). On the other hand, if you're not a specialist and if you lack significant industry work experience, then it's probably fair to say that you'll probably start with a base salary of less than $150k/year (and in many cases less than $100k/year).

Now, in the world of sales (or business development), your earning potentials can be much higher if your compensation structure revolves around commissions and other performance-based incentives. The beginning is often the most difficult part because you'll be spending a considerable amount of time prospecting new clients to build your business. It's always exciting when you close a sale because you know that you've accomplished something tangible and you know that you'll be financially rewarded.

I was speaking to one person the other day who makes a base salary of $150k/year, but also has the ability to make over $150k/year with commissions alone. You could actually double your salary if you're talented, persistent and if the market is able to support your business. The flip side is that the economy or industry could struggle and you may lose a lot of business. As a result, your commission-based income could be minimal and if you may need to dig into your savings to support your lifestyle. In the world of sales, it's important to be realistic about your income goals and to set aside a significant buffer so that you can anticipate swings in sales and income.

Blogging for a living (it can be a career)

Some people make a very successful living by blogging. Do you think you would enjoy that?

If you've never had a blog, then you find it difficult to imagine what that type of life could be like. I remember reading stories of technology professionals who left stable, high-paying jobs to move into full-time blogging. As a professional blogger, you're not really a traditional reporter. You're also not just blogging for fun. When blogging becomes work, does that change your attitude towards blogging?

I blog because I have a passion. Several passions, actually. That's why I have 4 different blogs (and you can see each of them at the very top of the web page as colored tabs). I blog about non-clinical jobs and career opportunities. I also write about medicine and technology. Since I love gadgets, I get to blog about smartphones and mobile computers and it's fun, plus it's work. This isn't my day job, but it could be someday. Would I enjoy it? Yes, but I can't see it taking 40 hrs/week, so I'd have to find something else to do to avoid boredom. I would probably end up having a blended career where I spend 30% of my time blogging, 10% of my time traveling to blog about different medical meetings and events, and 40% coaching physicians who wish to transition out of clinical medicine. That would leave me with about 20% of time to consult in areas related to health IT. That would be an interesting career path, wouldn't it?

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Non-clinical moonlighting for residents

Residents are having more difficulty finding moonlighting opportunities because of the 80-hr work week laws. How about some non-clinical moonlighting? I know several residents who are generating quite a bit of supplemental income by writing and blogging in their spare time (how many residents really have spare time?).

Interested? If you enjoy writing, then maybe you should explore some writing opportunities. Perhaps you'll find yourself developing a parallel career as a physician (as you go through residency training) and also as a professional writer (as you moonlight as a writer/blogger).

2010 BIO Career Fair Chicago

2010 BIO Career Fair - This Year’s Premier Biotech Career Fair!

The BIO Career Fair will be held on May 3rd in conjunction with the 2010 BIO International Convention, May 3-6 in Chicago.

BIO Career Fair
Hyatt Regency Chicago – East Wacker Drive
Monday, May 3rd 2pm – 7pm

The BIO Career Fair is intended for professionals in the bioscience industry. Job seekers can spend the afternoon with regional, national, and international HR Representatives and hiring managers from top biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies who are looking to hire talent in various fields and levels.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Free coaching session for one medical student who doesn't match this year

Match Day is March 18 and it's coming up! Given that someone always does not match (and is also unable to scramble into an open residency spot), I'm offering a free job/career coaching session for a medical student who doesn't match (or scramble) this year.  If you didn't match this year, do you have a backup plan? What are the best job options in today's economy? How can you make that single year very productive and optimize your chances to match next year?

Maybe you matched, but you know someone who didn't match. You can help that person by giving him/her a chance to get some free job/career coaching. Enter the contest and transfer the prize if you win!

I'll be holding a random-number drawing and will announce a winner on April 30.  So, between now and April 30, you must do the following in order to enter the contest:
  1. You must have a Twitter account and you must follow me (@DrJosephKim) on Twitter. 
  2. You must re-tweet this blog post.
  3. You must have a Facebook account and you must become a fan of all 4 of my blogs on Facebook. Click on the following links for each Facebook fan page:
That's it!  You need to follow these rules to enter the contest. On April 30, I will announce the winner by holding a random drawing. If you win, then you can either receive the coaching session yourself, or you can transfer the session to someone else.

