5 ways to learn about careers in the pharmaceutical industry

Last night, we spoke with Dr. Steven Peskin about physician careers in the pharmaceutical industry. On March 13, we're going to continue that conversation, so I hope you'll join us (more details here).

If you don't currently work in the pharmaceutical industry, how do you get more familiar with the business issues that surround the pharma industry? Here are a few basic things you can do to get started:

1. Get familiar with the PhRMA Code.

2. Read business articles that are about the pharmaceutical industry. I would recommend the following trade journals and magazines:

• http://www.pharmalive.com/
• http://pharmexec.findpharma.com/
• http://www.pharmavoice.com/
• http://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/

3. Subscribe to pharmaceutical newsletters and stay current on the issues that surround drug development, clinical research, marketing, CROs, drug safety, managed markets, reimbursement, patient education, etc. This way, you'll be familiar with the key issues that are impacting the pharma industry.

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CMO = Chief Medical Officer or Chief Marketing Officer

When you see someone who has the title CMO, what do those three letters mean to you? To physicians, we interpret CMO to mean Chief Medical Officer. To the rest of the world, CMO means Chief Marketing Officer.

We all know CEO, COO, and CFO. The C-suite can be an interesting place when you have a CMO as well. Hospitals may also have a CMIO or Chief Medical Information Officer.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the C-suite:

The highest level executives are usually called "C-level" or part of the "C-suite", referring to the 3-letter initials starting with "C" and ending with "O" (for "Chief __________ Officer"); the major traditional such offices are Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In technology companies, a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is also central, and for companies with a strong IT capacity a Chief Information Officer (CIO) is also significant. (Most other C-level titles are not universally recognized, and tend to be specific to particular organizational cultures or preferences.)

Job Post: Medical Management Coordinator

Medical Management Coordinator
Spartanburg Regional-Regional HealthPlus - Spartanburg, SC 29303

Regional HealthPlus is seeking a Medical Management Coordinator for their PHO. The ideal candidate will coordinate all utilization management, case management and disease management activities for the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System group and Inman Mills group. This position provides support to the RHP Medical Management Committee. Reporting directly to the Regional HealthPlus Director of Operations, the candidate must have at least three years experience in Utilization Management or Case Management, Licensed RN with five years of clinical experience. BSN preferred, as well as payer experience.

For confidential consideration, contact Cathy Benson - 800-288-7762 cbenson@srhs.com

www.spartanburgregional.com

"Mathematics, Common Sense, and Good Luck: My Life and Careers"

Here's an MIT World video that captured my attention titled, "Mathematics, Common Sense, and Good Luck: My Life and Careers."

Don’t expect to glean any market tips or trading secrets from James Simons, who steadfastly refuses to disclose the method behind his remarkable record in investing. Instead, listen to this mathematician, hedge fund manager and philanthropist sum up a remarkably varied and rich career, and offer some “guiding principles” distilled along the way.

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Last day to vote for "50 Most Influential Physician Executives"

Today (Feb 25) is the last day to vote in the 2011 Modern Physician/Modern Healthcare '50 Most Influential Physician Executives' competition.  The list includes a number of different physician executives who have made great contributions in 2010. In the spirit of focusing on health IT (since I just attended HIMSS), I'd encourage you to vote for Dr. Harry Greenspun.

Harry Greenspun, M.D., is the chief medical officer of the Dell Perot Systems healthcare group, providing strategic leadership with a clinical perspective. He has held a diverse range of clinical and executive roles across the healthcare industry, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced in health IT.

 for the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives.

Connecting with physicians at #HIMSS11

This year at HIMSS, I connected with a number of different physicians. Here are some examples of physicians I met in Orland during the annual HIMSS conference:

• Robert Rowley, MD (Chief Medical Officer of Practice Fusion)
• Andre Vovan, MD, MBA (Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Mitochon Systems)
• Jonathan Bertman, MD (President of Amazing Charts EHR)
• Nick Van Terheyden, MD (Chief Medical Information Officer at Nuance)
• William Cast, MD (CEO of NoMoreClipboard.com)
• Steven J. Davidson, MD, MBA (Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine at Maimonides Medical Center)
• Rodrigo Martinez, MD (Senior Manager at Clinovations)
• Homero Rivas, MD, MBA (Surgeon at Stanford)
• Christopher King, MD (Surgeon)
• Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA (Principal Medical Officer at Vangent)
• Toussaint Ward, MD, MHSA (Medical Editor at PEPID)
• Dan Peterson, MD, MPH (a physician entrepreneur)
• Howard Follis, MD (Founder of UroChartEHR)
• David Faber, MD (Surgeon at Bedford Surgical Associates)

There were a number of other physicians, but I didn't collect business cards from everyone.

I spent a lot of time networking while I was at HIMSS. It's always nice when you can finally put a face to a name, an email address, or a Twitter username. I enjoy meeting new people and facilitating strategic networking opportunities. 

