Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Best Executive M.B.A. Programs by the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal has ranked the 25 top executive MBA programs for 2010. The list might surprise you because you're not going to see some top-tier schools like Harvard or MIT on that list. 

Here are the top 5 from that list of EMBA programs:
  1. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
  2. Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)
  3. Thunderbird School of Global Management
  4. University of Southern California (Marshall)
  5. Northwestern University (Kellogg)
When you glance at the list of these top 25 programs, take a look at the last column. It's titled, "Total Program Cost." If you sort by cost, you'll see that Arizona State University (W.P. Carey) comes in at the low end ($67,440) and University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) comes in at the high end ($167,250).

I've been thinking about business school for several years, but I have to admit that it's very difficult to justify spending that kind of money. It's one thing if you have an employer that is willing to cover the tuition. It's another thing if you're going to fund your own education. It would be nice to see some tuition reductions during a recession when many executives are unemployed.

You can see the full list of EMBA programs ranked by the Wall Street Journal here.

Quid Pro Quo

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Quid Pro Quo:
Quid pro quo (From the Latin meaning "something for something") indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. English speakers often use the term to mean "a favor for a favor" and the phrases with almost identical meaning include: "what for what," "give and take," "tit for tat", "this for that", and "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours". Something like "Reap and Sow" also applies to this phrase.
When I use the phrase Quid Pro Quo, I'm not referring to bribery. The idea of scratching one's back for a favor could be misconstrued as a bribe.

Why am I mentioning quid pro quo? You may have the ability to offer a unique service, but perhaps you don't know how to sell that service. Perhaps you'd like to be a consultant, but you don't know how to begin. One way to get customers immediately is to offer your service in exchange for a service. This way, there is no money exchanged but you may establish customers which will lead to positive testimonials if you do a good job. You'll also develop a reputation and this could help you gain additional customers as you network and meet new potential customers who may be interested in your services. You'll also gain experience and you'll learn where you may need to make improvements.

There are many things you may gain by exploring quid pro quo opportunities, especially when you're exploring a new business model. Perhaps you'll find a potential customer who's willing to exchange services with you.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Medical students and residents don't know about the preventive medicine residency

Over the years, I've spoken with a number of medical students and residents who knew nothing about the preventive medicine residency.

These medical students and residents are not familiar with the ACPM - American College of Preventive Medicine or the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). You can become board certified in preventive medicine. Medical students and residents are also not familiar with the Preventive Medicine Residency & Fellowship programs offered by the CDC. They don't realize that they can get an MPH while they go through a preventive medicine residency.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes preventive medicine as a specialty and here's a list of preventive medicine general and subspecialty certificates:

General Certificate(s)
  • Aerospace Medicine*
  • Occupational Medicine*
  • Public Health and General Preventive Medicine*
Subspecialty Certificates
  • Medical Toxicology
  • Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
To learn more about preventive medicine, start with the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM).

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Medical students are least familiar with these specialties

Medical students are least familiar with these Recognized Physician Specialty and Subspecialty Certificates: (listed on the American Board of Medical Specialties)

American Board of Preventive Medicine
Aerospace Medicine*
Occupational Medicine*
Public Health and General Preventive Medicine*
Medical Toxicology
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine

American Board of Medical Genetics
Clinical Biochemical Genetics*
Clinical Cytogenetics*
Clinical Genetics (MD)*
Clinical Molecular Genetics*
Medical Biochemical Genetics2
Molecular Genetic Pathology

American Board of Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine

American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Neuromuscular Medicine
Pain Medicine
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Sports Medicine

File Review Consulting Assignments

Here's information about the SEAK National Directory of Medical File Review Consultants:

The deadline to place your listing in the SEAK, Inc. National Directory of Medical File Review Consultants, is Thursday, September 30th, 2010.

File reviews can be done from home, are low stress, do not require any patient contact or travel, almost never results in having to testify and generally pays $100-$200/hour or more.

File review consulting work is varied and includes: utilization reviews, peer reviews, chart reviews, second opinions, underwriting reports, disability opinions and pre-authorizations.

To place your listing, please sign up online at http://filereviewconsultants.com/signup

A one-year listing is only $395 and we offer a full 100% money back guarantee with your listing. If you are not satisfied with the number and quality of file review assignments that you receive or for any other reason, you have until August 1, 2011 to request and receive a full refund of your standard listing fee.


Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law

If you're already a doctor, maybe you don't need another doctorate degree. How about a master's degree in health law?

Loyola University Chicago School of Law offers an MJ online. There are other schools such as Widener Law that also offer the Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law degree. Now, you won't become an attorney if you get an MJ (you need a JD to practice law), but maybe you'll learn some useful things about health law.

Here's some more information about the Loyola University Chicago School of Law Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law Online Degree Program:

* Be part of the health care reform debate
* Gain sophisticated legal knowledge about health care
* Discover new career opportunities
* Interact with health care experts
* Convenient, online format

Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law

Professor Barbara Youngberg, former general counsel for the University Hospital Consortium, is a national expert on patient safety, risk management, and quality.

During a recent presentation to health care professionals, Professor Youngberg highlighted some important developments in current healthcare reform and patient safety, and shared her thoughts on what these developments could mean for the future of the healthcare industry.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences

Showcasing Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences: A panel discussion and networking event

The University of Massachusetts Boston Venture Development Center and Propel Careers are proud to host a panel discussion and networking event intended to showcase life sciences entrepreneurship in MA. This event will coincide with BREW (Boston Regional Entrepreneurship Week). Come listen to current early stage entrepreneurs discuss their experiences, mingle with the next generation of entrepreneurs, current students, recent graduates, and interact with industry professionals who are committed to helping ensure the success of early stage ventures in MA.

Tuesday October 12th 2010
Location: University of Massachusetts Boston, Venture Development Center
Time: 5:00-8:30pm
For more information and to register, click here.

Physician Careers in the BioPharma Industry (MD/MBA 8th AMMP Conference)

Are you interested in pursuing a career in the biopharma industry?

Here's a video of a presentation given by Dr. Wing Delatorre at the Annual AMMP meeting earlier this year. I blogged about her presentation (here) back in April when I was in Boston attending the Association of MD/MBA Programs (AMMP) 8th Annual Conference. Now, you can view a video of her presentation here (you'll need Microsoft Silverlight to play the video).

Here's a brief description:

Wing Delatorre, MD, MBA
Head of Business Operations bi3
Director, New Ventures
Biogen Idec

Wing Delatorre is currently the Head of Business Operations at the Biogen Idec Innovation Incubator (bi3) which supports start-up companies with financing and state of the art laboratory space at Biogen Idec. She is also a Director of New Ventures at Biogen Idec, where she sources and evaluates venture investment opportunities with a focus in cardiovascular disease and immunology/inflammation. Wing worked in the Biogen Idec Business Development group for one and a half years before joining the New Ventures Group. Prior to joining Biogen Idec, Wing was an Engagement Manager at L.E.K. Consulting, a global strategic consulting firm, working with leading biopharma and biotech companies on their corporate strategy. Wing trained in General Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and completed a Research Fellowship at the Laboratory of Tissue Engineering at Harvard Medical School with Dr. Joseph Vacanti. Wing received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School/M.I.T. Health Science and Technology Program, B.S. in Biology from the California Institute of Technology, and M.B.A. from Duke Fuqua School of Business and Administration.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

INSEAD Healthcare Summit (international health)

Are you looking for some global health opportunities? How well do you understand the international health market?

