Monday, May 31, 2010

Negotiating physician non-clinical job salaries (e.g., "Medical Director")

Before you can negotiate salary, you need some reference points. What's the average salary for that position? What is the salary range? What is your salary potential if you pursue that career path?

What makes this especially difficult is that the same title (e.g., "Medical Director") may have a salary range of $120-150k in one industry and a range of $250-280k in a different industry. So, if you check online salary calculators (like the ones found on Salary.com, Monster.com, etc.) you won't find an accurate salary figure for a position like "Medical Director" because that position can mean 100 different things in 100 different industries.

Did you know that many non-physicians hold the title "Medical Director"? Some are nurses, others are pharmacists, some have a PhD, and others don't have any clinical background. These individuals are director-level executives for the department of medical affairs.

So how do you get some salary data for a particular industry? You need to speak with recruiters and other human resource professionals who can get you grounded so that you have a realistic expectation for salary. I (and other career coaches) work with physicians all the time to discuss salary because I work closely with recruiters to help physicians get the best salary for every position.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! I'm enjoying a weekend away with my wife. Hope you're all getting some rest this Memorial Day.

If you're still practicing medicine, then perhaps you're working in the ER or in the hospital. Are you tired of working holidays? Do you want to spend more time with your family? How's your work/life balance?

A non-clinical career could provide you with more flexibility (but be warned because some non-clinical careers may demand more of your time).

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The need for strong computer skills when looking for a new job

If you're currently looking for a new job, make sure that you've got strong computer skills so that you can work efficiently as you search for jobs, revise your CV, upload your resume, and stay organized. Modern computers have made it so much easier to remain productive in this busy world. I'm constantly connected because I have my smartphone (made by HTC), my laptop (a Lenovo ThinkPad right now, but it will soon be an HP EliteBook), and I even carry a ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) when I go to meetings (this is a Samsung). I always have access to my critical files and the Internet by leveraging cloud computing offline file sharing resources.

How about you? Are you still using an old computer? Maybe it's time to upgrade and buy a tiny little netbook for $300-400 so that you can take it with you. You can work in the bookstore, the coffee shop, or the airport if you're traveling for interviews. You can find some Dell coupon codes online and save even more on these little devices. If you don't like the tiny screen of a netbook, then get a standard laptop that's not too big or heavy. This way, you can still take it with you and remain productive when you're on the road.

Career advice articles from TheLadders

I'm on the mailing list for TheLadders.com and I get their newsletter that features some of their career advice articles. Take a look at some of these career advice titles:
Creating Effective Cover Letters
HR pros are divided about how much attention they give these documents. But if it reaches the right hands, a well-crafted cover letter can win the job.

Make Your Resume Answer Someone's Prayers
Use your resume to show you understand the employer's needs and embody the solution.

Facing 50 Questions for Every Job Interview
Michigan job seeker Connie Corwin grew tired of being stumped on interviews, so she made her own prep list of questions and answers for every eventuality.

Best Practices for the Happy Hour Interview
What to wear, what to drink and when to call it a night.

The Minds of HR Pros and Recruiters
Find out why they choose one candidate over another.
Looking for jobs that pay over $100k per year? Find $100K+ Jobs at TheLadders.com. If you're having difficulty focusing your job search, you may want to leverage TheLadders.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

Join NonClinicalJobs.com on FB an LI

I hope you're leveraging social networks if you're actively looking for a job. Please show your support for NonClinicalJobs.com by joining our group on LinkedIn and becoming a fan on Facebook.

Finally, don't forget to join the Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers (SPNCC). We currently have over 1,550 members and we're growing rapidly. If you've already joined the SPNCC, then please make sure to tell other physicians about the society and about NonClinicalJobs.com.

Featured physician entrepreneur: Omar Amirana, M.D.

Each Friday, we feature a physician executive or a physician entrepreneur. This week, our featured physician is Dr. Omar Amirana. The information below is from the Propel Careers website.

Omar Amirana, M.D., is a Partner at Oxford Biosciences focused on life sciences technology investing. He joined Oxford in 2005 as an Investment Manager with 15 years of industry-related experience in both large and small companies. He previously served as the Vice President of Business Development at St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) focused on electrophysiology, interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular intervention where he was also responsible for a 20 person R&D team. Prior to joining St. Jude Medical, Dr. Amirana was the CEO of Resolution Medical, a privately held cardiology company in Silicon Valley. Dr. Amirana has helped raise over $60M in venture financing which resulted in three IPOs: EP Technologies, Cardima, and MedicaLogic/Medscape. Dr. Amirana was a co-founder of Cardima and served there for seven years as Vice President of Marketing, Business Development and Chief Technology Officer. He was Vice President of Marketing at MedicaLogic through its IPO which raised $101M and achieved a ~$1.1B market capitalization. Dr. Amirana has launched cardiovascular products worldwide and holds various patents. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and an M.D. from Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Health Economics, Outcomes and Reimbursement (HEOR) jobs

HEOR stands for Health Economics, Outcomes and Reimbursement. Looking for HEOR jobs? Click here to view HEOR jobs listed on NonClinicalJobs.com.  Many of these HEOR jobs are with biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, contract research organizations (like Covance), health services research (like HealthCore), and others.

If you're considering a job in HEOR, get very familiar with the following topics:
  • Health Economics
  • Outcomes Research
  • Pricing and Reimbursement
  • Strategic Pricing
  • Market Access
  • Global Health
  • Formulary Information
  • Comparative Effectiveness
  • International Markets
  • Economic Modeling
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Evidence-based Medicine
  • Competitive Intelligence
  • Quality Improvement
  • Pharmacoeconomics

Click here to view HEOR jobs.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Career Counseling Articles from the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has a section on their website called, "Career Counseling." It's designed primarily for residents, but I've found the articles to be helpful for students and practicing physicians. There are some of the topics that are covered:

* Training, Certification and Licensing
* Practice and Career Options
* Searching for the Right Career Opportunity
* Marketing Yourself
* The Contract, Compensation and Malpractice Insurance
* Personal Finances
* Setting Up the Practice

I think there's room for an article on non-clinical career options for those who don't feel that clinical medicine is the right option.  Such individuals may be looking for information about alternative physician careers. I don't think they'll find much on the ACP website about that. In fact, I don't think any medical student or resident will find much information about non-clinical career options on any medical specialty society website. They probably won't find anything on the AMA website either (unless they happen to stumble on this article).