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Intellectual Ventures

Wouldn't it be fun to invent something with a group of intelligent people? Maybe you have a creative medical idea. Perhaps you'd like to build new medical device. Intellectual Ventures provides that opportunity. Here's some information about this interesting company:

Intellectual Ventures is the global leader in the business of invention. We collaborate with leading inventors, partner with pioneering companies, and invest both expertise and capital in the development and monetization of inventions and patent portfolios. Our mission is to energize and streamline an invention economy that will drive innovation around the world.

Intellectual Ventures is building an active market for invention that brings together expertise and capital, and links buyers with sellers. We see great opportunities for inventors, companies, investors, partners, and world economies to benefit from a global market for invention.

Read more »

LAST CHANCE to Submit Abstracts for the MD/MBA Conference!!

Author: Brittany Chan

We are getting really excited for the 9th annual MD/MBA Conference hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas! If you haven't submitted an abstract for the poster competition, the deadline has been extended to February 28, so get your submissions in to AMMPPosterCompetition@gmail.com!

We are looking for any posters focused on the intersection of medicine and business, including health systems, economics, policy, entrepreneurship, physician management, health IT, and more. For more information about the poster competition, go to the website or click the flyer image below.

The conference will be held April 8-10, 2011. Register here! It will be a great opportunity to learn about career opportunities and network with MD/MBA students and notable physician executives. We will also be hosting the first annual AMMP Residency Fair!

Hope to see you there!



About the author:

Brittany Chan is a second-year medical student at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas. She is also a candidate for an MBA in Health Organization Management from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. Originally from the Houston area, she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in psychology and general studies from Texas Tech University in 2009. In addition to blogging, Brittany enjoys reading, crafts, and spending time with family and friends.

Conversation with Dr. William Cast, CEO of NoMoreClipboard at #HIMSS11

I'm currently at HIMSS11 and I had the pleasure to connect with William Cast, MD. He's the Chief Executive Officer of NoMoreClipboard. We spoke about some of the exciting things happening with his company and we discussed various types of non-clinical career opportunities in the health information technology industry.

Here's a brief description of Dr. Cast:

Bill is a practicing ear, nose and throat surgeon and our resident voice of the physician, ensuring that we consistently deliver value to consumers and medical professionals alike. Bill is responsible for driving enterprise growth, with a focus on creating and sustaining relationships with the medical and academic communities. Bill is also president of the Indiana University board of trustees, and has a rich entrepreneurial history – having served as founding president of an IPA and a medical liability insurance firm, founding chairman of DuPont hospital in Northeast Indiana, and publisher of a medical economics newsletter.

Read more »

Consulting jobs in the health IT industry at #HIMSS11

There are a number of health IT consulting jobs advertised here at HIMSS11. Here are a few examples of who's hiring at HIMSS11:

Accenture

• Health & Public Service - Connected Health Ambulatory EMR Implementation Consultant
• MC Pharmacy Benefit Management Consultant
• MC Payer Operations and Excellence Consultant

Ernst & Young

• Advisory Manager - Performance Improvement - Healthcare - Managed Care - Provider
• Positions in: NYC, San Francisco, and Chicago

Read more »

Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) workforce development initiatives #HIMSS11

I'm at HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) and it's great to see how they're providing professional development resources for health IT professionals. In addition to providing CPHIMS review courses, HIMSS is doing much more. CPHIMS is a professional certification program for healthcare information and management systems professionals. Individuals who meet eligibility criteria and successfully complete the CPHIMS exam are designated a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS).

Here's a brief summary of what HIMSS is doing with the ONC:

HIMSS is pleased to be working very closely with the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) on workforce development initiatives that will lead to career pathways and certifications that will address the needs of entry level technical professionals through those most advanced in the industry. And to nurture the HIT professional, HIMSS has placed great emphasis on the HIT Emerging Professional, defined as someone with five years or less work experience in healthcare IT, by creating a series of informational webinars around a variety of topics. Further, the HIMSS eLearning Academy features over 16 courses and 500 archived case study-type sessions across 21 different HIT topic areas that will also supplement the HIT professional’s toolbox.

Read more »

Career networking at #HIMSS11 (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)

I'm currently attending the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) meeting and I'm spending a significant amount of time networking for other physicians who are currently exploring non-clinical careers in the health information technology industry. I'm currently working with several physician clients who are actively looking for jobs in the health IT industry. HIMSS is a great networking opportunity because so many executives attend this meeting.

It's been great to connect with health IT executives at electronic health record (EHR) companies like Practice Fusion, Allscripts, Epic, and Amazing Charts. It was also good to reconnect with friends at technology companies like HP, Dell, Microsoft, Panasonic, and Fujitsu. I also enjoyed spending time with people who work in medical software and information companies like Epocrates, Elsevier, and PEPID. 