INSEAD Healthcare Alumni Summit (8 October 2010, Paris)

For more than a decade, international healthcare events organized by INSEAD and its alumni have provided unique networking forums for the healthcare industry. Last year’s Summit in Basel attracted over 150 healthcare executives from 20 countries to explore future trends in healthcare. The Summit is organized by the INSEAD Healthcare Alumni Network, representing the more than 2000 INSEAD alumni working in the healthcare industry and related sectors. On Friday, 8 October 2010, we are taking this unique, interactive conference format to Paris, one of the most vibrant European cities.

Learn more here.

Doing Business as a Freelance Medical Writer

The AMWA Delaware Valley Chapter is having a meeting on freelance medical writing on Oct 21. Here are the details:

Please join us for an AMWA-DVC dinner meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2010, when William C. Hussey, II, from White and Williams LLP, and Eric Guggenheim, CFP, ChFC, Financial Advisor for Ameriprise Financial, present “Doing Business as a Freelance Writer—Making Sense of the World of Options.”

Both freelances and employees can benefit from this lively and interactive presentation that will focus on such topics as Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, or LLC – which is best for you?” “Liability Insurance – What kinds of business insurance do you need?” “Qualified Pension Plans for Freelancers – 401(k)s, IRAs, and beyond,” and “Financial Planning and Diversification Beyond Qualified Retirement Plans and the Stock Market,” among many other relevant topics.


Saturday, September 25, 2010

Big East Career Fair

What if you could attend a career fair without leaving your home? Advances in telecommunication technology have led to a rise in "virtual" career fairs where you can meet potential employers via a webcam and even conduct video interviews over the computer. This saves travel time and cost, improves efficiency, and reduces wait times when you're waiting to speak with a potential employer or employee.

There's a virtual career fair coming up called the Big East Career Fair.

http://bigeastcareerfair.com/

November 10, 2010
10-5 EST *On demand until Nov 19th
Anywhere with internet access

*On demand means recruiters may or may not be online, however you can still visit employer booths, view/apply for jobs, submit resume, and send recruiters messages

Welcome to the future of career fairs. You will have the opportunity to meet and interact with dozens of industry leading employers, but without ever having to leave home. Visit employers booths, view/apply for jobs, watch employer videos, chat with recruiters, submit your resume, and perhaps even secure a live video interview. Register today to secure your place in this groundbreaking event.

UNICRUIT.COM was created to address the premise that the traditional college recruiting environment is costly, time-consuming and often times ineffective. While on-campus fairs are an important part of career development for the student, the university, and corporation, they are obviously a niche that technology had passed by. Unicruit.com is an online career fair environment that is an alternative to the traditional approach, but more often simply a pre-and-post event enhancement to the traditional on-campus format.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Physician Careers in the Financial Services Industry (MD/MBA 8th AMMP Conference)

Are you interested in a non-clinical career in financial services?

Here's a video of a presentation given by Dr. Jonathan Gertler at the 8th Annual AMMP conference titled, "Physician Roles, Opportunities, and Responsibilities in Financial Services." I blogged about his presentation (here) back in April when I was in Boston attending the Association of MD/MBA Programs (AMMP) 8th Annual Conference. Now, you can view a video of his presentation and his slides here (you'll need Microsoft Silverlight to play the video).

Here's a brief description:

Jonathan Gertler, MD, MBA
Managing Director
Leerink Swann Strategic Advisors
Leerink Swann & Company

Dr. Gertler, Managing Director of Leerink Swann Strategic Advisors, has previously served as Head of BioPharma Investment Banking at Leerink Swann & Company, as well as Head of Life Science Investment Banking at Adams Harkness and Venture Partner at SV Life Sciences. Over the course of his advisory career, Jonathan has been responsible for >$5B in aggregate consideration in M&A, private and public equity for Biotech, Medtech, and HCIT companies. Prior to his experiences in venture capital and leading investment banking groups, Jonathan was from 1988-2001 an academic vascular surgeon, primarily as Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and the MGH focused on vascular interventions and diagnostics, vascular biology, acute care, and cerebrovascular therapeutics. Jonathan has a BA from Wesleyan University, an MD from Columbia University, and an MBA in Health Policy and Management from Boston University. He trained in general surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital and in Vascular Surgery at the MGH.

Featured physician executive: Steven Merahn, MD

Each week, we feature a physician executive on NonClinicalJobs.com. This week's featured physician executive is Steven Merahn, MD.

Dr. Merahn is a senior physician-executive with an established track record of achievement in healthcare marketing, product design and management and strategic leadership. He has special skills and experience in accelerating the process of clinical acceptance of new technologies, knowledge management, public and medical affairs, and relationship management within the healthcare community. Dr. Merahn is currently the General Manager & Chief Medical Officer of DE-ID Data Corp LLC (automated solutions for patient data repositories that meet patient privacy standards) and also the General Manager of ModernMedicine (online clinical decision-support for healthcare professionals). With diverse experience as both an entrepreneur and a corporate executive, he has, as examples, both led the development and growth of a venture-backed technology start-up through acquisition and served as general manager of an operating division of a global, publicly held company. As a marketing and product management professional, Dr. Merahn has overseen 20% growth of a $30 million healthcare information services product portfolio, successfully launched new products into highly competitive markets resulting in millions of dollars in first year revenue and consistently driven new business development efforts at 25% growth levels. A board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Merahn is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Techniques for Making the Most of a Career Transition

Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Boston: Up in the Air: Techniques for Making the Most of a Career Transition

Sep 28, 2010 5:30PM - Sep 28, 2010 9:00PM
(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Event Type: Boston
Category: Women in Transition (WIT)

Event Details:
The state of the economy has impacted every level of healthcare. With the current business environment many highly successful and tenured professionals find themselves either worrying about the longevity of their current role or working diligently to find the next opportunity where their skills and contributions will be recognized and rewarded. Whether by choice or as the result of a downsizing you will likely be presented with a transition during your career.

Pharmaceutical Magazine Sept 2010 (digital edition)

You can read the Sept 2010 digital edition of Pharmaceutical Magazine here.

Health care consultant jobs

There are a variety of jobs in the consulting industry. How do you find the right one? You can search the job boards or you can go straight to the company website and apply on their site.

Here are several different consulting companies that focus on the health care industry:
Of course, there are many other consulting companies that focus on health care, but these are listed just to give you a sample of what's out there.

View a list of Health Care Consultant jobs listed on the NonClinicalJobs.com Job Board.  

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Showcasing Women Leaders in Life Sciences: A panel discussion and networking event

Showcasing Women Leaders in Life Sciences: A panel discussion and networking event

Propel Careers along with careinnovators and Gene Network Sciences are proud to host a panel discussion and networking event intended to showcase women leaders in life sciences. The event will provide a platform to discuss their experiences, lessons learned, and advice on how they have successfully led their teams and companies. Join us for an evening of networking with industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and the future leaders of our industry.

Wednesday October 6th 2010
Location: Bingham McCutchen LLP, 1 Federal Street, Boston MA 02110
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
For more information and to register, click here.

SWOT Analysis

What's a SWOT Analysis? The first time I heard this phrase, I thought people were talking about the SWAT team (although the context didn't seem to fit). Say SWAT and SWOT. Sounds the same, right?
A SWAT (special weapons and tactics)team is an elite paramilitary tactical unit in American law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers. Their duties include performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high risk arrest and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily-armed criminals.
You've probably seen SWAT teams on TV and in the movies.

Well, a SWOT analysis is a business term and here's what it means (from Wikipedia):
SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at Stanford University in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies.

A SWOT analysis must first start with defining a desired end state or objective. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. Strategic Planning, has been the subject of much research.

* Strengths: attributes of the person or company that are helpful to achieving the objective(s).
* Weaknesses: attributes of the person or company that are harmful to achieving the objective(s).
* Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective(s).
* Threats: external conditions which could do damage to the objective(s).
You may not learn about SWOT analysis during medical school, but you're sure to learn about it in business school (or in the business world). This is my Business 101 tip for the day.