To CME or not to CME - that is the question

The other day, I was speaking with a physician about job opportunities in the CME (continuing medical education) industry. There are fewer jobs in CME compared to 5 or even 3 years ago. Why?

Last year, quite a few medical education companies got out of the CME industry. Some of them simply closed doors and went out of business while others shifted their focus to non-certified education (such as promotional education, consumer health education, etc.).

I know many physicians currently working in the CME industry. They are "CME professionals" and some even have the designation of being a "Certified CME Professional" or CCMEP. 

The CME community is getting smaller each year, so that has its share of advantages and disadvantages. CME will never go away, but the traditional model of industry-supported CME is evolving and it's hard to know what CME will look like in 10 years. The AMA has been pushing for point-of-care (POC) CME and also performance improvement (PI) CME. These are very different from your traditional didactic lectures or clinical case exercises.

I still enjoy the challenges associated with the CME industry, so that's one of the main reasons why I continue to stay in the CME industry. I also have the opportunity to leverage technology to improve education and I find it fascinating to stay current on the latest clinical developments in the world of biomedical research and clinical science. If you enjoy the science of medicine but you're thinking about leaving the world of clinical medicine, the CME industry could be a right fit. However, it's also important to stay adaptable in this ever-changing environment of CME.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Drop Out Club - Linking Physicians, Scientists and Business

Here's another great social network and resource for physicians and scientists who are looking for job opportunities in industry. It's called the Drop Out Club. Thanks to Maria Young Chandler, MD, MBA for telling me about the D.O.C.

Advanced Medical/Scientific degree required for membership.

Over the past few months, the following jobs have been discussed:
  • Director of Clinical Procurement
  • Health Care Analyst - Hedge Fund
  • Associate Medical Director
  • Analyst / Senior Analyst at Insight Strategy Advisors
  • Oncology Expert (VP/SVP)
  • Pharma/Biotech Content Director
  • Life Sciences Strategy Consultant
  • Research Associate, Biotechnology
  • Associate Analyst, Equity Research – Biotechnology
  • Private Equity Senior Associate, Healthcare
  • VP, Medical Affairs (Oncology) - Synapse Medical Communications LLC
  • 81qd - Vice President, Medical Strategist
  • Early Biotech VC Associate Role in Boston – Atlas Venture
  • Associate Analyst, Equity Research
To learn more, visit: http://www.dropoutclub.org

    Jobs for physician executives

    Where can you find jobs for physician executives who want to focus on medical management? I'm talking about positions like:
    • Chief Medical Officer or CMO
    • Chief Medical Information Officer or CMIO
    • Vice President Medical Affairs or VPMA
    • Executive Vice President or EVP
    The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) is a great resource for these types of jobs and you can find several physician executive jobs posted on LinkedIn.

    Make sure to join our LinkedIn Group

    Monday, March 15, 2010

    Another family medicine residency that combines an MBA

    Here's another family medicine residency that combines an MBA:

    The UMKC School of Medicine Community and Family Medicine Residency offers a unique program that combines a community hospital setting with the opportunity to gain additional experience at an urban hospital. The three-year program provides residents with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful family medicine physician in a variety of practice environments. There are currently 36 residents in the program. The program is nationally recognized as a program of excellence, particularly in the area of obstetrics education.

    Beginning in 2004, residents can also choose to complete an MBA as part of their residency. The MBA in Health Care Leadership for Physicians is the first combined residency/MBA in physician healthcare leadership in the country. Designed to fit the schedule of family medicine residents, classes are held at nearby Rockhurst University. The program helps provide future physicians with the skills in business management and leadership necessary in today’s healthcare environment.

    http://www.med.umkc.edu/residency/communitymed/resinfo1.html

    10 Questions to consider before leaving clinical medicine

    I'm constantly speaking with physicians about non-clinical career options. Some physicians wish to work in venture capital or investment banking and others simply have no idea what they could do if they left clinical medicine. I often start my discussions with the following questions: 