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Many health IT organizations at #HIMSS11 are hiring (see who's hiring)

I'm in Orland attending the annual HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) conference and I'm running into many companies and organizations that are actively hiring. In fact, if you want to see who's currently hiring, you don't even need to be at HIMSS11. You can go right to the HIMSS conference website to the "Who's Hiring @ HIMSS11" section of the HIMSS Career Services Pavilion.

Let me highlight a few of those job openings:

Accenture
Insight driven health is the foundation of more effective, efficient and affordable healthcare. That's why the world's leading healthcare providers and health plans choose Accenture for a wide range of insight driven health services that help them use knowledge in new ways--from the back office to the doctor's office.

Ambulatory/EMR Con
Nurse Clinical Informaticist
Client Service Delivery Lead
Pharmacy Benefit Management Consultant
Payer Operations and Excellence Consultant
MC Revenue Cycle Generalist - Senior Manager – OPTIONAL

Read more »

Blogging as a Career: Strategies for Clinicians and Health IT Bloggers #HIMSS11

If you're going to be at HIMSS11, I hope you'll visit me at the HIMSS Social Media Center (Exhibit Hall E, Booth 7981) where I'll be giving 2 presentations (Mon and Wed). The presentation on Wednesday is titled,

"Blogging as a Career: Strategies for Clinicians and Health IT Bloggers"

This session presents case studies of clinicians and health IT professionals who generate supplemental income by blogging, describe ways bloggers can find different sources of revenue to support their blogs, and outline the key steps that are necessary to build and establish a profitable blog.

Wednesday, February 23 at 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Presenter: Dr. Joseph Kim
Location: HIMSS Social Media Center (Exhibit Hall E, Booth 7981)

Read more »

Career Services Pavilion at #HIMSS11

I'm at HIMSS and I'm spending some time at the Career Services Pavilion today. You'll see me visiting Booth #8191. Here's what you'll find here:

Building upon experiences at HIMSS10, the Career Services Pavilion is a centralized location of recruiters, consultants and others who can contribute to the development of the healthcare IT workforce. Co-located in Hall E with HIMSS JobMine, the Interoperability Showcase, University Row, and other attractions, the Career Services Pavilion is a gathering point for both healthcare IT job seekers and healthcare IT organizations looking for talent. There are 10 educational sessions offered at various times throughout the conference at the pavilion.

Read more »

Final reminder: Join us on Sunday Feb 27 to discuss "Physician Careers in the Pharmaceutical Industry"

This is a final reminder about our conference call on Sunday, Feb 27 at 9 pm EST. We still have 3 open spots.

"Physician Careers in the Pharmaceutical Industry (part 1 of 2)"

Presenters include:

• Steven Peskin, MD, MBA (click here for his bio)
• Joseph Kim, MD, MPH (moderating)

Part 1 will occur on 2/27 (Sun evening) and we will address questions like:

1. How do you "break in" and get started in the pharmaceutical industry?
2. What types of opportunities are out there for experienced physicians, recent medical school graduates, etc.?
3. Specific "next-step" suggestions and tips.

The cost to participate in Part 1 is $50.


More details here.

MIT Sloan BioInnovations Conference 2011

MIT Sloan BioInnovations Conference 2011
Register today!

The 8th Annual MIT Sloan BioInnovations Conference, taking place on March 4th at 8:30 A.M in the Boston Marriott Cambridge, brings together thought leaders from industry and academia to discuss important topics applicable across the health care industries.

Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Philips Healthcare, and Peter Hecht, CEO of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals will deliver keynote speeches in addition to our panel discussions about the challenges of regulatory uncertainty and R&D productivity as well as the opportunities of next generation technologies and emerging markets. Our panelists come from the top companies across pharma, biotech, medical devices and support services including Pfizer, Genentech, Merck and Genzyme, and innovative emerging firms like SmartCell and AMAG Pharma.

Read more »

BioCapital Career Fair

BioCapital Career Fair
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
11am - 4pm
Bethesda North Marriott & Conference Center
Bethesda, MD

Attend the BioCapital Career Fair!
Job seekers can spend a day with HR representatives and Hiring Managers from top biotech, pharma, and medical device companies in the Mid-Atlantic 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.)

Read more »

McKesson's 2011 Physician Leadership Congress Presentations

If you missed the McKesson's 2011 Physician Leadership Congress, you can view the slides from the presentations that were given on February 10-11.