MBA & Graduate Programs for Careers in Health Care

There are a number of MBA and graduate programs that focus on the health care system. If you want to get involved in medical management or if you hope to influence health policy, then perhaps you'll want to invest in some more education to get an MBA, MPA, MHA, or MSHM. If you go through an online program, then you can receive your degree while you're still working.

Here are several graduate degree programs (and of course there are many others) that focus on health care:

Northeastern University (Online)
MBA - Healthcare Management

The Northeastern MBA program has been specifically designed and structured for working professionals. To accommodate your schedule, there are eight start dates available throughout the year, so you can get started almost immediately. Once enrolled in the program, most students spend from 15 to 20 hours a week studying. A specialization, made up of 5 courses, is available in Healthcare Management.

Champlain College (Online)
Master of Science in Healthcare Management

Champlain College's online Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM) is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for leadership positions in contemporary healthcare organizations. Theprogram focuses on the critical areas of management from the strategic, tactical, and operational perspectives. Champlain's MSHM is one of the few programs that melds content in business, management, healthcare, and information technology to focus on the non-technical aspects of managing healthcare.

Speaking with Drexel medical students today about non-clinical careers

I spent some time this evening speaking with medical students at Drexel College of Medicine about a variety of non-clinical career opportunities. I want to thank Deepak Sharma (Drexel MD/MBA candidate) for setting up the meeting. It was great to interact with students who have questions regarding non-clinical career options. I also enjoyed visiting my wife's medical school because it's been many years since I've stepped foot on the Queen Lane campus of Drexel College of Medicine (at the time it was called MCP/Hahnemann).

We spent time discussing these 4 non-clinical industries:

1. Consulting - remember that some of the major consulting firms like McKinsey and BCG offer programs where medical school graduates and young physicians can learn about job opportunities within those organizations. McKinsey Insight Healthcare and Bridge to BCG are two examples. My practical tip for medical students is this: speak with consultants so that you have a better understanding of the types of jobs that are out there and attend information sessions.

2. Pharma/Biotech - we discussed several options ranging from MSL (medical science liaison) to contract research organizations to medical directorship to drug safety review. There are a variety of job opportunities within the biopharma industry that we could easily spend a few hours discussing those. My practical tip for medical students is this: expand your social network and meet physicians who are working in these roles so that you can explore these types of job opportunities. Devote some time to clinical research and try to publish some papers during medical school and residency.

3. Entrepreneurship - we shared some stories ranging from social entrepreneurship to bootstrapping a start-up. It seems like I am constantly meeting more young medical students who wish to become entrepreneurs. My practical tip for medical students is this: search for those business podcasts on iTunes and iTunes U. A number of business schools like Stanford and Yale have excellent podcasts that focus on entrepreneurship. These stories can be very inspiring. 

4. Medical management - there are a variety of positions ranging from being a chief medical officer (CMO) of a hospital to even becoming a CEO. Or, you may pursue jobs in the health insurance industry and work for health plans like Aetna and Blue Cross. My practical tip for medical students is this: join the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) and learn about the different medical management careers that are available. Student membership is very affordable ($30 per year).

Next time, we'll need to discuss career opportunities in health IT, finance, medical journalism, medical writing, and more. We'll have to invite other medical students and residents in the Philadelphia area to attend our next meeting.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

September is International Update Your Resume Month

September is International Update Your Resume Month
brought to you

EXCLUSIVELY

by Career Directors International (CDI)

September is the perfect time to start a new approach to career care-taking. While children are embarking on starting the new school year, adults should also be taking stock of their professional attributes and career value by updating their resumes. 

Women in Bio (WIB)

Women in Bio (WIB) was founded in October 2001 by four women with the goal of bringing female entrepreneurs and executives together to support each other in developing successful biotechnology or life sciences businesses. Since its creation, the WIB membership has expanded to include women of all generations at all stages of their careers. Today, this vibrant national organization includes women executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, students, and women in professional fields that serve the life sciences industry, all of whom share an interest in science and entrepreneurship.

Through educational and networking opportunities, WIB brings women in biotechnology and the life sciences together and helps to foster womens' participation in entrepreneurship and professional development in these fields.

Learn more here:  http://www.womeninbio.org

HEOR Jobs

HEOR isn't a typo. It stands for: Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR).

There are a variety of jobs that focus around health economics, global health, health outcomes research, etc. When it comes to global health, you may see the acronym GHEOR.

You can find HEOR jobs in both the public and private sectors (government, non-profits, pharmaceutical industry, consulting firms, contract research organizations, etc.). Click here to view some HEOR jobs listed on the NonClinicalJobs.com Job Board.

Monday, September 20, 2010

From Residency to the Pharmaceutical Industry

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) offers some great resources that can help you transition from a clinical career to a non-clinical career.

Here's a "Career Stories" presentation featuring Michael Sokol, MD, MS titled, "From Residency to the Pharmaceutical Industry." His current title is Medical Director, Health Management Innovations at GlaxoSmithKline.  He talks about the first job that he had as an Associate Medical Director at Merck-Medco. He got that job straight out of a general preventive medicine residency. He stayed there for 8 years and moved his way up the corporate ladder.

So, how do you find a non-clinical job right out of residency? He was fortunate to have a mentor who was able to guide him through some of those steps. He also emphasizes the importance of building a social network so that you can get your foot into the door. One of his slides says:  "Great opportunities and jobs come from building and utilizing effective networking."

He ends his presentation by providing some tips to prospective physician executives who wish to enter the pharmaceutical industry. Click here to view this 16 minute presentation on the ACPE website.

ACPE Career Stories

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) has a section on their website where they feature several career stories.

If you are thinking about moving into medical management, you might want to hear how some have made the transition. Here are stories of the career paths of several physician executives.
From Residency to the Pharmaceutical Industry
by Michael Sokol, MD, MS

From pediatrician to Director at Johnson & Johnson
by Spencer Borden IV, MD, MBA

From the Navy to Director, System Performance Improvement
by Michael Goler

From Pediatrician to Entrepreneur
by Abbie Leibowitz

From Pediatrician to the Pharmaceutical Industry
by Jan Berger, MD

From CMO to CEO
by Thomas C. Royer, MD
Click here to view these ACPE Career Stories.

Finding jobs despite criminal records

Physicians are not immune to criminal problems. Here's a CNN video titled, "Finding jobs despite criminal records." States are looking at ways those with criminal records can compete for jobs. CNN's Stephanie Elam reports.



You'll see that Dr. Victor Garcia (an ER doc, surgery and pediatrics professor) shares his views on this issue in this video clip.

I'm burned out... Should I quit residency?

I get questions like this all the time: "I'm burned out. Should I quit residency?"

Here's how I typically respond:I hear stories like this all the time. Burnout is very common during residency. It's important to explore all your options because it will be extremely difficult to return to clinical medicine in the future.

I find that many residents really don't have the proper perspective on post-residency life. There are so many different practice models that you'll never see during medical school or residency. You may also end up treating a patient population that is vastly different from the types of patients you've seen. Many physicians are able to find rewarding, satisfying jobs after they complete residency.

Are you absolutely certain that you don't want to practice medicine? Or, are you simply burning out, looking for a solution to your current situation? Perhaps you're in the wrong specialty. Maybe you'd be happy if you worked in preventive medicine.

If you're absolutely certain that you wish to exit residency to pursue a non-clinical career, then I could work with you to guide you along the way. Even if you lack business experience, the transition is possible. You don't need an MBA or an MPH to find a non-clinical job. In fact, I've personally helped many physicians make this transition successfully, so contact me if you're interested in speaking with me further.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Are you ready for an "encore career?"