    1.    What are the 3 most important/valuable things in your life?
    2.    If you didn't have to worry about money or finances, what would you want to do with your life?
    3.    If you had to start over, would you choose medicine? (if so, the same specialty?) If not a career in medicine, then what type of career would you choose?
    4.    How happy/miserable are you in your current clinical practice? (rate on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 = hate, 10 = love)  Assuming that you are not very happy right now: what do you dislike about practicing medicine?
    5.    How much flexibility do you have to relocate?
    6.    What is your minimum salary requirement for the next 2-3 years?
    7.    How much time would you be willing to spend traveling for work?
    8.    Is there a specific non-clinical career path that you’d like to pursue?
    9.    Do you enjoy writing? teaching? (rate on a scale of 1-10, 10 = highest)
    10.    How many physicians do you know who are currently working in a non-clinical setting?




    If you're seriously thinking about a career change, think about these questions. It's a simple way to assess realistic expectations and goals for both the short-term and long-term future. There are so many additional questions that also must get asked, such as:
    • Are you willing to take risks if the potential benefits (and losses) may be great? 
    • Are you willing to go back to school?
    • How soon do you plan to leave medicine?
    • Will you have any regrets if you never return to clinical practice?
    • etc.
    The list of questions can be endless, but I don't have time to get into all of those issues in a single conversation.  If you'd like to explore our personalized career coaching services, click here to learn more.

    Sunday, March 14, 2010

    14th Annual AMWA-DVC Princeton Conference

    Interested in medical writing? If you live in the Delaware Valley, then the AMWA-DVC (Delaware Valley Chapter) will be having it's 14th Annual Princeton Conference. Get ready for an intensive 1-day program of knowledge and networking! The AMWA-DVC 14th Annual Princeton Conference offers a choice of 4 credit workshops and 2 noncredit workshops. All programs are open to AMWA members and nonmembers.

    Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center
    800 Scudders Mill Road
    Plainsboro, NJ 08536
    Saturday, May 15, 2009

    Workshops being offered at The 14th Annual Princeton Conference include:
    • Statistics for Medical Writers and Editors (ES/G/SG) #110
    • Sentence Diagramming for Clarity and Practicality (CP/G) #114
    • Writing a Protocol in Compliance With the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Guidelines (NC
    • Ethical Standards in Medical Publication (CP/EW/PH) #205
    • Educating Sales Representatives About Science and Medicine
    • (B/FL/PH) #303
    • From Bench Scientist to Medical Writer (NC)
    Learn more by visiting: http://www.amwa-dvc.org/

    Jobs for medical school grads who don't pursue residency

    The following post continues to receive a significant amount of traffic and I wonder if it will become more popular after Match Day (I really hope that's not the case, but you simply never know).

    Here's the post, titled: 

    Jobs for Physicians with No Residency Experience

    Medical school graduates want to know, "what can I do if I don't do residency?"

    If you didn't match into a residency this year, I hope you'll match next year. If you decide that residency isn't for you, then there's still hope for you to pay your bills and student loans.

    MD, DO, PharmD, JD, PhD, MBA, MPH, MS

    How many people do you know who have multiple doctorate and master degrees?

    We commonly see MD, MPH (or DO, MPH)
    I also know a few physicians with MD, JD
    We see physician scientists with MD, PhD (or DO, PhD)
    I also know quite a few people who have MD, MPH, MBA
    It's less common to find someone who have MD, PhD, MPH, MBA

    Where's the limit? There is none! So, what are these people doing with so many degrees? By the time you graduate with all these degrees, you won't have time to work because you'll be ready to retire!

    Retiring from medicine to start another career

    The other day, I spoke with a retired physician who is now completing an executive MBA program. This person is retiring from medicine (after many years of clinical practice) and is now embarking on several new business ventures.

    Many physicians don't realize that business can be very fun. If you have a great business idea, you could take those ideas and create a company and generate a significant amount of revenue (if it's the right type of business model). If it's not a great business model, you may still have some fun if you're doing something fun and interesting.

    Are you an entrepreneur? Recently, I've been listening to many different podcasts through iTunes that focus on business and entrepreneurship. Stanford, Wharton, and several other business schools have some great podcasts on iTunes U. It's free education!