Here's an overview of the session presentations:

Welcome and Introduction
Speakers: Andrew Mellin, MD, MBA, Vice President, Predictive Care Solutions, McKesson and Mary Beth Navarra-Sirio, RN, MBA, Vice President, Patient Safety and Quality Officer, McKesson

Keynote Session: Nurse-Physician Partnerships: Key to Leading Transformation
Speakers: Lucian Leape, MD, Chair, Lucian Leape Institute, National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF); Adjunct professor of Health Policy, Harvard School of Public Health and Julie Morath, RN, MS, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Vanderbilt Medical Center

Interactive Table Discussion: Achieving High Reliability Through Thinking in Teams
Speakers: Craig Clapper, PE, CMQ/OE, Chief Knowledge Officer, Healthcare Performance Improvement (HPI) and Marcia Delk, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Quality Officer, WellStar Health System

Read more »

Featured Physician Executive: Jonathan Teich, MD, PhD

This week's featured physician executive is Jonathan Teich, MD, PhD. He is the Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Health Sciences Division, Elsevier.

A practicing physician, Jonathan boasts a wealth of experience in the scientific and technical fields. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard, and a board-certified attending physician in emergency medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), where he has practiced since 1983.

A recognised leader in his field, Jonathan serves on a number of industry and government leadership councils. He is co-chair of the panel responsible for the HHS-sponsored Roadmap for National Action on Clinical Decision Support and is a board member of the eHealth Initiative, a fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics and of HIMSS, and a member of the American Health Information Community Quality Workgroup. He has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers, books, and editorials in the field of medical informatics and healthcare information systems.

Jonathan has also helped to found Healthvision, Inc., an internet healthcare company producing innovative, web-based, clinical information systems and patient/community information sites for large healthcare organisations. He served Healthvision as chief medical officer, responsible for strategic product vision across clinical and patient product areas.

#HIMSS11 Health Information Technology Employment and Career Guide

Next week, I'll be in Orlando attending HIMSS11.  I'll be there with 29,000 other people. If you're going to be at HIMSS11, I hope you'll come for my presentations (more details here).

HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) is the largest organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding of health care information and management systems.

Are you considering a career in health information technology?  The HIMSS11 HIT Employment & Career Guide is now available!

Inside you’ll find the latest news on the healthcare job market and career development, as well as details on where to go at HIMSS11 to help advance your career. You’ll also find details on open positions, great places to work across the country and more.

Read more »

MBAs from Harvard, Wharton and Columbia: Alumni Panel Discussion

MBA Fair New York

Saturday, February 19th, 2pm - 6pm
Hilton New York - Avenue of the Americas

• Meet face-to-face with the MBA admissions officers and alumni of the world's top business schools
• Attend GMAT and Admissions Strategy Workshop
• Apply US$ 1,600,000+ of exclusive scholarships | Careers Panel with MBA recruiters / alumni

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Workshop type:Panel Discussion
Institution :Admissions Directors from USC Moore, Cornell, INSEAD, Melbourne, IE and Manchester Business School
Presenter(s):QS World MBA Tour Team Member

Read more »

First Things First: Ask The Right Questions

Author: Lisa Chu, M.D.

"Start close in,
don't take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take."

David Whyte, "Start Close In"

So you know you want to leave medicine. What should you do? Who should you talk to? Where can you go for help?

Joe Kim has assembled and is building an amazing community right here online. These days, the internet is the quickest and most abundant way to make connections with people who have very specific interests, especially ones that aren't talked about in social settings or at work (like leaving medicine).

There is a huge amount of great information, advice, and resources to comb through. This is an amazing gift. Sift through it all, and see what catches your interest.

But before you slip into panic mode and think, "How am I going to pay off my student loans? How will I send my children to private preschool? How will I afford a Chinese AND a French nanny AND violin lessons? What about health care reform? What about the economy? What about EGYPT??", I invite you to take my mini quiz.

There's no Kaplan review course, there's no answer key, there's no standard deviations to judge your results on. This quiz is for your heart and your spirit, parts of you that may have been sleeping since you were three years old, but have always been alive, waiting for you to listen.

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DIA's Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program

DIA's Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program provides you with comprehensive training on current regulations and their practical application to the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and related health care products. 

Features and Benefits

* Our world-class faculty address the practical and theoretical aspects of the conduct of pharmacovigilance, with emphasis on understanding of the concepts, themes underlying effective processes, and the basic tenets of global regulatory compliance with safety principles.
* DIA is an established, recognized authority in the pharmaceutical industry and has been for more than 47 years.
* As an independent, not-for-profit, global association of members with no corporate sponsors, DIA offers an objective program that results in a DIA Certificate of Completion.
* Many courses offer Continuing Education Credits.

What You Will Learn:

* US regulatory affairs: the IND and NDA/CTD phases
* EU regulatory requirements
* Preparing for FDA meetings
* Post-approval regulatory requirements
* Regulatory requirements for product labeling & advertising
* Regulatory courses covering drug, medical device, and biologic products
* Quality assurance
* Much more!

Read more »

Which Non-Clinical Career if Right For Me?

Author: Mehul Sheth, DO FAAP

For my first post I thought long and deep about the path that led me to my non-clinical career and I fell back into what I told all my students when I orientated them as they began a pediatric rotation with me-that success in medicine (or outside of medicine) is only partially taught in any formal way in school. This is true for almost every field, but particularly for medicine. I estimate that only about 60% of what got me where I am (an exceedingly rewarding job, a family that I love spending time with and time to actually do just that) came from formal teaching. The other 40%? Well that’s what I hope to go through in my blog.