I was reading BusinessWeek and there was an article titled, "Baby Boomers' Next Act." Actually, the cover of the issue says "How to Retire Smart." Given that people are now living longer than ever, if you retire at age 65, you could still be alive for 30 years. That wasn't the case back in the 60's and 70's. Advances in modern medicine now allow people to live much longer. A life of pure leisure (and no challenge or stimulation) would be terribly boring for physicians who are used to solving complex problems and being challenged all the time. Physicians may not be as financially stressed to work after retirement, but who wants to be bored all the time?

Who would have thought that retirement means working a second career?

The concept of the "encore career" is defined by Marc Freedman to mean: "later-in-life work that combines income with social impact." Marc Freedman is the founder of the non-profit think tank Civic Ventures in San Francisco.

I'm not close to retirement, but I know many physicians who are. How many of them are preparing for an encore career? Will they continue in clinical medicine, or will they find that it's time to transition to a non-clinical encore career? Given that retiring physicians may be facing the reality of boredom, do they know how to apply their clinical and scientific expertise to pursue a non-clinical career? 

If you've retired, maybe you should begin your encore career journey by joining the Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers. You may meet some people and realize that there are many non-clinical opportunities where you can work part-time, play golf, spend time with the grand kids, and contribute to society by mentoring and teaching.

Career & Salary Survey: Rain Check

This article on MMM (Medical Marketing and Media) talks about salaries 24th annual MM&M Career & Salary Survey. In a nutshell, salaries went down in the medical marketing industry in 2009. Not a surprise, given that we're in a recession and many pharmaceutical companies are feeling the effects of the recession trickle down to patients and their medications. Then, in 2010 those average salaries went up by 5.4% to $129,200.

As for job satisfaction, 29.6 % report they are “thoroughly satisfied” with their job vs. 25.9% in 2009. Only 7.4% report that they are “not satisfied” with their position.

You can read the article here on MMM.

PharmAsia Summit 2010

Windhover Conferences presents PharmAsia Summit 2010

Register now for the most strategic-level meeting where senior biotech and pharma executives share real-life case studies on how they're building a presence in Asia - from drug development to market.

October 25-26, 2010
InterContinental Mark Hopkins, San Francisco
www.windhover.com/PharmAsiaSummit

Taking the Risk out of Asia: Top Pharma Leaders Share Best Practices

This year's PharmAsia Summit brings Asian, US and European industry leaders to San Francisco to share their experiences and help those already involved in Asian operations or planning Asia strategies to better understand the myriad of complex challenges and equally attractive opportunities facing them. Early Bird Registration Ends Sept. 30th so register today!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

SEAK: Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians 2010

You may have received a brochure in the mail for a conference titled, "SEAK: Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians 2010."

This conference occurs every year and I know a number of presenters. I also know quite a few physicians who have attended this meeting. I was hoping to attend this year, but I won't be attending. 

If you'd like to learn more about non-clinical career opportunities and network with physician executives who are working in various industries, you may want to attend. Be sure to leverage every opportunity you get to actively network with people and to ask as many questions as you can.

Here's the information about the conference:

Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians 2010
Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center
Chicago, IL
September 25-26, 2010

You can learn more here.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Medical writing networking event (Philadelphia) AMWA - Delaware Valley Chapter

Regroup after the long hot summer and join your colleagues for a fun evening of networking. The Programs Committee of AMWA-DVC has partnered with Research Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (RPS) for this special event that will be hosted by RPS at their Corporate Headquarters in Fort Washington, PA. Enjoy buffet-style refreshments as you catch up with old friends and establish new professional contacts through enjoyable networking activities.

MEETING DETAILS

Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010

Location: RPS, Inc.
520 Virginia Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034

Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM (Registration begins at 5:30 PM)

COST

This event is sponsored by RPS, Inc. There is no cost to AMWA-DVC members or nonmembers.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT

Click here for more information and to register.
AMWA Delaware Valley Chapter

What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?

What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?

HIM = Health Information Management
AHIMA = American Health Information Management Association

Learn more by participating in this upcoming webinar on September 28

If you are unable to attend the AHIMA 2010 convention, please dial in to join us for a presentation hosted by UIC's HIM Program Director, Karen Patena. Karen will provide attendees with an over-view of health informatics and HIM, and the differences between the two disciplines. She will also speak about the UIC graduate level programs in this area of study.

Karen Patena has worked in hospital medical record management, as well as systems planning and implementation, for nearly 20 years. Recently, she served as a vital member of the team to implement a Cerner patient-care information system at the University of Illinois Medical Center. She is a frequent contributor to the Journal of AHIMA* and a regular presenter at the meetings of local, state and national health information management professional associations.

Title: What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM EST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Click here to register. 

Featured physician executive: Tom Giannulli MD, MS

Each week, we feature a physician executive on NonClinicalJobs.com. This week's physician executive is Tom Giannulli MD, MS. Dr. Giannulli is the Chief Medical Information Officer at Epocrates.

Dr. Giannulli brings to the Epocrates team over 15 years of expertise in healthcare informatics, mobile development and medical training. Prior to joining Epocrates, Dr. Giannulli was the Chief Executive Officer of Caretools, which developed the first iPhone-based electronic medical record. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Physix, Inc. where led development of the first handheld medical application for physicians, and Vice President of advanced research at Data Critical Corp where he managed wireless and internet-based solutions.

Dr. Giannulli holds a M.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Utah. He earned a M.D. from the University of Texas at Houston where he completed his residency and is board-certified in Internal Medicine.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Careers in Biotech and Biopharma for Women

If you're a woman living in the Boston area, you may want to attend this event if you're interested in working in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry:

HBA = Healthcare Businesswomen's Association
WIS = Women in Science

HBA Boston- WIS-Careers in Biotech and Biopharma: New Opportunities for Scientists, Sept. 21, 2010

Sep 21, 2010 5:30PM - Sep 21, 2010 9:30PM
(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Event Details:
This event is designed to inform the audience about the wide avenue of alternative career opportunities that exist in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Representatives from leading Biotech/Pharma companies will share their experiences, identify skill sets needed, and discuss their journey to their current positions. Participants will have four 15-minute cycles to discuss how their current skill sets may apply to various job functions, and how to establish a path to a new career.

A sampling of the career alternatives to be presented includes:
Research & Development, Pre-Clinical Development, Product Development in Diagnostics and Research Tools, Process Development & Manufacturing, Business Development, Project & Program Management, Data Management, Translational Medicine, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Science Liaison, Technical and Medical Writing, Human Resources for Scientists, Licensing & Technology Transfer, Competitive Intelligence, Clinical Operations, and Commercial Operations

Also, an opportunity to network before and after the event will allow participants time for further connections and potential follow up opportunities.

Information for New and Transitioning Medical Writers

The New York Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is having a local meeting for new and transitioning medical writers.