If you know any medical students, residents, or physicians who are seriously considering a career outside of traditional clinical medicine, please refer them to NonClinicalJobs.com so that they can gain some insights about alternative career options that might be appropriate for them. 

MIT Career Reengineering Program

The MIT Professional Education - Career Reengineering Program facilitates a complex task: retooling for contemporary science and technology careers. The 12-month, part-time program is designed as a series of educational experiences that will connect students with emerging technological fields and leverage their strengths into a strategic career plan.

Student Plan of Action:

  • Assess your professional strengths and create a plan to build knowledge, skills, and networks.
  • Select an MIT course that will offer you current knowledge in your field or establish expertise in a new field.
  • Make full use of a world-renowned learning community through educational and networking opportunities in seminars, conferences, and lectures.
  • Put new knowledge to work through an internship or research opportunity aligned with your career goals.
  • Construct a strategic job search plan that is tailored to your interests, abilities, and job market opportunities.
  • Develop a team of peers and mentors within the Career Reengineering Program and MIT to support your career aspirations.
  • Focus on personal development as a long-term, career-enhancement strategy.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Top 10 Highest Paying Non-Clinical Careers

The other day, I was having a discussion with a physician about non-clinical careers and salaries. The person asked, "what are the highest paying non-clinical careers for physicians?"

If you search on Google, you won't find the answer. You may find this article on Monster.com that lists 10 non-clinical careers (but most of these positions are not for physicians).
1. Healthcare Administrator
2. Health Educator
3. Medical Social Worker
5. Medical Equipment Preparer
4. Mental Health Counselor
6. Athletic Trainer
7. Rehabilitation Counselor
8. Medical Records and Health Information Technician
9. Medical Secretary
10. Medical Transcriptionist

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Rewarding Health Care Careers That Don’t Require Medical School

This is a guest post by Jenna Russell for non-physicians who may be interested in clinical and non-clinical careers in the world of health care. 

Rewarding Health Care Careers That Don’t Require Medical School

You find yourself watching way too many medical dramas; you are fascinated by the medical miracle shows on the Discovery Channel. You don’t faint at the sight of blood and you have a deep desire to help others and serve mankind in a meaningful way. There’s just one problem. You don’t have 7 years and forty grand to become a doctor.

No matter where you are in your life, if you have the underlying drive to pursue a job in healthcare, the reality is that there are dozens of career opportunities that allow you to participate in the medical field without having to become a doctor or even a nurse. There are many jobs which require a minimal education commitment from a certification program to a 2-year associate’s degree. If you want it, a job in the medical field is entirely within your reach. Here are 4 great health care jobs that anyone can pursue.

Radiologic Technologist or Radiographer
Education: Certification, Associates Degree (2 years), Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)
Average Salary: Average around $50,000/yr

Annual salary of Los Angeles County's Superior Court judges

This may seem a bit off-topic, but I was reading a fascinating story on CNN about Richard Fine who's been held in solitary confinement at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail for 14 months, even though he's never been charged with a crime. Fine, a 70-year- old taxpayer's advocate who once worked for the Department of Justice, is being held for contempt of court.

Here's the interesting part of the story:
For the last decade, Fine has filed appeal after appeal against Los Angeles County's Superior Court judges. He says the judges each accept what he calls yearly "bribes" from the county worth $57,000. That's on top of a $178,789 annual salary, paid by the state. The county calls the extra payments "supplemental benefits" -- a way to attract and retain quality judges in a high-cost city.
I have no way of knowing what's true vs. false, but I'm simply quoting a segment from CNN.

So, why am I blogging about this CNN story? It's to talk about the issue of salary. So many people think that doctors make very high salaries. Some certainly do, but so many don't. When we compare ourselves against other professions, how do we view ourselves? If we look at the legal sector, we know that judges aren't necessarily making more compared to private attorneys. Medical attorneys who work in the private sector may bill doctors $300-500 per hour for their services related to medical employment contract review/negotiation, medical malpractice defense, etc. Plus, lawyers get to charge for their time on the phone. Physicians generally don't charge their patients for a phone consultation.

If you're a physician, how do you view your salary expectations if you're considering a career change? Do you expect to see a dramatic change? Maybe you'll still find yourself moonlighting so that you can live and maintain a certain lifestyle.

A discussion about physician salaries on Sermo

On Sermo, you'll find physicians (and only physicians) discussing all types of things. A recent discussion has focused on the validity of national physician salary surveys.

Here's what one physician posted on Sermo:
I've researched average physician compensation for a number of specialties, including my specialty using stats from AGMA, MGMA, and other sources. I am consistently struck by how low these figures are compared with individuals I know and others I know about.

I know the limitation of these statistics is that they usually only represent employed physicians. I thought it might be interested to see whether you believe the average income (and upper and lower ranges) for your specialty is correct, and what you think the implications are.
The reality is that most physicians voted that these numbers are inflated. In some cases, they're up by 25-30%. In other cases, over 50%. As a result of these published figures, new graduates are feeling entitled to very high salaries.

Monday, May 24, 2010

"Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" next week (June 1st)

As a reminder, next Tuesday (June 1st), we have our next free group conference call titled, "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" at 9 pm eastern (make sure to check your time zone).

You can register for the June 1st conference call here. Space is limited, so sign up now!

"Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" is a free monthly conference call for physicians, medical students, and others who wish to chat about non-clinical job opportunities. The call will last approximately 60 minutes and it will be an opportunity for us to discuss topics related to the career transition process. I hope you'll join us.

Focus your job search: TheLadders.com for high-paying jobs

Do you get lost when you look for jobs on a regular job board? Do your search results yield too many types of jobs? If you're having difficulty focusing your job search, you may want to leverage TheLadders.com which offers online job search resources and content for job seekers. This way, you can effectively  Search for Jobs That Pay Over $100,000.  Plus, you will find practical career advice at TheLadders.com. Those who are actively searching for a job may want to consider the UpLadder Premium service (which is a paid service).