    Saturday, March 13, 2010

    Clinical Development Director

    This job post is from the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Health Information Technology) website:

    Clinical Development Director

    SUMMARY

    A senior clinician responsible for leading all aspects of the development process. Works with the Project Director to ensure success of the Certification Development process and fulfillment of the CCHIT mission.
    The Clinical Director of Certification Development will:
    • Manage and oversee development of the aspects of certification criteria requiring clinical knowledge
    • Assure strategic alignment of CCHIT certification with Federal programs
    • Bring industry and market knowledge to bear in identifying strategic and business growth opportunities
    • Present certification criteria to the Commission and carry decisions back to the relevant work groups
    • Closely coordinate the clinical aspects of criteria across domains
    • Provide clinical leadership for the test script development process
    • Lead concept development and prototyping of new CCHIT initiatives such as usability testing, etc.
    • Participate in CCHIT’s outreach and educational programs as a presenter
    • This is a full time, employed position and may be based in CCHIT’s Chicago office or work remotely.

    REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

    The Clinical Director reports to the Executive Director and receives technical guidance from the Chair. The Clinical Director supervises the Strategic Work Group Leads.

    Add Twitter to your LinkedIn profile

    Here's a great little video that explains why you'd want to add a Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile. Make sure you're actively using both Twitter and LinkedIn. These social media and social networking tools have revolutionized the way people find jobs. Follow me on Twitter: @DrJosephKim


    Friday, March 12, 2010

    Hope to see you at the 8th Annual MD/MBA Conference

    I hope to see you at the 8th Annual MD/MBA Conference next month in Cambridge, MA. I'll be wandering around MIT when I'm not in sessions. 

    Propel Careers and Tufts University School of Medicine will be co-hosting the networking event on April 9th for the 8th Annual MD/MBA conference which will be held in Cambridge MA from April 9th – 11th 2010. The networking event will be at the Cambridge Hyatt from 6-9pm.
    • Richard Kalish, MD, MPH Medical Director, Boston HealthNet, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan 
    • Wing Delatorre, MD, MBA Head of Business Operations bi3, Director, New Ventures, Biogen Idec 
    • John Fallon, MD, MBA Senior Vice President, Chief Physician, Executive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA 
    • Joseph Fastow, MD, MPH President, Physician Management, Ltd. 
    • Jonathan Gertler, MD, MBA Managing Director, Leerink Swann, Strategic Advisors, Leerink Swann 
    • Lisa Bard Levine, MD, MBA Associate Director, Healthcare, Navigant Consulting, Inc. 
    • N. Stephen Ober, MD, MBA Director, MD/MBA Dual Degree, Program, Boston University 
    • Winston Sherrill, PhD, MBA, MHA Associate Professor Public Health, Sciences, Clemson University 
    • Peter Slavin, MD, MBA President, Massachusetts General Hospital 
    • Christopher Baugh, MD, MBA Medical Director, ED Observation Unit, Brigham and Woman's Hospital 
    • Spencer Borden, MD, MBA Senior Managing Scientist, Exponent, Inc. 
    • Maria Chandler, MD, MBA MD/MBA Faculty Advisor, University of California, Irvine 
    • Ralph de la Torre, MD President and CEO, Caritas Christi Health Care
    For more information, visit: http://www.mdmbaprograms.org

    Have you mapped out your career path?

    If you're planning a career transition out of clinical medicine, have you mapped out your career path? What are you long-term career goals? Do you know how to get there?

    When I speak with individual physicians, I help them map out short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals and plans. I realize that those plans could change over time, but it's important to really know where you're headed. Otherwise, you could easily spend a great deal of time, energy, and money on things that won't really end up getting you where you want to be.

    Residents who wish to drop out of medicine struggle with the idea that they've essentially "wasted" their medical school education and medical/surgical training. Think about how many years it takes to become a practicing doctor in this country. If you really knew that you would not want to practice medicine, would you have come this far?

    Similarly, I meet physicians who are pursuing master degrees because they want to change careers. When I ask them how they plan to leverage their new degree, they often struggle with their answers. A new degree (like an MBA or a master of science in medical informatics) does not guarantee that you'll find a new job when you graduate. In fact, given the current state of the economy, it could be very difficult to find a job after you graduate.

    Make sure you have a clear map before you invest any time/energy into a career transition.