October 5th (Tues): Fall Evening Program

A Presentation Geared to Needs of New and Transitioning Medical Writers
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Where: 4 West 43rd St, New York, NY
The "Blue Room," first floor of this Manhattan office building
Time Schedule: 6:15 PM-7:00PM - Networking and Supper
7:00 PM-8:00 PM - Program
8:00-9:00 PM - Q&A
Cost: $20 AMWA members; $30 nonmembers

Looks like it's going to be a great panel discussion:

Biotechnology Professional Mentoring System

Biotechnology Professional Mentoring System

Starting in fall 2009, the graduate biotechnology program at University of Maryland University College (UMUC)—recognized as a Professional Science Master's (PSM) —launched an exciting new web-based mentoring program where biotechnology professionals and UMUC biotechnology alumni help students reach their professional goals. This program has been developed as part of a four-year U.S. Department of Education, FIPSE Grant to UMUC that started in fall 2008. The objectives of the program are to:

* Increase awareness of workforce needs among students
* Facilitate in the identification of a student’s professional goals
* Help a student in achieving their professional goals
* Promote interaction between academia and industry/government
* Provide opportunities for students to find the “best fit” jobs upon graduation

Learn more here: http://psmmentoring.umuc.edu/

Apollo and ACPE Offer Post-Graduate Diploma in Advanced Physician Leadership

Apollo and ACPE Offer Post-Graduate Diploma in Advanced Physician Leadership

The programme consists of 14 courses totaling 150 credit hours, covering subjects relating to professional management of hospital and healthcare organisations

In order to meet the growing demand for formally trained physician executives in India, Apollo Hospitals Group, Asia’s largest corporate healthcare organisation, in association with the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) of USA will offer Asia’s first Post-Graduate Diploma in Advanced Physician Leadership (PGD-APL) programme.

ACPE (www.acpe.org) has been in operation in the US and Canada since 1975. It originated at the Medical School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and has demonstrated expertise in adapting the distance education model.


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Medical consultant jobs

There are a variety of consulting companies that will hire physicians and other health care professionals as medical consultants. In some companies, your title may be "consultant." In other companies, you're called an "analyst." Regardless of the title, we know that these jobs will probably entail some business analysis, problem-solving, domestic and international travel, long hours (and possibly weekends), and much more. Are you sure you want to work as a consultant?

Here are a list of some consulting companies that focus on medical and health care consulting:
Of course, there are many other consulting companies that focus on health care, but these are listed just to give you a sample of what's out there.

View a list of Medical Consulting jobs listed on the NonClinicalJobs.com Job Board

Master of Health Care Delivery Science

There's an interesting story about a new graduate degree program at Dartmouth. It's called the Master of Health Care Delivery Science.

The problems of health care throughout the world are not primarily ones of medical knowledge or even political will but of effective management and execution. The Master of Health Care Delivery Science (MHCDS) program seeks to deliver this specialized knowledge to a diverse, global group of participants—the managers and professionals who are poised to be the health care leaders of tomorrow.

Here's a snippet from a Boston.com article about this program:

The program — launched by the college’s new president, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a longtime activist for better, less expensive medical care worldwide — is a response to the health care crisis. By training doctors and hospital administrators to think more strategically about the success rate of a particular type of surgery, for example, or ways to reduce waiting times in emergency rooms, medical care will get safer and more affordable, school officials say.

You can learn more here.

A Career Guide for Physician Executives


If you haven't read A Career Guide for Physician Executives, then you should pick this up and read this book. The author is Barbara J. Linney and the book was updated in 2006 to the second edition. The publisher is the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). 

Here's a brief description:

More than ever, the health care field needs dynamic leadership if it is to weather the current tumultuous times. Confronted by withering financial constraints from government and other third-party payers, severe manpower and other resource restraints, an increasingly demanding and knowledgeable customer base, and numerous other management and organizational challenges, health care organizations are seeking leaders with skills, knowledge, courage and the will to reach the top. The race to master these and other changes in health care will be won by those who are swift and flexible. The newest publication from ACPE will help readers stay in that race. Included are sample resumes, often-asked interview questions, and examples of experience and communication skills needed for success.

Chapter titles in this 2nd edition of Hope for the Future include: “What Jobs Will Be There in the Future”, “Life-Work Planning Can Give You Energy”, “Know Where You've Been Before You Decide Where to Go”, “Planning for Change”, “What Do You Have to Do to Become a Physician Executive?”, “Networking-Getting to Know More People”, “Write a Powerful Resume”, “Interviewing for a Position”, “Negotiating Your Salary”, “What to Do When Fired”, and “Helpful Tools for the Job Search-Ways to Keep Your Sanity”.

You can get it from Amazon: A Career Guide for Physician Executives

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Non-clinical physician jobs in California (consulting)

I recently came back from a trip to California. While I was there, I was speaking with a number of physicians who work in California (either in private practice, academia, or for Kaiser Permanente).  This year, I've personally worked with several physicians who live in California to help them establish a non-clinical career outside of traditional clinical practice. Interested in making a career transition?

The Medical Board of California (http://www.medbd.ca.gov) recently listed a few different non-clinical physician jobs. You can find them in the Medical Board of California Quarterly Newsletter. The July 2010 (Vol 115, July 2010) issue lists two physician  jobs:

1. Medical Consultant
There are consulting opportunities in the areas of: licensing, enforcement, and advisory. If you can give up 8 to 16 hours each week to work as a consultant for the state medical board, then perhaps you should look into this opportunity. 
2. Board certified expert reviewers
The Medical Board of California established the Expert Reviewer Program in July 1994 as an impartial and professional means by which to support the investigation and enforcement functions of the Board. Specifically, medical experts assist the Board by providing expert reviews and opinions on Board cases and conducting professional competency exams, physical exams and psychiatric exams.

Participating physicians are reimbursed $150 per hour for conducting case reviews and oral competency exams, $200 an hour for providing expert testimony, and usual and customary fees for physical or psychiatric exams.
You can learn about the expert reviewer opportunities by visiting this link.
Do you want to work for the Medical Board of California? You can learn about these jobs by going to page 6 on this issue of the Medical Board of California Quarterly Newsletter (PDF).

Volunteering your way to a non-clinical career

There are a number of volunteering opportunities that can help you transition into a non-clinical career. For instance, you may wish to volunteer internationally through an organization like the Peace Corps. Before you know it, you may find yourself working as a medical officer, making administrative decisions in the world of medical management and networking with executives who have built careers in the non-profit sector. You may also find it easier to transition into public health jobs with the CDC or WHO if you have strong international health experience and exposure.

You can also volunteer your time by serving on councils and committees that may allow you gain the skills and leadership experience to break into a non-clinical career. Right now, a prime example is around the world of health information technology. Your hospital or group practice may have an informatics committee evaluating health IT resources, clinical workflow challenges, etc. By actively participating in your hospital IT committee, you may have the opportunity to establish industry contacts and understand some of the key issues that affect hospitals as they make decisions around electronic health records and computerized physician order entry systems.

So, do you have some time to volunteer? There may be some great opportunities to work in a free clinic and to get involved in your local community. While you're providing medical care to the underserved, you may get inspired to become a social entrepreneur.

Here's a link to a New England Journal of Medicine career article on physician volunteering. At the end of the article, they list a series of physician resources for those who want to spend some time volunteering.

Monday, September 13, 2010

An Opportunity for Scientific and Medical Innovators to Turn New Ideas into New Companies

An Opportunity for Scientific and Medical Innovators to Turn New Ideas into New Companies

The Kauffman Foundation will select four elite technology inventors (MDs and PhDs are preferred) who hold high potential for creating jobs and advancing medical care as entrepreneurs. The individuals selected as Kauffman Entrepreneur Fellows will be paired with leading venture creation companies specializing in technology, science, and medicine, with the goal of grooming the Fellows to become founders of new, profitable companies by taking their ideas to market.

As a program of Kauffman Laboratories for Enterprise Creation, the Entrepreneur Fellows initiative is targeted at potential "scale entrepreneurs"—those with new technologies or business ideas that can generate high-growth, breakthrough companies.

Individuals who will receive strong consideration for the Fellowship must have a truly scalable, potentially breakthrough concept, as well as the desire, drive, and motivation to become a successful entrepreneur.


Bioscience Essentials for Industry Professionals

Here's another course offered by the UC Berkeley Extension titled, "Bioscience Essentials for Industry Professionals."