TheLadders.com  provides you with the ability to find high-paying non-clinical jobs in medical affairs, consulting, biopharma, investment banking, venture capital, and many other industries. Their targeted sites list more than 35,000 new $100k+ jobs each month across every industry, in companies of all types and sizes. They only list jobs that pay more than $100,000/year, including many C-level, VP, Director and Manager jobs. So, if you're in the market for a $100k+ job, you won't find a better resource anywhere.  

Find $100K+ Jobs at TheLadders.com.

Friday, May 21, 2010

AMWA Conference 2010

AMWA is the American Medical Writers Association. If you're thinking about a career in medical writing, you'll definitely want to join AMWA.

Here's what you can look forward to at AMWA’s 70th Annual Conference:
November 11-13, 2010
Milwaukee, WI

Major speakers
The 2010 Keynote Address will be presented on Thursday, November 11, by William L. Lanier, MD, editor in chief of Mayo Clinic Proceedings and former president of the Society of Neurological Anesthesia and Critical Care. Dr Lanier’s timely, informative, and interesting presentation is entitled “Ensuring the Quality and Integrity of the Indexed Medical Literature.”

The 2010 McGovern Award recipient is Thomas Stossel, MD, director of the Division of Translational Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and one of the founders of the Association of Clinical Researchers and Educators. The award will be presented at the McGovern Luncheon on November 11. Dr Stossel’s presentation will be “Product Money in Health Care: Sin or Salvation?”

Featured physician executive: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong

Each Friday, we feature a physician executive or a physician entrepreneur. This week, Dr. Soon-Shiong is our featured physician. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Abraxis Health..

Abraxis BioScience is a fully integrated biotechnology company dedicated to delivering progressive therapeutics and core technologies that offer patients and medical professionals safer and more effective treatments for cancer and other critical illnesses. The Abraxis portfolio includes the world's first and only protein-based nanoparticle chemotherapeutic compound (ABRAXANE) which is based on its proprietary tumor targeting system known as the nab™ Technology platform.

He was recently appointed Executive Director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute, and is Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Professor of Bioengineering at UCLA.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Research Physician jobs at Quintiles

Quintiles is the only fully integrated bio and pharmaceutical services provider offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital solutions. 23,000 employees in 60 countries have helped develop or commercialize all of the top 30 best-selling drugs.

Click here to view "Research Physician" jobs at Quintiles. Not interested in working as a research physician? Then take a look at some of these other job opportunities at Quintiles: 
* Clinical Operations
* Corporate Support
* Data Management/Biostatistics
* Laboratory
* Medical Science Liaisons
* Regulatory & Drug Safety

Top Ten Highest Paid Medical Specialties

Here's some data from the 2009 AMGA Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey. I got this table from National MedPoll. Do you think these numbers are accurate? If these are self-reported figures, then they could be inflated. Physician salary ranges tend to vary quite a bit based on your geography and your practice setting. Let's take a look: 

Specialty 
Median Salary in 2009
Orthopedic Surgery – Spine  $641, 728
Orthopedic Surgery – Joint Replacement  $580,711
Neurological Surgery $548,186
Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery  $507,143
Diagnostic Radiology – Interventional  $478,000
Orthopedic Surgery  $476,083
Trauma Surgery  $465,773
Orthopedic Surgery – Hand  $465,006
Diagnostic Radiology – Non-Interventional  $438,115
Transplant Surgery – Liver   $433,333
Source: 2009 AMGA Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey

An online chat with a career counselor for MIT alumni

As a member of the MIT Alumni Association, I'm also an active career member of the ICAN or the Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN). The ICAN consists of over 3,000 advisors. The Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN) connects MIT alumni with each other and with students to facilitate career strategies, gather quality advice, and open up important networking connections

On May 13, 2010, the MIT Alumni Association held an online chat with a professional career counselor. Over 100 questions were answered and I think you'll find some of this content very relevant. Questions and answers revolved around the following themes:
  • Transitioning back into the work force after a period of absence
  • Going back to school
  • Transition from academia to industry
  • Losing a job at Pfizer
  • Outplacement services
  • Effective networking strategies
  • Value of career counseling
  • Salary negotiations
  • Retired folks looking for part-time consulting opportunities
  • Making a career transition
  • Leadership and innovation
  • How age affects your job search
  • Being geographically restricted during a job search
  • Job opportunities in management consulting
  • Working for a start-up company
  • Informational interviews (also known as networking)
  • How to get a promotion
  • Finding a mentor
  • International job opportunities
  • How to leverage LinkedIn
You can access the transcript of the online chat here (PDF). Update: New Link Here (PDF).

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Effectively leveraging social media to find a job or make a career transition

Do you know how to leverage your social network to find a new job? What if you're making a career transition? If you're a physician considering an alternative career, then maybe you should learn about your options by reaching into your network. The problem is that many physicians get busy and isolated from their classmates and peers. So, how can you leverage social media?

To start, I'd encourage you to join LinkedIn, create a free profile, and look for classmates from medical school and college. Make sure to join our group (Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers) on LinkedIn for some interesting discussions about non-clinical jobs.


Finally, there's Facebook. I realize that many physicians don't wish to join Facebook. They want privacy and they don't want their patients finding them on Facebook. Well, Facebook has changed its privacy settings, so it's pretty easy to join Facebook and stay out of search results. This way, your patients probably won't find you. Plus, there are other things you can do to maximize your privacy on Facebook. Make sure to show your support by becoming a fan of NonClinicalJobs.com on Facebook.

I won't get into Twitter in this blog post, but I think you get the general idea. In order to effectively leverage social media, you need to expand your personal network, meet new people, talk about job opportunities, learn about your career options, and let people know that you're interested in making a career change.

MBA vs. CFA

Are you interested in a career in finance? During college of medical school, I also didn't have any interest in business or finance, but now I find myself applying to business school so that I can get an MBA. For those of you who've never taken a course in finance, you may want to get familiar with this interesting question: CFA vs. MBA? Chartered Financial Analyst vs. Master of Business Administration. Which is more valuable?