Once I knew that I wanted a non-clinical career, the harder question emerged-which non-clinical career path to choose? Dr. Kim has eloquently expounded on the idea that there’s no one “non-clinical” job, but rather an assortment of opportunities that take advantage of your medical expertise, whether you are a graduating medical student, recent board eligible residency graduate, young board certified attending, or even the veteran of years of clinical practice. Choosing the right non-clinical career is very similar to choosing the right residency. Like residency, a non-clinical job is not a destination, but rather a pathway into a different knowledge base. Like residency, the hours can be long, in many cases 60-70+ hours. Like residency, the pay for the first few years can be quite modest. However, unlike residency, you haven’t spent the last 4 years experiencing and evaluating the different options.

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Courses to advance your career in Biotech and Biopharma

Advance Your Career in Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals

Are you interesting in taking some courses so that you can advance your career in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry? There are a number of courses you can take if you live in California. The UC Berkeley Extension School offers a variety of programs for people who wish to learn more about:

• Biopharmaceutical Product and Process Development
• Bioscience Manufacturing and Supply Chain
• Biopharmaceutical Business
• Regulatory Affairs

Learn the logistics of procurement, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), operations, outsourcing, supply chain, plant design, inspections, CMC regulatory compliance, and more. Learn more here.

EBIT, EBITD, and EBITDA

I'm reading my finance textbook and I'm on the section that deals with financial ratios like the current ratio, the quick or acid test ratio, the times interest earned ratio, and the cash coverage ratio. I have to admit that I didn't learn this in college or medical school, so this is fascinating information.

Like the language of medicine, the language of business is full of funny acronyms. One of those acronyms is TIE = Times Interest Earned. The TIE ratio is measured by taking the EBIT/interest. Now, let's review EBIT:

EBIT (ebbit) = Earnings Before Interest and Taxes
EBITD (ebbit-dee) = Earnings Before Interest and Taxes and Depreciation
EBITDA (ebbit-dah) = Earnings Before Interest and Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization

Amused? If you want to speak with business executives about financial issues, you need to get familiar with the language.

Read more »

Happy Birthday NonClinicalJobs.com!

The URL http://NonClinicalJobs.com/ was born on Feb 15, 2009.

Although the website (and its content) is older, the URL "NonClinicalJobs.com" is only 2 years old. Today, we became a toddler!

Before 2009, I was using the free Google Blogger URL http://nonclinical.blogspot.com/ (and some of you may still remember that old URL). If you've bookmarked that old URL, you'll see that it now redirects to http://www.NonClinicalJobs.com 

Blogging was originally a hobby and I didn't turn it into a business yet until the spring of 2009 when I added NonClinicalJobs.com to the HCPLive Network. Thank you HCPLive for all of your help and support!

Who would have thought that $10 could multiply like this? Two years ago (Feb 15, 2009), I paid $10 so that I could purchase the URL http://NonClinicalJobs.com/ and I converted this blog into a profitable business.  That $10 investment has paid huge dividends over the past 2 years and I'm excited to see how NonClinicalJobs.com will continue to grow over the next few years. 

Here's where we stand today (Feb 15 2011):

• NonClinicalJobs.com gets over 40,000 page views each month. The site began in 2008 and the new URL went into effect 2 years ago.

• We now have over 1,000 fans on our Facebook page. The Facebook fan page began in Oct 2009 as a social media experiment and it's been quite a success. On Facebook, we're getting over 35,000 post views per month. Make sure to like us here: http://www.facebook.com/NonClinicalJobs

• Our membership section was renamed the "Society of Physicians with Non-Clinical Careers" and that group now has almost 2,000 members who have signed up.  (http://members.nonclinicaljobs.com/) has  This social group began in May 2008.  Membership is free.

• Our LinkedIn group began in December 2009 and it now has over 450 members. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, make sure to join our LinkedIn group.

This has been an incredible journey and I want to thank each of you for supporting NonClinicalJobs.com with your readership, your word-of-mouth promotion, and your constant encouragement. I also want to thank my family for supporting me through this venture.

How a physician mentor can help you transition out of clinical medicine

Author: Michelle Mudge-Riley, DO, MHA

I struggled with my own transition over ten years ago. I had no idea where to turn or what to do and I made a few bad decisions along my path to total non-clinical transition and my “dream job”. I used to feel desperation, anger and fear as I faced every day and now I look forward to my work and life every day. It still blows my mind when I stop to think about where I was and where I am now.

Because of my struggle, I started helping other physicians in their own transitions or diversification of their career. I’ve been doing this for seven years now and had the privilege of helping hundreds of doctors all over the country.