This intensive course provides a focused introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of biology, presented in the context of their relevance and application to the bioscience industry. Students develop the basic conceptual framework and vocabulary necessary to communicate effectively with technical specialists within their companies and to comprehend the basic scientific concepts in proposals, prospectuses, and market and technical assessment reports. Additionally, you explore current techniques and technologies while developing an appreciation of the process and the challenge of turning scientific discoveries into successful products.

Mary Alice Yund, Ph.D., named Honored Instructor in 2006, has more than 15 years of academic research experience in developmental genetics at UC Berkeley. She has taught genetics at UC Berkeley and California State University East Bay and genetics, developmental biology, functional genomics, and an introduction to biotechnology at UC Berkeley Extension.

Click here for more information.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Free Webinar: Advancing Your Career: Degree & Certification

The American College of Physicican Executives (ACPE) is providing a free webinar titled, "Advancing Your Career: Degree & Certification."

Are you curious about what steps to take next toward a possible part or full time career as a physician leader or manager? Then join us for this informative session presented by Barbara Linney, ACPE's Director of Career Development. Barbara has over 15 years of experience working with physicians from across the country. She'll offer clear and proven tips on how to navigate your way down the path from managing one patient or practice at a time to managing and leading groups, departments, organizations and systems.

Wednesday, September 15, 12 p.m. Eastern

Click here for more information about this webinar.

Career Tracks in Pharmaceutical Marketing

There's an article that briefly describes the career tracks of 8 pharmaceutical professionals (not necessarily physicians) who currently work in pharmaceutical marketing. What's interesting is to read about the diverse backgrounds and the non-linear career progressions that are associated with some of these individuals. Some are clinicians, others are pure businesspeople. There are a number of physician career opportunities in the pharmaceutical marketing industry. You could work for a pharmaceutical company, an advertising agency, a publisher, a promotional education company, etc. Want to learn more about pharmaceutical marketing? You can read the article here on Medical Marketing & Media.

Are you willing to relocate for a new job?

Non-clinical jobs in certain industries tend to cluster around specific regions throughout the United States. For instance, there are a number of pharmaceutical companies in the northeast corridor because that's where we find the large majority of pharmaceutical companies. So, if you're living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, or Massachusetts, you'll probably find a number of potential employers. If you're on the west coast, you'll find a number of companies in California. You'll also find several pharmaceutical companies in other sections of the country (such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, etc.), but in those areas you may only find one (or two) potential companies.

So what happens if you live in a region that isn't surrounded by potential employers and you're not able to relocate? Are you willing to move? Suppose you live in Alaska or Hawaii? You may not find too many companies that hire physicians if you're living in certain states. How far will you have to move before you're surrounded by potential employers?

First, I think you need to seriously consider the question: "Are you willing to relocate?" That's a different question from "Are you unable to relocate?" Most people are not willing to relocate, but they're able to relocate. If that's you, then maybe you need to rearrange your priorities. What's more important: your career, or your location? What if a potential employer was also going to provide relocation services? How would that influence your decision?

What if you start a new job in a new city and the job simply doesn't work out? Suppose the company restructures after 6 months and you lose your job. You may also lose your job because you don't meet specific performance standards. The decision to relocate must be made as you weigh the probability of all the potential scenarios that may occur. 

If you're thinking about relocation, make sure to research several different long distance moving companies.   Relocation packages come in a variety of forms, so it's critical that you read all the fine print so that you understand what type of assistance you'll be receiving. In some cases, the relocation assistance is contingent on several actions (for instance, you may need to sell your home before you move, so don't plan on renting it out). If you're getting ready to move, you may want to explore the use of a service such as Billy.com so that you can research how you can save on moving expenses.

For those who truly are unable to relocate, you could still look for telecommuting opportunities or you could work as a freelancer or independent contractor. This provides the greatest degree of flexibility, but it may also result in the least amount of stability.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Let's pause and remember 9/11 today

I will never forget 9/11. I will never forget that moment when I saw the airplanes crashing into the twin towers. I was working in the hospital and every television showed the same scene. We were all shocked and we couldn't believe what was happening. The world changed that day.

Today, I pause to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11.  I pray for our nation, our leaders, and for those who are fighting for our freedom.

Should You Become a Nurse Case Manager?

This is a guest post by Susan White.

There are various reasons why registered nurses and others in the nursing profession switch to nonclinical jobs – they’re too stressed out because of the nature of their work and the long hours they have to put in, they suffer from various health problems that prevent them from doing justice to their jobs, or they just don’t have the mental tenacity to deal with patients and their problems on a daily basis. Whatever the reasons for the change, nurses do it because they still want to stay close to the medical field even if they no longer have any kind of direct interaction with patients. But if they’re looking for a job that’s less stressful and easier on their schedule, perhaps they should rethink becoming a nurse case manager.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Health reform driving layoffs in the insurance industry

It's no surprise that insurance companies are restructuring in anticipation of major health reform changes. There's one article published in American Medical News titled, "Another insurer blames health reform for layoffs."

Assurant Health says the cuts will help "streamline its organizational structure" to prepare for changes in the insurance marketplace.

This is probably not the best time to leave clinical medicine to pursue non-clinical career opportunities in the health insurance industry. Then again, maybe the government will need to hire hundreds of physicians to serve as medical directors for the Public Option. Would you like to work for the government so that you can deny medical claims? How will the government define "medical necessity" as they roll out the Public Option to the 46 million uninsured individuals who are living in the United States?

Featured physician executive: William Cameron Powell MD, FACOG

Each week, we feature a physician executive. This week's featured physician executive is William Cameron Powell MD, FACOG. He is: President, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder AirStrip Technologies™

Dr. Cameron Powell is an innovator in the field of remote healthcare surveillance, having developed a technology platform that addresses the many challenges facing the modern healthcare system. Dr. Powell’s company, AirStrip Technologies, has developed a next-generation system that can improve patient safety, strengthen communication among busy healthcare providers, and keep extraordinarily busy physicians in a position to keep a close eye on patients at any time. Dr. Powell, an obstetrician by training stopped practicing in 2008 to devote himself full-time to AirStrip Technologies. Dr. Powell has the real-world medical experience that drove the creation of AirStrip’s Observer Suite™ of products. As Dr. Powell himself notes, “There is a serious worldwide concern regarding the shortage of healthcare providers. This problem is projected to become worse in the next decade. AirStrip Technologies directly addresses this issue with a system that expands the ability of doctors to care for more patients, more closely.” The development of AirStrip Technologies is a classic business success story. With a vision of building a system that offers remote monitoring capabilities for use throughout the healthcare system, Dr. Powell connected with his future partner, Trey Moore, through their local church in San Antonio, Texas. Together, they fleshed out the idea and built the platform that has become AirStrip Technologies. Just a few short years after this initial brainstorm, AirStrip Technologies has staked its claim as the only known technology firm delivering a virtual real-time wireless remote healthcare surveillance system that works with smart phones, laptops and desktop computers. The AirStrip Technologies Observer Suite includes AirStrip OB™, one of the world’s most reliable mobile software solutions, providing secure, remote access to virtual real-time, medical waveform data. AirStrip OB is FDA-cleared and now in use by hospitals throughout the U.S. AirStrip CARDIOLOGY™ and AirStrip CRITICAL CARE™ are now in the advanced stages of testing and are expected to be submitted for FDA clearance in the near future.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

Physician burnout: what's the solution?

There have been a number of articles over the years evaluating physician burnout. Due to changes in reimbursement over the past few decades, physicians are often seeing more patients each day. They're spending less time with each patient and they're burning out because of the increased workload, the paperwork, and the stress associated with the practice of clinical medicine. So, what's the solution?

We know that some physicians are leaving clinical practice to pursue other careers. Others are looking for less strenuous work models such as cash or concierge practices. Is this the right solution? Are these physicians finding better work/life balance after making these types of transitions?