Here's what Investopedia has to say:
The advantage of an MBA is that the knowledge obtained in the program is valuable in other industries outside of the investment world. The great disadvantage is cost - both the direct cost of the program, and the loss of income that results from a two-year hiatus for those considering going back to school full-time. The advantages of the CFA program are the ability to acquire specific investment related skills at a relatively low cost. However, although the CFA program is based on self study, it is arduous, requiring a commitment of four years and 1,000 study hours (on average) to complete it.
I've spoken at length with different people about the value of an MBA vs. a CFA. I don't know many physicians who have pursued a career that's 100% in finance. There are many physicians who work in financial services: venture capital, investment banking, equity research analyst, wealth management, etc. However, you probably won't find many physicians out there who also have the CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst designation. How do you get the CFA designation? No business school required. You simply have to pass all three levels of the CFA exam.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Pfizer will be cutting 6,000 jobs

Pfizer Global Manufacturing Announces Plans To Reconfigure Its Global Plant Network
- - -
Eight Sites Targeted for Exit; Reductions Recommended At Six Plants; Operations to Expand at Others

NEW YORK, N.Y., May 18 - Pfizer Global Manufacturing announced today plans to reconfigure its worldwide plant network to create a fully aligned manufacturing and supply organization from the combined networks of Pfizer and Wyeth... These changes will result in a global reduction of approximately 6,000 jobs over the next several years.

Alternative Careers for Physicians

Have you read the JAMA PULSE edition titled, "Making a Living: Alternative Careers for Physicians?" PULSE is the medical student section of JAMA. Now, this was written back in 1998 and it was written in the context that people believed that we would face a surplus of physicians in this nation. I think we all know that the opposite is now true.

The Editor's Note is written by Jason A. Konner, a medical student at Stanford University School of Medicine (remember, this was back in 1998). It appears that Dr. Konner is now a medical oncologist in NY at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (see his bio here). I like his quote where he said, "Tomorrow’s doctors should not be unemployed; rather, they should be redefined." I still believe that's true today. Any physician who chooses to pursue an alternative or non-traditional career path should have the opportunity to redefine a medical career. After all, in today's world, it's rare to find physicians having the opportunity to repeat a residency in a different specialty.

In this edition of PULSE, the two main alternative career paths that get highlighted include:
  1. Medical Journalism
  2. Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM)

What will you gain if you get a Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM)? Let's take an example of one school: Champlain College (I'm picking on them because I recently received an e-mail from them). Their curriculum focuses on "healthcare specific" courses — allowing you to stay current with today's relevant healthcare issues. After successfully completing the MSHM, you will be able to:
• Analyze and evaluate the U.S. healthcare system
• Enhance management-level knowledge and understanding of business disciplines as they relate to healthcare
• Understand the legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations of managing healthcare information technology
• Focus on the critical areas of managing from the strategic, tactical, and operational perspectives
• Identifying barriers to continuous improvement processes
MSHM graduates can attain a variety of healthcare leadership positions. Some examples of jobs include:

* Director of Healthcare Marketing
* Hospital Administrator
* Health Analytics Director
* Healthcare Finance Manager
* Health Services Manager
* Health Services Project Administrator
* Managed Care Manager

What do you think? Is it time to go back to school? I'm planning on going to business school so that I can learn how to be more effective in the world of business.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers (SPNCC)

After collecting feedback from our membership, we've renamed our social networking group to the Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers.  The short version is: SPNCC.


Membership is free and is open to physicians, medical students, and other health care professionals and scientists (non-physicians may join as affiliate members).  Currently, the vast majority of our membership represents physicians, residents, and medical students.

You can join the Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers by clicking here or by visiting: Members.NonClinicalJobs.com

Careers in medical writing (in the UK)

MedComms Networking in the UK has released its 2010 guide called "From Academic to Medical Writer: A guide to getting started in medical communications." I think it could also be summarized as "Careers in Medical Writing."

This free guide is published by NetworkPharma and it's specific for those working or living in the UK, but many of the principles described in this career guide can apply in many other areas of the world. So, if you've been thinking about exploring the world of medical writing, I'd encourage you to download this guide and take a look at it.

Here's a brief synopsis:
This guide focuses primarily on the role of the Medical Writer in medical communications agencies. The Medical Writer’s role is to use science and language to deliver education and communication programmes for the pharmaceutical industry, while working to the highest ethical standards and adhering to industry regulations and guidelines. The aim of this guide is to give the industry information you need to decide if you are suited to the role of Medical Writer, and to provide the insider knowledge you need to excel at interview.
You can download the 2010 guide here (PDF):
http://www.medcommsnetworking.co.uk/careersguide.pdf

The most challenging aspect of medical writing is getting started. Once you get established and gain some significant experience, then you'll find plenty of business as long as you're good and qualified. Don't know how to break in? You can access other information here about "getting started in medical communications."

Physicians running for U.S. House and Senate seats

Have an interest in politics? How about a passion? Would you like to start a new career in the world of U.S. politics? Maybe it's time to run for a U.S. House or Senate seat.  According to USA Today:
  • Forty-seven physicians — 41 Republicans and six Democrats— are running for the House or Senate this year, three times the number of doctors serving in Congress today.
  • Physician candidates start with at least one political advantage: voter confidence. A Gallup Poll in March found 77% of Americans trust doctors to do "the right thing" on health policy, compared with 32% for Republican leaders and 49% for Obama.
  • There are 16 doctors in Congress today, 3% of lawmakers. 

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Writing learning objectives for CME proposals and activities

Interesting in a career in the CME industry? When's the last time you wrote a needs assessment that included a proposed agenda and a set of proposed learning objectives? Johanna Lackner Marx MPH, MSW from InQuill Medical Communications, LLC has posted a free webinar about writing CME learning objectives. Her presentation is titled, "Writing Educational Objectives to Meet ACCME’s Updated Criteria." She covers some of the recent changes that have impacted the CME industry. You can access the webinar here.

Speaking of medical writing and the medical communications industry, there are many people out there who offer career services to help physicians and scientists "break in" to the medical communication industry. There are so many ways to enter the industry and writing isn't the only way. There are opportunities related to business development, strategic planning, project management, educational design, and collaborative partnerships. Of course, if you enjoy writing, then maybe you'll be happy as a medical writer or medical director. I've been working in this industry for the last 5 years and I've enjoyed it. Contact me if you'd like to learn more about physician careers in medical communications.