Working with me is simple – there is no travel involved and there is constant support and communication with me. I serve as a physician mentor and we work together as physician colleagues. I don’t have a “cookie cutter” approach because every doctor is different and is coming from a different place. Some are 1-2 years out of residency and others have been in private practice for 10 years or more before coming to me. It’s been my experience that 80-90% of the time, a physician who works with me will have clear focus and career direction within 6-8 months. Most doctors have been struggling with this on their own for years, if not decades.

Read more »

Prior experience with Cerner and Zynx could = Medical Director of CPOE Clinical Content

If you have prior inpatient experience working with computerized physician order entry or CPOE systems, would you like a career as a Medical Director of CPOE Clinical Content? Experience with Cerner and Zynx will give you a competitive advantage.

You'll find similar types of jobs (Medical Director of CPOE) on the NonClinicalJobs.com Job Board here.

For those who are unfamiliar with health IT acronyms, CPOE = Computerized Physician Order Entry

DIA (Drug Information Association)

DIA is a neutral, nonprofit, global, professional association of nearly 18,000 members who work in every facet of the discovery, development, and life cycle management of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related products.

DIA is committed to the broad dissemination of information among our members, with continuously improved professional practice as the goal. DIA serves our members in a neutral, global environment that operates independent of the influence of any one organization or authority.

DIA operates as a financially independent nonprofit organization that funds itself from meeting and membership fees. The voluntary efforts of DIA members and speakers allow DIA to provide programs and publications to members at a reasonable, competitive cost.

Read more »

Tentative Schedule for 2011 MD/MBA Conference

Here's the Tentative Schedule for 2011 MD/MBA Conference:

Friday, April 8th @ The Overton Hotel

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Welcome Reception & Initial Poster Judging

Saturday, April 9th @ The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

8:00 AM – 12 Noon Conference Welcome, Breakfast and Round 1 Guest Speakers
12 Noon – 1:00 PM The 57th Semi-Annual Buesseler Lecture
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Concurrent Sessions
2:00 PM – 5:30 PM Round 2 Guest Speakers

Read more »

Some Insights on being an MD/MBA Graduate Part 3: I've graduated and matched, now what?

Author: Riley Alexander, MD, MBA

I made sure and titled this "graduated and matched" because if you didn't go through the match, you've most likely made the decision to go the non-clinical route and this post will have much less relevance to you. (Dr. Kim has already addressed multiple pathways involved in that route so just peruse the blog for some great material on that, if you're interested).

As a first year resident, I think the initial time after graduation and starting residency has been one of the more difficult parts of being an MD/MBA grads--especially if you were like me and weighted most of your MBA courses towards the end of your MD/MBA training. Why is this? Well, I think the primary reason is that you've just completed this rather unique training and you're now faced with 3 or more years of residency/fellowship...3-more years where you have this fear that you will "lose everything" from your MBA training. Residency is, after all, a rigorous training environment that doesn't allow for a lot of extra-curricular activities and certainly not another full-time job.

So how have I addressed this? One of the best things I did was take advantage of the time I had off between graduation and residency. This will likely be the last time you have 2 months in a row off for the next 25 years so choosing to work during this time is not an easy one. But, if you're really interested in "getting your feet wet" in a non-clinical setting, this may be your best time. I was fortunate enough to get hired by a local healthcare consulting firm on a full-time basis during this time. This experience was invaluable. Working full-time allows you get a much better sense of how actually working in a non-clinical setting is and if you'll like it. It also allows you to learn how the business setting you're in much better than if you were just exposed on a part-time or after-hours basis. I know something like this may not be easy to find with the limited time-frame, but if you're really interested in doing it, try asking around and put some feelers out there and remember it will only be for two months--don't let what you get paid influence you too much. Many employers would be thrilled to have a recently minted MD/MBA on for a couple of months who is more interested in learning than making money. It may even provide for some part-time or non-clinical moonlighting opportunities during residency.

Read more »

17th Annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference

The annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference is a leading health care business forum for industry professionals, academics, and students. The two-day event typically attracts over 700 attendees from across the nation, and features distinguished speakers, dynamic panel discussions, special events, and various networking opportunities.

This year's conference, entitled Leadership in an Evolving Global Market, will explore the continuing evolution of health care and the leadership needed in both domestic and international markets.

Learn more about the 17th Annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference here.

Pharmaceutical Executive February 2011

One good way to stay current around the issues that surround the pharmaceutical industry is to read magazines and journals like Pharmaceutical Executive. This month, the feature article is titled, "The Promise of Translational Medicine."

You can read the February edition of Pharmaceutical Executive magazine here.

Finding your way through the health sector job maze

Author: Tim Millett

If you’ve spent enough time looking at the job ads in the health sector, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re looking at an endless set of requirements. Some job duties statements look like obstacle courses, even when you’ve got experience. For those to whom English is a second language, you might even consider you need to go to English school to even apply, thanks to convoluted language in job ads and related information.