    Thursday, March 11, 2010

    Dual Family Medicine / MBA Program

    Dual Family Medicine/MBA Program Integrated with the Baylor College of Medicine/Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program and the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business

    The Baylor College of Medicine/Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program seeks to graduate excellent family physicians with the skills to practice in the 21st century.  Health care in the 21st century, with its growing complexity of regulatory and compliance issues, business law and ethics, is increasingly the business of medicine as well as the science and art of medicine.  Tomorrow’s leaders in America’s health care organizations and medical practices will need complementary medical and business skills.

    Since our inception in 1998, the Baylor College of Medicine/Kelsey-Seybold Clinic residency program has recognized the need for learners to understand the business as well as the clinical principles of medicine.

    The goal of the dual family medicine residency /MBA program is to develop leaders in the health care arena by combining traditional medical education with effective business, managerial, and leadership skills.  The dual program will add one extra year to residency training (for a total of four years) with the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business MBA curriculum being introduced in the third year.

    MBA in pharmaceutical management

    Since we're focusing on the topic of business school this month, I felt that it would make sense to talk about a specific type of MBA program that focuses on the pharmaceutical industry.

    Does it feel like more business schools are offering an MBA in pharmaceutical management? If you live in the northeast where we're surrounded by pharmaceutical companies, then it certainly feels like many business schools offer an MBA specifically for pharmaceutical professionals.

    In my region, here are some of the pharmaceutical management/marketing MBA programs:
    • Drexel University (LeBow)
    • Rutgers University
    • Fairleigh Dickinson University (Silberman)
    • St. Joseph's University (Haub)
    • Columbia University 
    If you're actively pursuing a career in pharmaceutical medicine, maybe you're planning on getting an MBA from one of these institutions. Several of these programs blend an online classroom experience with the real classroom. Some also take you on an international trip at the conclusion of a 2-year program.

    MIT Sloan BioInnovations Conference 2010 is tomorrow

    As an MIT alum, I'm always glad to promote MIT activities. Tomorrow, the MIT Sloan BioInnovations Conference will take place (March 12, 2010). It's a one-day event that will take place in the Boston Marriott Cambridge Hotel, Kendall Square, Cambridge MA. I really wish I could be there. I also wish I could be a member of the MIT Sloan BioMedical Business Club. Since I'm employed full-time, I can't practically go to HIMSS, the MIT Sloan BioInnovations conference, the MD/MBA conference, the Medical Fusion conference, and still have time for family vacations.

    My wife and I have been visiting Boston almost every year because we miss MIT so much. We look for every opportunity to visit Boston (and we'll be there in April).  
    BioInnovations 2010 is the premier forum for leading thinkers from industry, academia, and government to discuss the next wave of innovations in life science technology, policy, and commercialization.
    Learn more here: http://web.mit.edu/bbc/bioinnovations/2010/index.html

    Unemployed Stormtrooper (Star Wars)

    I've been inspired to blog about personal topics on Thursdays. Given that I'm a Star Wars fan, I thought I'd share this funny photo:

    If you're a Star Wars fan, then I think you'll appreciate this image. For those who are not Star Wars fans, this Stormtrooper (a bad guy) is now unemployed because his office (the Death Star) was destroyed by the good guys. 

    Wednesday, March 10, 2010

    661,400 vs. 2.6 million jobs

    These are the numbers you'll find if you look on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections website at BLS.gov.

    In 2008, physicians held 661,400 jobs. There are approximately 2.6 million jobs for nurses.

    That's approximately a 1:4 ratio of physicians to nurses.
    Physicians and surgeons held about 661,400 jobs in 2008; approximately 12 percent were self-employed. About 53 percent of wage–and-salary physicians and surgeons worked in offices of physicians, and 19 percent were employed by hospitals. Others practiced in Federal, State, and local governments, educational services, and outpatient care centers.

    Registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs. About 60 percent of RN jobs are in hospitals.
    Data from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
    Physicians and Surgeons
    Registered Nurses

    What's a "high-paying non-clinical job?"

    You may have heard the phrase, "high-paying non-clinical job." What does that mean? How do you define "high-paying"? Are we talking about base salary? Performance-based compensation? Commission plus bonus? Stock options?  In the business world of consulting or pharma, the term "high paying" really has no cap (see: CEO salaries in the pharmaceutical industry)

    I doubt that most primary care physicians will jump right into a CEO seat in any major corporation, but there are some non-clinical jobs that pay more compared to others. Are you thinking about a career transition just so that you can earn more? Is money the main motivator?