"non medical jobs for medical doctors"

It seems strange to think that medical doctors (and doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine) are typing "non medical jobs for medical doctors" into Google. What are they looking for? A career change? A job board? (we have that by the way)

Why are so many physicians, surgeons, and other types of medical doctors so dissatisfied with their medical career? Is the grass really greener on the other side?

I check Google Analytics data on a regular basis to see how people are coming to NonClinicalJobs.com. Most who come from a search engine like Google or Yahoo are coming here because they're typing "non clinical physician jobs." Recently, I've been seeing more people typing search terms related to career coaching, career counseling, alternative physician careers, physician consulting jobs, the drop out club, online career counseling for physicians, soji's list, jobs for medical students, physician chart review jobs, jobs for retired physicians, and so much more.

What are you looking for? Information? Career advice? Job descriptions? A job board?

Well, I hope you'll spend enough time looking because I think you're going to find quite a bit here.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Advanced Good Clinical Practice

What do you know about Good Clinical Practice or GCP? Here's what Wikipedia has to say about GCP:
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is an international quality standard that is provided by International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH), an international body that defines standards, which governments can transpose into regulations for clinical trials involving human subjects.
If you're looking for some education and training regarding GCP, then take a look at this upcoming course where you'll learn more about GCP. Here's a brief description:

This course provides an advanced, in-depth review of the structural elements of Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Participants will learn practical application of GCP regulations and guidelines for critical components of the clinical research process. Specific attention will be given to how quality systems, or a lack thereof, impact overall data quality and regulatory risk. This program is designed for professionals with at least two years of experience in the clinical research industry.

This course is recommended for experienced Clinical Quality Assurance Professionals, Clinical Research Associates, Project Managers, Investigators, Study Coordinators, and GCP-Focused Regulatory Affairs Professionals.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Find high-paying non-clinical jobs on TheLadders.com

Looking for a new job that pays over $100,000?  Maybe you're specifically looking for a really high-paying job (how do you define "high-paying" when you're a physician looking for a high-paying non-clinical job?).

TheLadders.com offers online job search resources and content for the $100k+ job seekers.  Search Jobs That Pay Over $100,000.  Plus, you can also find some practical career advice at TheLadders.com. Those who are actively searching for a job may want to consider the UpLadder Premium service where you'll find over 55,000 jobs right now.

TheLadders.com  provides you with the ability to find high-paying non-clinical jobs in medical affairs, consulting, biopharma, investment banking, venture capital, and many other industries. Their targeted sites list more than 35,000 new $100k+ jobs each month across every industry, in companies of all types and sizes. They only list jobs that pay more than $100,000/year, including many C-level, VP, Director and Manager jobs. So, if you're in the market for a $100k+ job, you won't find a better resource anywhere. Considering an alternative physician career? Find $100K+ Jobs at TheLadders.com.

Featured Physician Entrepreneur: George M. Rapier III, M.D.

Every Friday, I will feature a physician executive or a physician entrepreneur for our weekly "Featured Physician" series. This week's "Featured Physician" is George M. Rapier III, M.D.  Dr. Rapier was recognized as the Physician Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 by Modern Physician. Here's some information about Dr. Rapier from Wikipedia:
George M. Rapier III, M.D., serves as Chairman and CEO of WellMed Medical Management, Inc., a diversified healthcare company that is one of the fastest growing enterprises in the nation and Physicians Health Choice, a physician-owned Medicare Advantage Organization contracted with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). WellMed Medical Management is headquartered in San Antonio, TX, it is South Texas’ largest physician‐owned practice management company, specializing in senior health care, and the largest primary care provider for seniors in this region.

Dr. Rapier is a Dallas native who earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He interned at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and also completed his residency here. Since 1985, Dr. Rapier has been an assistant professor of medicine at the UT Health Science Center.

Business school application: essay questions

As some of you know, I hope to enroll in an executive MBA program, so I'm filling out a few business school applications right now. Almost all of the applications require you to complete a few essays. They don't all require a GMAT, but they do want to see a sample of your writing. So, I decided to share a few of these essay questions with you so that you can get a sense of what business schools are looking for in executive MBA students.

Here are some essay questions from one application:
1. Essay #1 – Please provide a situation where your integrity has been challenged, what you did and what you learned from it.
2. Essay #2 – What are your short term and long term goals? Does an MBA help you attain them? How?

Here's another application:
a. Discuss personal goals, conditions, or career aspirations that motivate you to pursue an Executive MBA.
b. What are your most important accomplishments?
c. What do you expect to achieve through this program?

Thursday, May 13, 2010

15 reasons why physicians may choose to pursue alternative careers

There are so many reasons why physicians choose to leave, but let me list a few so that people don't make any quick assumptions:
  1. Financial gain (we can't deny that some pursue non-clinical opportunities because of the potential for higher income generation)
  2. Improved work/life balance (even at the cost of lower income for some physicians)
  3. Disability (yes, doctors can get disabled, but in many cases they can continue to work and still collect disability - depending on the type of insurance you purchased)
  4. Instability (you may not be disabled, but you may be impaired for a variety of reasons. some lose their medical license. others may lose hospital privileges.)
  5. They find new opportunities (if you're an entrepreneur and you identify a huge opportunity, why not?)
  6. To have a blended career (30% clinical, 30% non-clinical, 30% at home)
  7. To work from home (if you're working virtually, then you can work from anywhere in the world)
  8. Burn out (yes, it happens to everyone. I hope you can bounce back)
  9. Rising malpractice premiums (especially true if you've been sued several times)
  10. Emotional drain (if you're working in hospice, geriatrics, or oncology, then you're faced with death all the time. how would you handle that?)
  11. To travel the world (some love to travel, so why not travel on the company's budget? jobs in sales, consulting, or media. Where do you think Sanjay Gupta's been?)
  12. To work in public health (FDA, state health departments, and many international public health jobs with the WHO)
  13. Government benefits (medical officer jobs with the FDA, the NIH, etc.)
  14. Of course, there are also those who simply wish to avoid the smell of gangrenous wounds and colostomy pouches. Or, maybe they don't wish to ever perform another Pap smear. Or, maybe they're tired of dealing with certain types of patients. This list goes on...
  15. Healthcare reform (really? Yes. Make sure to read:  How many doctors will leave medicine this year?)
These 15 reasons aren't in any particular order, but they ought to give you a sense of some of the driving motivators that cause physicians to leave a career in medicine. 