I think the solution needs to start in the medical schools. Students need to be educated about the importance of work/life balance and they also need to learn how to creatively develop practice models that will allow them to reach an appropriate balance. Our health care system also needs to be changed so that physicians are being adequately reimbursed for their services.

For those who do choose to leave clinical medicine, they need to know how to find the right opportunities. If you're a surgeon and you want to pursue a non-clinical career, do you know what you could do with your education and training? What if you're a radiologist or a pathologist? If you're considering a career transition, you may want to work with a career coach who can guide you through that process. Click here to learn about the career coaching services we offer on NonClinicalJobs.com.

Save the date for the 2011 MD/MBA Conference

Association of MD/MBA Programs 9th Annual Conference

Save The Date: April 8-10th, 2011, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

This year, the 8th Annual Conference was in Boston, MA (April 9-11) and it was a pleasure to attend and blog at the meeting. I met some very interesting students, residents, and physicians at the meeting.

If you'd like to explore the business side of medicine, perhaps you should attend the conference next year. Save the date, mark your calendar, and stay tuned for more information.

http://mdmbaprograms.com

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Part-Time (and Flex-Time) Physician Practice on the Rise

There's a great article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) titled, "Part-Time Physician Practice on the Rise." More physicians are recognizing the importance of balancing work and family life. As a result, there's a growing phenomenon of physicians choosing to work part-time. Given that many full-time physicians are working over 40 hrs/week (more like 60+ hrs), those working part-time are working 35 hrs/week and taking regular call.

I know many physicians who have established a blended career model where they spend very little time in clinical practice and they spend a greater amount of time in some type of non-clinical career.

Are you looking for ways to spend more time with your family? Perhaps you're getting burned out and you don't want to work 60+ hours in the clinical setting. Pursuing a part-time practice could be a great option if you're able to find a hospital or group practice that is open to the idea of employing you as a part-time physician. Then again, maybe it's time to significantly reduce your clinical responsibilities and find non-clinical sources of income generation. There's also the idea of job sharing. This is also seen in the corporate setting where two women who are raising a family may share a single job and divide the roles/responsibilities during the week. If you want to share a clinical job, you'll need to find a "partner" who's willing to share the workload with you.

Click here
to read the article in the NEJM.

Another reminder about the Medical Fusion Conference


This is a quick reminder about the upcoming Medical Fusion Conference that will be this November 5-7, 2010 at the Wynn Las Vegas. The event website is www.MedFusionConf.org.

The Medical Fusion Conference brings together physician leaders who have developed unique niche areas to further their careers. Concierge medicine, telemedicine, entrepreneurship, writing & publishing, medical tourism, living & working abroad, developing start-up companies, financial management, alternate income streams, clinical practice innovation, and internet marketing are some of the topics covered at the Medical Fusion Conference.

Faculty who are true experts in their fields are being brought in to discuss their careers and developing trends in medicine. Each day is designed to maximize learning and face time with faculty members including the scheduling of two "meet the faculty" sessions that allow sit down time between participants and the Medical Fusion speakers.  


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

ISMPP Certified Medical Publication Professional Certification Exam

Have you heard of the ISMPP Certified Medical Publication Professional Certification Exam? Have you heard of the ISMPP? Let's start with the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP). This is a non-profit organization for medical publishing professionals. They offer a certification exam and you can learn about that exam by visiting:

http://www.ismpp.org/

The ISMPP Certified Medical Publication Professional Certification Exam

APPLY NOW: Log on to www.ismpp.org for details.
At this time, scrutiny surrounding the conduct of company-sponsored clinical trials and data reporting are at its height. The Certified Medical Publication Professional (CMPP) credential provides an important avenue of support for integrity, transparency, and accuracy in medical publications, based on passing a rigorously developed 150-question, 3-hour multiple-choice examination.

The goals of the credential are to:
• Provide a respected professional credential for medical publication professionals
• Support and drive defensible best practices
• Enhance credibility for medical publishing, especially pharmaceutical-sponsored publications


Monday, September 6, 2010

MIT OpenCourseWare

If you're looking for some free business education, you should take a look at MIT OpenCourseWare. It's almost like free business school (but you won't get a degree or a certificate).

MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.

TIME Magazine selects MIT OpenCourseWare as one of its 50 best websites of 2010.

In 2009, OCW's Highlights for High School portal was named a Landmark Website for Teaching and Learning by the American Association of School Librarians.

For business and management education, you can view the Sloan School of Management courses here.

http://ocw.mit.edu

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Alternative Careers For Nurses

Take a look at some of these alternative careers for nurses (many of these options also will apply to physicians):
  • Communications
  • Education
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Government
  • Healthcare Consulting
  • Human Resources/Personnel
  • Human/Social Services
  • Information Technology
  • Insurance: Health Maintenance Organizations/Health Insurers
  • Law and Law Enforcement
  • Market Research/Health Policy Research
  • Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Medical Device Companies
  • Public Interest/Advocacy Groups, Associations and Foundations
  • Public Relations
  • Research: Non-Profit and Government
You can read about them here.

Three Must-Have Cover Letters

Three Must-Have Cover Letters
Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC
GetInterviews.com

Salt and pepper. Peanut butter and jelly. Resume and cover letter. Some things just go together. One of the three types of cover letters should always accompany a resume in job search activities. Cover letters come in different “flavors” depending on their use and target audience. Let’s go over the main three cover letters you need for your job search.

1 – General Cover Letter. This letter is written to support the resume and has the broadest use in job search. When contacting a company “cold”, a general cover letter is your best bet because the primary purpose is to introduce you and highlight some of the key points brought into the resume. Sometimes referred to as a “broadcast letter”, it can be used when sending your resume to many recipients at once in a mass mail, too.

While general in nature, the general cover letter should be “employer focused” meaning the wording shows the reader how the company could benefit from the job seekers experience. A general cover letter does not mention specifics such as salary requirements but may mention relocation if it is an issue. Just as objectives are not used on resumes, language that details the wants of the job seeker such as “I’m looking for a permanent position with a stable company” should be avoided. The cover letter is a sales document that grabs attention, communicates a professional, intelligent message, and shows the benefits of the “product” (the job seeker).

The general cover letter should always end on a proactive note stating the job seeker’s intention to follow up with the employer rather than closing with a passive “I await your call” message. End the letter with a specific message about when and how you will follow up and then make sure to follow through. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and the squeak starts right here in the cover letter. How many job seekers say “I will follow up with you by email next Wednesday” and then actually do it? Very few! That’s why it makes you stand out when you actually do what you say you will do.

2 – Targeted Cover Letter. When answering a specific job advertisement or responding to an opening for which you have details, a targeted cover letter is the one to use. A targeted letter can be morphed from a General Cover Letter but the content will change to some degree. First of all, the Targeted Cover Letter will mention the specific opening by job title in the first sentence so the reader knows it is a response to the advertisement. It is important for the reader to understand right away which position is being targeted.


Saturday, September 4, 2010

Employment statistics based on your education

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has published an interesting article comparing employment statistics (and unemployment statistics) based on your education. As expected, if you have a college degree or higher, then you're more likely to have a job and you're more likely to be receiving a higher salary. Some interesting statistics:

For the College Educated: Increasing Employment ...

... Lower Unemployment ...
... and Higher Earnings

You can read the entire story here: Back to College BLS Spotlight on Statistics

UIC receives CAHIIM accreditation

Chicago, IL (July 16) – The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is pleased to announce that the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) has accredited its online Master of Science degree in Health Informatics. The UIC program is the first master level degree program to receive CAHIIM accreditation. Prior to receiving accreditation, UIC was one of only six master programs to be approved by CAHIIM.