    For most professionals, money (unfair compensation) ends up being a de-motivator. Now, does that mean that high-paying jobs end up being great motivators? Not really. Clearly, some people are motivated by large salaries, but I think we all know wealthy people who aren't happy with work or life.

    If you're looking for a high-paying non-clinical job, you may need to be patient. If you're making a high salary as a physician, the reality is that you may take a pay cut if you transition into the non-clinical world. This won't happen to everyone, but it will happen to some. I've worked with individuals who were making over $200k each year, and they took a job paying $150k annually. They were much happier because work/life balance and overall job satisfaction was more important than a high-paying job. Maybe you're in a similar situation. Maybe you'd be willing to reduce your salary so that you can experience more enjoyment in life.

    So, what's your definition of a high-paying job, and what are you willing to give up?

    Tuesday, March 9, 2010

    Don't forget to build and cultivate your social network

    I generally like to remind my readers about the importance of social networking. Many physicians tend to get very isolated because of their busy schedules. They may lose contact with friends and colleagues from medical school and residency. However, it's never too late to reconnect with those individuals.

    How do you find them? There's a relatively good chance that you'll find them through Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google.

    If you're searching for a job or strongly considering a career transition into a non-clinical career, then make sure to build and cultivate your social network. You don't have to spend several hours on Facebook every night, but make sure that you're connecting with people on a social level so that they're thinking about you.

    Speaking of social networking, don't forget that we offer a valuable resource: the "Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals" social network. Also, join our LinkedIn Group and make sure to become a fan on Facebook.

    The best MBA program for physicians that is 100% online

    If you're looking for an online MBA program that is 100% online (i.e., no on-campus residency required), then my #1 recommendation would be the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I'm not being paid to write this. However, keep in mind that I received my MPH (master of public health) from the UMass Amherst, so I may be a bit biased.

    Here are the reasons why I think this is the #1 online MBA program for physicians:
    • The UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management offers physicians two options in which to learn the "language of business" by completing their Online MBA. Option #1 includes a partnership with the American College of Physcian Executives (ACPE). 
    • It is relatively inexpensive compared to many other MBA programs. These days, many physicians are struggling with reductions in reimbursement, so cost is very important!  The MBA program is a 37-credit program that is accredited at the highest standards by AACSB. The cost would be approximately 37 x $750 per credit = $27,750 (but there are additional fees and tuition increases due to inflation, so let's just say it's approximately $30k).
    • This program is very flexible (which has its pros and cons). However, for a super-busy physician who wants to maintain sanity (and perhaps even a family life), flexibility is key. The program is self-paced - you choose how many or few courses to take in a given semester. You have 4 years to complete the degree but many finish in 2-2.5 years. Some other online MBA programs require that you must complete the program in 2 years because you're in a cohorted program.
    • You can take up to 2 courses before you matriculate into the program. This allows you to "test the waters" so that you can determine whether the online MBA experience will work for you. Plus, you can knock off 2 courses from that list of 14 courses, so now you can actually get up to 4 years to complete 12 courses instead of 14 courses.
    • GMAT requirement is waived for physicians holding US earned medical degrees or ECFMG certification. (this is not a unique feature to this program)
    • 29% of students in the Isenberg Online MBA program are physicians. Some MBA programs are exclusively for physicians, and this has its share of pros/cons depending on how you plan to leverage your MBA when you graduate.
    The biggest question you need to ask is this: How do you plan to leverage your MBA? In other words, why are you pursuing an MBA?  An online MBA isn't for everyone. Distance learning has its share of challenges. You need moderate computer skills if you're going to take all your courses online.

    I admit that at one time, I seriously thought I was going to pursue an online MBA. However, my reasons for pursuing an MBA have evolved, so now, I'm much less interested in online MBA programs and I am spending much more time researching executive MBA programs (which are often not 100% online and are generally much more expensive). I would not recommend an online MBA to most non-physicians, but physicians who decide to pursue an MBA often have different career goals in mind. Depending on your goals, an online MBA could make sense.