You’d be at least partly right. In some parts of the health sector, a range of secondary and value adding skills is very much a positive. The US health sector has one of the highest turnover rates of all employment markets in the world. On average, about 30% of the workforce is either on the move or thinking of moving. That’s created a particularly complex job market, in which the non-clinical sector is one of the more complex areas.

Read more »

15th Annual Wharton Entrepreneurship Conference

I wish I could attend this, but I have a conflict that day.

15th Annual Wharton Entrepreneurship Conference
Fri, Feb 18 2011, 8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.
Sofitel Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Wharton Entrepreneurship Conference 2011: Dream Less. Do More.

The inspiration for this year’s conference originates from a growing demand in the Wharton ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship and a desire by potential entrepreneurs to see a path forward to implement their ideas. The Conference’s Executive Committee seeks to present a panel of entrepreneurs and investors that not only demonstrate genuine passion for entrepreneurship but also share practical, useful insight.

Read more »

Medical Communications Workshop 2011

22nd Annual Workshop on Medical Communications
Core Curriculum March 7 & 8 | Pre-workshop Tutorials March 8 | Workshop March 8-10
La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, CA

Sharpen your medical communications skills to maximize your effectiveness.

SESSION TOPICS:
• Regulatory Review
• Riding the Inspection/Audit Wave
• Medical Communications Experience with Risk
• Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
• Using Virtual Solutions

BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
• Medical Communications Responses: What’s Everyone Sayin’
• Statistics
• How to Lead and Deliver Value As a Medical Science Liaison
• Evidence-based Medicine
• Medical Information Support: Determining Service Levels for Expanded Access Programs, Investigational, and Post-patent Expiry Products
• Quality Monitoring Methods and Strategies for Contact Centers
• Medical Communications at Medical Congresses
• Medical Science Liaison Management
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Global Integration
• Medical Communications and Managed Care Customers
• Today’s Pharma Contact Centers
• Copyright Challenges

Read more »

Featured physician executive: Dr. Paul Grundy

Each week, we feature a physician executive here on NonClinicalJobs.com.

This week's featured physician executive is Dr. Paul Grundy and the following information is from the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative:

Paul Grundy MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACPM is IBM’s Director of Healthcare, Technology and Strategic Initiatives for IBM Global Wellbeing Services and Health Benefits, part of IBM’s Corporate Headquarters Human Resources group. Prior to joining IBM, Dr Grundy worked as a senior diplomat in the US State Department supporting the intersection of health and diplomacy. He was also the Medical Director for the International SOS, the world’s largest medical assistance company and for Adventist Health Systems, the second-largest not-for-profit medical system in the world.

Dr. Grundy attended medical school at the University of California San Francisco and trained at Johns Hopkins University. He has worked extensively in International AIDS Pandemic, including writing the United States’ first piece of legislation addressing AIDS Education in Africa.

Dr. Grundy’s numerous awards include: the Department of State Superior Honor Award for handling the crisis surrounding the two attempted coups in Russia and the Department of State Superior Honor Award for work on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Read more »

I'm getting ready for #HIMSS11 (in Orlando)

I'm looking forward to HIMSS11 in Orlando this year. Interested in health IT? Make sure to attend the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference.

Here are some quick stats on the upcoming HIMSS conference:

The 2011 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition is the largest in the information technology field in the U.S. and features: 

More than 29,000 healthcare industry experts are expected to attend HIMSS11 and learn about the latest solutions for improving healthcare through IT.

• The number of registrants from hospitals and health networks has increased by approximately 28% from 2010.
• Total professional registration is outpacing 2010 registration by approximately 30%.

More than 300 education sessions on hot topics such as meaningful use standards, certification and criteria, ARRA and government contributions to advancing health IT, the need for nationwide electronic health records, and health IT privacy and security practices. 


More than 900 exhibiting companies – from Fortune 500 to start-ups – showcasing their latest healthcare innovations and new product launches in over 380,000 square feet of exhibit space.

If you're doing to HIMSS11, make sure to catch me!

I'm giving two presentations at HIMSS11 and I hope you'll join me. My first presentation is titled, "Physicians and Meaningful Use: What We Are Seeing in Social Media." My second presentation is titled, "Blogging as a Career: Strategies for Clinicians and Health IT Bloggers." More details about my presentations can be found here.

Pharmacovigilance service providers

You don't have to work in a major pharmaceutical company to gain experience working in pharmacovigilance. There are a number of pharmacovigilance service providers that will employ health care professionals who are looking for non-clinical jobs in the area of pharmacovigilance.  Here's a list of some of those companies (many of these companies are also contract research organizations or CROs):

    * 4G Pharmacovigilance LLP
    * Akos
    * Chiltern
    * Fulcrumpharma
    * ii4sm International Institute for the Safety of Medicines
    * Parexel
    * Pharm-Olam International
    * PrimeVigilance
    * QSI
    * Quintiles
    * Synowledge LLC
    * BioSoteria, Inc.
    * PharSafer
    * BPI Service GmbH

This list can be found on Wikipedia here.