"We are thrilled to receive CAHIIM accreditation for our online Master of Science in Health Informatics program," says Department Head Dr. Larry Pawola. "The CAHIIM accreditation process requires our program to meet a very high educational standard; our accreditation status reflects both the overall quality of our online master’s program, and our ability to deliver valuable advanced education in an online format. We are pleased UIC is recognized as being the leader in health informatics education."


Friday, September 3, 2010

28,000 new jobs added in health care

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 28,000 new health care jobs were added in August. The largest gains were in ambulatory health care services (+17,000) and hospitals (+9,000). The unemployment rate remains at 9.6 percent (roughly unchanged). We still have 14.9 million unemployed people in this country.

When's the U.S. economy going to fully recover? The good news is that things don't seem to be getting much worse, so let's hope that things will slowly get better.

Professional Program in Biopharmaceutical Business

UC Berkeley Extension offers a program called the Professional Program in Biopharmaceutical Business. If you live near San Francisco, you may want to consider this program. Here's some information:

The Professional Program in Biopharmaceutical Business features a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses the specific business needs of the biopharmaceutical industries. Focusing on the aspects of business and development unique to biotechnology, medical devices, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals, the program provides the knowledge you need to start, develop, expand, and operate a successful business in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. Electives draw from other areas within this industry to ensure that professionals from all backgrounds can communicate easily and understand the roles of various functions within disparate business units.

Whether you are a businessperson or a science professional looking to enter the field of biotechnology, this program enables you to build on your current skills to succeed in biopharmaceutical business. The program is also ideal if you are a biotechnology professional wanting to become familiar with the functional areas in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and contract research and manufacturing organizations.

Click here for more information.

Average salary for a Harvard MBA graduate: $114,400

Here's some interesting data. The average base salary for a Harvard MBA graduate in 2009 was $114,400. The average signing bonus was $20,000.

What if we broke that down by job function? 

Function (Class of 2009)%Median Base Salary
Business Development8%$100,000
Consulting28%$125,000
Finance32%$110,000
General Management16%$105,000
Marketing9%$97,000
Strategic Planning4%$109,000
Other3%$97,500

What if we broke that down by industry?

Industry (Class of 2009)%Median Base Salary


Consulting 26%$125,000
Entertainment/Media4%$104,000
Financial Services31%$110,000
Non-Profit/Government7%$90,000
Retail3%$105,000
Other Services (incl. Real Estate)2%$100,000
Healthcare7%$105,000
Consumer Products5%$95,000
Manufacturing8%$112,500
Technology7%$110,000

A full-time MBA at Harvard takes 2 years. However, most full-time MBA students have a few years of working experience before they go to business school. Regardless, the long path to medicine probably doesn't make much sense if you're aiming to make 6 figures before you're in your mid-to-late twenties

Featured physician executive; Vijai Kumar, M.D.

This week's featured physician executive is Vijai Kumar, M.D., President and CMO, Excel Life Sciences, Inc.

Dr. Vijai Kumar is the President and Chief Medical Officer of Excel Life Sciences, Inc., a leading US based company providing trial management services in India and pharmaceutical consulting services to global biopharmaceutical and device industries. Excel Life Sciences also provides strategic inputs for clinical development of drugs and devices in India and other emerging markets.

Dr. Kumar’s experience includes clinical research, business strategy, clinical trial logistics and supply chain management, regulatory affairs and senior executive positions at Sandoz and the Upjohn Company for 16 years.

Dr. Vijai Kumar has an M.B.B.S. Degree from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India and M.D. (Board Certification) in Internal Medicine from University of Delhi, India.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

I'm traveling to San Diego to speak at the mHealth Networking Conference

I'll be speaking at the 2nd International mHealth Networking Conference in San Diego on Sept 8-9. Right now, I'm tentatively scheduled for Thurs, Sept 9 at 10 am.  I hope you'll join me in San Diego for the meeting.


2nd International mHealth Networking Conference
September 8-9, 2010
Town & Country Resort Hotel
San Diego CA

Click here to view the preliminary program (subject to change)

8 Insights for Physicians Joining the Life Science Industry

There's a nice article in the Physician Executive Journal titled, "8 Insights for Physicians Joining the Life Science Industry." Published for more than 20 years by the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE), The Physician Executive Journal (PEJ) is the premier source of information and insight about the business of medicine.  This article is in the September/October 2009 issue of the PEJ in the ACPE Career Center section. The author is Kevin Carroll, Life Science Practice Leader at Phillips DiPisa.

Here are a few snippets from the article:


After a dozen years recruiting for pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device companies and health care organizations, advice-seeking physicians call me nearly every week. And while their backgrounds differ, the question is always the same: “What does it take to make the transition from medicine to industry?”


In recent years, the need for physicians in industry has increased tremendously. Whether as a preemptive hedge to help avoid product failures or product withdrawal from the market, a need to more closely monitor clinical trials and drug safety, or simply a desire for a highly technical medical spokesperson on staff to communicate with the press and key opinion leaders, experienced physicians are in demand.

But it’s not all good news for these sought after individuals. While the opportunities may be substantial, the transition from successful practicing physician to thriving industry executive can be both challenging, frustrating and frightening.

Research dollars are largely being spent in a few fields: oncology, neurology, and immunology/infectious diseases. If you are lucky enough to be board certified in one of these therapeutic areas, then you are in demand and your chances of industry being interested in you is much greater.

To read this article, you'll need to join the American College of Physician Executives and click on the link that takes you to the Physician Executive Journal. View the archived issues and go to the September/October 2009 issue of the PEJ.

Visit the American College of Physician Executives: http://www.acpe.org

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

International Freelancers Day

Sept 24, 2010 is International Freelancers Day. All freelancers, consultants, solopreneurs, self-employeds and entrepreneurs are invited and welcome!

Here's a list of some of the sessions:
  • How Facebook Can Supercharge Your Freelance Business
  • Create a killer network to build and boost your business
  • SEO Copywriting Made Simple for Freelance Writers
  • How to Determine if There's a Viable Market for Your Freelance Services!
  • Facebook Marketing Success Secrets for Solo Professionals
  • Getting Corporate Clients
  • How to Build Your Brand As a Freelancer
  • What Kind of Entrepreneur Are You? Knowing the Rules of the Game You're Playing to Win
  • So You Want to Write a Book - An Introduction to Writing, Publishing and Promoting
To learn more, visit www.InternationalFreelancersDay.com and register there. It’s completely free to view these online videos (webinars) about freelancing.

BioSpace Career Fair: Durham, North Carolina

Bio NC Career Fair
Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center
Durham, North Carolina
Monday, September 13, 2010
11am to 4pm

Attend the Bio NC Career Fair!
Job seekers can spend a day with HR representatives and Hiring Managers from top biotech, pharma, medical device and diagnostics companies in the south east region.

Who should attend?
Candidates with a 4-year degree in the life sciences and a minimum of 2-years of industry related experience are invited to attend. Just register by clicking the button below.
(Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a four-year college degree. PhD and Postdoc candidates welcome.)

What types of positions are available?
Exhibiting companies are recruiting for positions in areas such as: QA/QC, clinical research, engineering, manufacturing, biostatistics, clinical data management, chemistry, regulatory affairs, and research.
  • ABC Laboratories, Inc. – Marketing, QA/QC, Regulatory Affairs, Sales/Business Development, Research, IS/IT
  • Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc. – Clinical, Marketing, QA/QC, Regulatory Affairs, Sales/Business Development
EXHIBITING COMPANIES
  • ABC Laboratories, Inc.
  • Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc.
  • NNE Pharmaplan, Inc.
  • Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Inc.
You can learn more about the BioSpace Career Fairs by visiting: http://www.biospace.com/jobs/career-fair/