    To learn more about the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management online MBA program, click here.

    Monday, March 8, 2010

    Employment update from the BLS

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent in February. Health care employment continued to trend upward in February.

    In 2009, 22 states also recorded employment-population ratios that were above the national ratio is 59.3 percent. The image on the right shows some of those ratios.

    CEO salaries in the pharmaceutical industry

    Last week, you may have caught some news indicating that "Pfizer CEO Gets 12.5 Percent Raise From Last Year's $14.9M." Wow, it's hard to imagine what you could do with that much money.

    Is that a base salary of $14.9 million? No, but this is how it breaks down:
    CEO Jeff Kindler’s overall compensation for last year was $14.9 million, according to Dow Jones Newswire, a slight decrease from the year before, mostly because of lower stock prices for much of 2009. But Kindler stands to receive more this year: a base salary of $1.8 million (versus $1.6 million last year), an incentive target award of up to $2.7 million (from $2.4 million last year) and a long-term incentive award of $12 million (compared with $8.3 million last year).
    Now, let's compare Kindler’s compensation package to a few other CEOs in the pharma industry:
    • Abbott Laboratories’ Miles White reportedly received $25.3 million in 2008
    • Merck & Co.’s Richard T. Clark, reportedly received $17.3 million in 2008
    • Andrew Witty from GlaxoSmithKline received 1.78 million pounds ($2.51 million) in 2008
    • David Brennan from AstraZeneca  received $4.7 million in 2008
    You can actually find pharma CEO salaries posted on Forbes.com and other websites.

    EHR vendors are looking for implementation consultants and specialists

    Electronic health record (EHR) vendors are looking for implementation consultants and specialists. The nice thing is that most of these EHR companies will train you, but you should expect to travel quite a bit for this type of job. The majority of these clinical informatics positions are being filled by nurses, but physicians can play a unique role when it comes to interacting with other physicians.

    You see, physicians generally like to learn from other physicians. They want a colleague to provide them with pointers and tips on how a system can improve the clinical workflow. Many hospitals are cultivating physician "champions." These champions are influential advocates and have a unique way of communicating with other physicians in the hospital system. We need more champions, don't we?

    So, if you're thinking about a career in health IT, consider how you can play a role in the EHR implementation process. Implementation is just the first step. Maybe you could be instrumental in helping physicians and hospitals reach "meaningful use" so they can receive financial incentives from the government through the HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) within ARRA.

    Who are some EHR vendors? Here are a few (in no particular order or preference): Allscripts, GE, Epic, McKesson, NextGen, eClinicalWorks, Practice Fusion, athenahealth, Cerner, ChartLogic, Eclipsys, Greenway, Ingenix, MedConnect, and many others.

    Sunday, March 7, 2010

    Options for medical school grads who don't match on Match Day

    Match Day is a ceremonial day when 4th year medical students discover where they will be doing their medical and surgical internships and residencies. Match Day is coming up in a few weeks (March 18) and I'm sure many students are anxiously waiting for the results.

    What happens if you don't match? You could scramble, but what if you still don't find a position? What can you do to remain productive? There are several options, including some non-clinical options.  Here are a few of my thoughts (and you could also combine some of these):
    • Research job.
    • One-year MBA.
    • One-year MPH.
    • Medical writing.
    • Blogging.  
    • Restaurant work.
    • Consulting for a start-up.
    • Travel the world (if you have the luxury)
    • Volunteer.
    It's important to be creative and responsible with your options. You may have student loans to repay. Not matching is both a significant burden and an opportunity for you to do something meaningful while you get ready to start a busy internship/residency.

    Let's talk about business school this month

    This month (May), let's discuss the topic of business school in our social network (Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals). You can expect to see a heavy focus on: business school, MBA, MD/MBA, Executive MBA, part-time MBA, online MBA, and other discussions that revolve around business school for physicians and other health care professionals.

    So, whether you're thinking about an MBA or not, you should be thinking about business if you're considering a career transition into the non-clinical world. You don't need an MBA to succeed, but it can add value on multiple levels. But, what type of ROI (return on investment) does an MBA bring to a physician who wishes to transition out of clinical medicine?

    The topic of the month for March is: Business School. I welcome your participation.