    Thanks for joining us for "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs"

    I'd like to thank all those who joined us for "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" last night (May 12, 2010). We had 15 people on the line and we had a nice discussion.

    "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" is a free monthly conference call where we will discuss various topics and have a time for Q&A. Last night, the call started with questions revolving around the company EHR or Executive Health Resources.  You can learn more about EHR by visiting these two websites:
    http://www.ehrdocs.com/
    http://www.theraccure.com/

    Please contact me if you'd like further information about job opportunities related to EHR so that I can direct you to an EHR recruiter.

    Other questions revolved around government jobs and we spent a few minutes talking about job opportunities at the FDA, the CDC, the NIH, and state health departments. Given that Medicare and Medicaid fraud are big problems, perhaps we'll see additional job openings in the future to combat fraud.

    Another question focused around start-up organizations. How can physicians find job opportunities with start-ups? I've personally had the opportunity to work with several start-ups. I was introduced to every one of them through someone in my personal social network. Therefore, if you'd like to get involved with a start-up, make sure to expand your social network. Leverage tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Twitter. Expand your network because you'll never know who you'll meet (directly or indirectly).  Make sure to join our growing network here: http://members.nonclinicaljobs.com/

    No residency experience? Make sure to read: Jobs for Physicians with No Residency Experience

    For those who may be interested in some personalized career coaching services, I'd encourage you to consider this: Career Coaching for Physicians

    Don't forget that your resume probably needs to be rewritten if you wish to have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Learn more about our Resume Services offered through a partner organization.

    Our next "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" is scheduled for June 1 and I hope you'll join us for another interactive group discussion. "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" on June 1st

    Wednesday, May 12, 2010

    Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP)

    I've worked with physicians who've needed help for mental health and/or substance abuse problems.  Some have lost their medical license. Others have been asked to leave medical school. 

    Almost every state has a physician health/assistance program (PHP or PAP) that also provides services and advocacy support for medical students, residents, physician assistants, and physicians who may have suffer from mental health problems, substance abuse, drinking, addictions, legal problems, etc. These physicians are often "impaired" and they may lose their ability to practice medicine. They may lose hospital privileges. They may get dismissed from medical school. They may be asked to leave residency. They may lose their medical license.  If they're treatable, then perhaps they can regain entry into the medical system.

    Are your obstacles real?

    This is a guest post by Dr. Lisa S. Chu.

    Are your obstacles real?

    Today I was asked by an interviewer to describe the greatest obstacle I’ve faced since deciding to leave medicine. I responded, “The fear of disappointing other people.”

    As I said it, I realized that this “obstacle” has felt very real to me at various times in my life. But when I look at it now, I can see that this fear is no more than a simple thought. In my mind is the story, “I can’t disappoint other people.” Why? “Because it will mean that I’m a bad person.” And why is that bad? “Because bad things happen to bad people.” And so on.

    When I count the number of times I know that I have disappointed people, and imagine the number of times that I don’t even know about, it’s amazing to notice that I’m still alive and well, sitting here typing on a keyboard! The point is, when we examine our deepest fears, we will discover that they are no more than simple, unexamined thoughts.

    Alternative Careers in Medicine

    There's an article on published in the Next Generation titled, "Alternative Careers in Medicine." It looks like it was published in 2007 and the article is based on an interview with John R. Wesley, M.D., a medical business consultant, Adjunct Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University Medical School, and the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Rhoads Research Foundation, American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
    Dr. Wesley worked at Baxter Healthcare, a global pharmaceutical and medical devices company. He emphasizes the importance of his professional network and he encourages self-awareness and an open mind: "Ask yourself, 'Is this what I want?'"

    Read the article titled, "Alternative Careers in Medicine" by visiting the Next Generation. The Next Generation is an independent online publication produced in collaboration with Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine.

    Tuesday, May 11, 2010

    Where Have All the General Internists Gone?

    There's an article in Journal of General Internal Medicine titled, "Where Have All the General Internists Gone?" Are internists stepping into careers outside of internal medicine? I think the answer is yes. Where are they going?  You'll have to read this.

    I hope I'm not to blame for some of this mid-career attrition. My intent is not to contribute to the growing physician shortage problem. Rather, I hope to provide information about career medical alternatives for those who are already planning on leaving a career in clinical medicine.

    Here's the background on the article:
    A shortage of primary care physicians is expected, due in part to decreasing numbers of physicians entering general internal medicine (GIM). Practicing general internists may contribute to the shortage by leaving internal medicine (IM) for other careers in and out of medicine.
    The authors conclude:
    About one in six general internists leave IM by mid-career compared to one in 25 IM subspecialists. Although research finds that doctors leave medicine because of dissatisfaction, this study was inconclusive about whether general internists left IM in greater proportion than IM subspecialists for this reason. A more likely explanation is that GIM serves as a stepping stone to careers outside of IM.
    Why is this occurring?  Perhaps one reason is because of career satisfaction. The authors wrote: A significantly lower proportion of general internists (70%) than IM subspecialists [(77%) (P < 0.008)] were satisfied with their career.

    To read the abstract from the  Journal of General Internal Medicine, click on this link.

    The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s Rising Stars 2010

    The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s Rising Stars list contains a long list of accomplished women executives in the healthcare industry.

    HBA Rising Stars are professionals in various sectors of the healthcare industry and are nominated by HBA's Corporate Partner organizations. Rising Stars represent various career stages and disciplines and meet the following criteria:
    • Is an employee of an HBA Corporate Partner company
    • Contributes significantly to your organization, preferably in numerous areas
    • Exemplifies true leadership and is a role model for others
    • Assists those in subordinate or peer positions and is a team player
    • Exhibits dedication to the healthcare industry
    • Is an true example of “top talent” that your organization wants to formally recognize

    "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" on June 1st

    Our "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" conference call scheduled for May 12 is now full. Thanks to all those who signed up and I look forward to connecting with you on May 12 for an interactive discussion about non-clinical job opportunities.

    For those who missed the opportunity to sign up for the May 12 call, the next "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" conference call is scheduled for June 1st (Tuesday) at 9 pm eastern (make sure to check your time zone).
    You can register for the June 1st conference call here. Space is limited, so sign up now! Once this call fills up, I'll post the schedule for the July call.

    "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" is a free monthly conference call for physicians, medical students, and others who wish to chat about non-clinical job opportunities. The call will last approximately 45-60 minutes and it will be an opportunity for us to discuss topics related to the career transition process. I hope you'll join us.

    Monday, May 10, 2010

    Share your story for an upcoming book!

    Richard F Fernandez MD, MPH is working on a project and he needs your help. This project is one of 20 different topics in the “50 Interviews book series” founded by Brian Schwartz in 2008. He's currently looking for 4 more physicians who are currently in transition or who have made the transition to a non-clinical career. Share your story and get included in his book!

    To learn how you can be included in Rich's upcoming book, read: Share your story for a book: 50 Interviews with Physicians in Career Transition. Make sure to contact him before it's too late!

    Non-clinical medical jobs and careers at Medsolutions

    MedSolutions is a healthcare utilization management company serving payers by overseeing their high-tech radiology spend and ensuring safe and quality care for their covered members. MedSolutions also serves healthcare providers in educating them on appropriate imaging utilization.

    MedSolutions began in 1992 as an owner/operator of diagnostic imaging centers, but quickly saw an increasing need in the managed care industry for intensely focused radiology benefits management. In 1997, we sold our diagnostic imaging centers and MedSolutions set out to focus solely on managing the cost of imaging and helped pioneer the new industry of radiology benefits management. We soon established ourselves as the industry leader, helping healthcare payers control the soaring costs in radiology.

    Today, MedSolutions has taken the clinical knowledge, proprietary technology, and forward thinking we perfected in radiology management and applied it to other areas of healthcare where we see opportunity for significant improvement, both in quality of care and in cost savings to health plans. MedSolutions continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the healthcare industry through Intelligent Cost Management, developing and introducing new services that extend beyond utilization management to capture maximum savings, reduce overall treatment costs, and ensure diagnostic accuracy.

    MedSolutions offers career opportunities to become part of this new trend in healthcare – where technology and clinical expertise come together. Gregg P. Allen, M.D., serves as the Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer. MedSolutions has career opportunities related to clinical information review (mostly done by nurses),  information technology, customer service, management, administration and more.

    To learn more about MedSolutions, visit their website: http://www.medsolutions.com

    10 Must-Read Articles from HBR

    I really enjoy reading Harvard Business Review (HBR). My subscription is about to expire, so I'm planning on renewing it through Amazon.com because I can save over 50%. Make sure you don't miss the "10 Must-Read Articles from HBR." You can also get this as a paperback. This collection includes the following 10 articles from HBR:
    1. Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change, by Clayton M. Christensen and Michael Overdorf, explains why so few established companies innovate successfully.
    2. Competing on Analytics, by Thomas H. Davenport, explains how to use data-collection technology and analysis to discern what your customers want, how much they're willing to pay, and what keeps them loyal.
    3. Managing Oneself, by Peter F. Drucker, encourages us to carve our own paths by asking questions such as, "What are my strengths?" and "Where do I belong?"
    4. What Makes a Leader? Not IQ or technical skills, says Daniel Goleman, but emotional intelligence.
    5. Putting the Balanced Scorecard to Work, by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton, includes practical steps and examples from companies that use the balanced scorecard to set strategy and measure performance.
    6. Innovation: The Classic Traps, by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, advocates applying lessons from past failures to your innovation efforts. She explores four innovation problems and offers remedies for each.
    7. Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail, by John P. Kotter, argues that transformation is a process, not an event. It takes years, not weeks, and you can't skip any steps.
    8. Marketing Myopia, by Theodore Levitt, introduces the quintessential strategy question, "What business are you really in?"
    9. What Is Strategy? by Michael E. Porter, argues that rivals can easily copy your operational effectiveness, but they can't copy your strategic positioning — what distinguishes you from all the rest.
    10. The Core Competence of the Corporation, by C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel, argues that a diversified company is like a tree: the trunk and limbs its core products, the branches its business units, the leaves its end products. Nourishing everything is the root system: its core competencies.

    CRA, CRC, CPI, and CTI Certification for Clinical Research

    Learn more about clinical research certification. Do you know what CRA, CRC, CPI, and CTI stand for? More alphabet soup?

    The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) was created to house all non-Physician certification programs (CRA, CRC and non-physician Investigator).

    The Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI ) is affiliated with ACRP and is now the administrative entity for the Physician Investigator exam. So, let's take a look at each of these acronyms:
    • CRA: Clinical Research Associate
    • CRC: Clinical Research Coordinator
    • CPI: Clinical Physician Investigator
    • CTI: Clinical Trial Investigator
    You can learn more about these clinical research certifications by visiting the ACRP website.

    Sunday, May 9, 2010

    BioCapital Career Fair

    BioCapital Career Fair
    Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center
    Thursday, May 20, 2010
    11am to 4pm

    Want to work in industry? How about the FDA?

    EXHIBITING COMPANIES
    • Aerotek Scientific, LLC
    • DHHS/FDA/Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
    • Emergent BioSolutions
    • Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.
    • QIAGEN
    • SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
    • The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
    • United States Food and Drug Administration
    Click here for more information about this upcoming career fair.

    BioMed Central Career Network

    I got this e-mail from BioSpace.com and I thought I'd share it with you:

    BioSpace.com has formed a new collaborative community of more than 1.6 million professionals across job functions and countries.

    We've partnered with BioMed Central to launch the BioMed Central Career Network, a central employment resource for research scientists and other life-science professionals in commercial corporations, research institutes, government and academia.

    And it's all hosted on BioSpace Collaborative, BioSpace.com's newest online channel.

    What does this mean for you?
    • An entire career community that puts in you in touch with more tools, jobs and employers across the life sciences.

    • Connections to government, research and academic segments through BioMed’s subscription services and more than 200 peer-reviewed, open-access journals.

    • Access to even more breaking news and relevant content.
    So allow us to make the introduction – visit BioMed Central Career Network and a collaborative community of 1.6 million today!
     

    Saturday, May 8, 2010

    Master of Science in Applied Clinical Research

    Are you thinking about going back to school? Do you need to? Probably not. However, we physicians can't seem to stay away from continuing education. St. Cloud State University offers a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Research program.  Here's a snippet from the St. Cloud State University website about Clinical Research:
    Clinical Research like Regulatory Affairs is one of the most in-demand professions in the entire medical device industry. Successful and well managed clinical trials are keys to success for most medical device companies and are critical to making safe and effective medical products available to patients worldwide.
    St. Cloud State University's Master of Science in Applied Clinical Research (MS-ACR) is unique compared to other Clinical Research programs because it is focused on the application of clinical research for the medical technology industry, thus the term “Applied” in the title.
    St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. To learn more about the Master of Science in Applied Clinical Research, visit the St. Cloud State University website.

    Speaking of graduate programs that focus on clinical research, Drexel University College of Medicine offers a Master of Science in Clinical Research Organization and Management. If you're a health professional, then you may be interested in the Master of Science in Clinical Research for Health Professionals (CRHP). Don't feel like going through all those courses to get a master's degree? How about the  Certificate of Study in Clinical Research? That's a quicker option for those of you who're interested in a clinical research career.

    Post a job on NonClinicalJobs.com

    Need to advertise a non-clinical job opening? Are you looking for physicians who are interested in finding non-clinical jobs?  

    Post a job on the NonClinicalJobs.com Job Board and your job post will get featured for 30 days.

    Each job that you post will:
    • Get published on NonClinicalJobs.com as a "Featured Job Post."
    • Get sent as a tweet to all my followers on Twitter (currently over 32,000 people following me @DrJosephKim)
    • Get e-mailed to the entire NonClinicalJobs.com membership network (currently over 1,430 physician members found here)
    • Get featured in the NonClinicalJobs.com members-only network forum as a "Featured Job Post"
    • Get published on the NonClinicalJobs.com Facebook fan page (currently over 560 fans on the Facebook fan page)

    Friday, May 7, 2010

    Medical Science Liaison Jobs for Physicians

    What's a Medical Science Liaison or MSL? Let's turn to Wikipedia for the answer:
    A medical science liaison (abbreviated as MSL) is a healthcare consulting professional who is employed by pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and managed care companies. Other job titles for medical science liaisons may include medical liaisons, medical science managers, regional medical scientists, and regional medical directors.
    Interested? If you want to travel the country (or the world) and gain some useful "field experience," then an MSL job could be a great way to get started.

    Whether you have residency training or not, you can still get hired as an MSL (at least with many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies). In general, you don't need to be board-certified or board-eligible to work as an MSL. Therefore, an MSL job is a great way to break into the pharmaceutical industry.

    Click here to view a list of Medical Science Liaison Jobs for Physicians.

    You can also view other jobs here on the NonClinicalJobs.com job board.

    How medical writers write CME needs assessments

    How medical writers write CME needs assessments is changing... come and let a panel of experts bring you up to speed. The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Delaware Valley Chapter is having a dinner meeting on June 17, 2010.

    Here's the announcement from the AMWA Delaware Valley Chapter:
    Please join us for an AMWA-DVC dinner meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2010, when a panel of distinguished guests from the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education explains how they write needs assessments for CME projects, and what they look for in a good medical writer. Panelists will include representatives from a local medical school, a medical specialty society, a private medical education company, a pharmaceutical company, and a hospital/health system.

    Medical writers assigned to write needs assessments today sometimes feel as if they’re aiming at a moving target. Many providers are changing the way they identify needs in response to pressure from grant makers and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Moreover, recent reductions in commercial funding for CME, attrition among accredited providers, and revised accreditation criteria, all make it essential for medical writers to hone their skills. The panelists will give short presentations on their organizations, and then take questions from the audience.
    For more information, visit the AMWA-DVC website.

    A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Non-Clinical Doctor

    Fizzy at "A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor" has drawn an entertaining cartoon depicting doctors who hate medicine and wish to pursue alternative careers in medicine. Take a look at the cartoon.

    Featured Physician Entrepreneur: Dr. Robert Corrato

    I'm starting a new series here on NonClinicalJobs.com called the "Featured Physician" series. This will be a weekly blog post (published on Fridays) where I will feature a physician entrepreneur or a physician executive. In many cases, the featured physician will an entrepreneur and an executive (it's difficult to be an entrepreneur without being an executive). By featuring a specific physician each week, I'll give you the opportunity to learn how each of these successful individuals created an alternative career path outside of traditional medicine. I hope you'll enjoy reading these stories. For me, they're insightful and inspiring.

    Today's featured physician is Robert R. Corrato, MD, MBA and he's the President & CEO of Executive Health Resources (EHR). I had the chance to meet him earlier this week when I attended a reception organized by EHR.  Here's a snippet from the EHR website:
    Dr. Robert Corrato founded EHR in 1997 and has since served as EHR’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding EHR, Dr. Corrato held the post of Deputy Director of the Office of Health Policy and Clinical Outcomes at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa. An internist with extensive outpatient, inpatient, academic and community-based clinical practice experience, he is one of only six physicians in the U.S. to have completed medical fellowship training in managed care/administrative medicine. Dr. Corrato often serves as a featured speaker at healthcare industry events, has been published in leading healthcare journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, sits on the editorial boards of numerous healthcare publications, and has served as a peer reviewer for the Annals of Internal Medicine. Dr. Corrato earned his master of business administration degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and received his medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania.
    You can learn more about Dr. Corrato on the EHR website.

    Thursday, May 6, 2010

    A day of prayer

    Today, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer. I will pause from blogging and I will bow my head to pray for this country and to pray for our world.

    You can learn more about the National Day of Prayer here:
    http://nationaldayofprayer.org/