Considering a Non-Clinical Career? Here's a Book for You

Author: Heather Fork, MD, CPCC

One of my first recommendations to clients wanting non-clinical work is to read Mike McLaughlin’s book, Do You Feel Like You Wasted All That Training? Questions from Doctor’s Considering a Career Change. No one has felt that buying this book has been a waste of his or her time. On the contrary, the responses have all been highly positive!

The book is based on Dr. Michael McLaughlin’s personal career transition from plastic surgeon to owner of a highly successful medical communications company. I read this book as soon as it came in the mail and found it to be an excellent starting place for those first contemplating a career change.

Read more »

Read NonClinicalJobs.com on your Amazon Kindle

Don't forget that you can access NonClinicalJobs.com on your Amazon Kindle. Leverage your e-reader to read all our daily stories!

You can test drive NonClinicalJobs.com on your Kindle for 14 days and then subscribe for a low monthly price of $0.99 (includes wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet).

Click here to learn more about reading NonClinicalJobs.com on your Kindle

Job Post: Physician Executive Medical Leader at Thomson Reuters

I am posting this on behalf of Ray Fabius, MD, the Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare & Science at Thomson Reuters. They are looking for market-facing business medical leaders who have significant hospital / IDS, health plan, and or employer experience to assist their broad base of clients with the analysis of their aggregated data.

Thomson Reuters delivers critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science, and media markets, powered by the world’s most trusted news organization (Reuters). The Healthcare & Science business of Thomson Reuters provides intelligent information to better manage the cost and quality of healthcare and accelerate scientific research and innovation.

We are looking to build a team of physician executive business leaders to provide thought leadership, business strategy and experience-based, analytical interpretation of data to our broad client base of providers, payers, and purchasers. These positions will report into Ray Fabius MD the Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare & Science and offer a unique opportunity to be exposed to and interact with multiple constituencies within healthcare delivery.

We encourage you to visit our website and www.thomsonreuters.com and click on careers and search the term “Business Medical Leader” to explore these opportunities.

The preferred locations for these positions will be Ann Arbor, MI, Evanston, IL, Greenwood Village, CO, and Philadelphia, PA.

While we do not require relocation to the aforementioned areas, a percentage of the travel requirement will include traveling and staying in these locations. 

For all questions and inquiries please contact Aaron Tepfer Director of Recruiting at 215 823 3923.

“The Impact of Executive MBA Education”

There's a really nice paper titled, “The Impact of Executive MBA Education” and you can get this at the Executive MBA Council website here (PDF).

If you're thinking about investing time and money into an Executive MBA program, then you should read this paper before you make that decision.

Here are some snippets from the Executive MBA Council:

A board-certified trauma and critical care surgeon, Terry Loftus entered the Executive MBA Program in 2007. “As an Executive MBA student, I began looking at health care though a different lens.”

That lens provided a transformational perspective that helped Loftus make a career transition from the clinical side to the business side of health care. Now chief medical officer at Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City, Arizona, Loftus oversees patient safety and quality assurance initiatives, working with the medical staff to improve outcomes.

Executive MBA alumni talk about their time in the program as exhilarating, heady, and intense – one that changes the way they think about leadership, global business, problem solving, and team building.

The Executive MBA Council advances executive education worldwide in a number of ways – through its partnerships, conference, and research and outreach activities.

Jobs at the McKinsey Health Systems Institute (HSI)

The McKinsey Health Systems Institute (HSI) is a start up business within McKinsey & Company providing scale analytic solutions to health systems on a global basis.

They are currently hiring for:

1. Product Development
2. US Client Development

Product development is focused on driving the development and commercialization of novel analytic solutions for the leaders of health systems. These solutions include patient level analytics, financial performance models, advanced statistical analyses, simulation models, and survey instruments. There are positions available in both London and the Northeast US.

US client development is focused on generating leads, following up on existing leads and closing subscription sales with US payors. The US analytic solutions define the implications of US health reform and generate proprietary insights on consumer purchasing behavior to inform individual market strategy. The position is ideally based in the northeast but there is geographic flexibility for the right candidate.

Read more »

Business School Blog: I'm taking a course in finance

In a few weeks, I'm taking a business school course on finance. I recently took a course on accounting and I'm following that up with a course on finance. Here's a brief description of the course:

The first course MPE 6004 builds on the material presented in the accounting module. We move from the presentation of the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows to an analytical framework of these statements employing ratios. We examine the informational content of the ratios both cross-sectionally and in the times series. In addition, we develop the common sized ratio process. We then build on this knowledge by using the ratios to project pro forma statements and examine the consequences of these projections. The module continues with an examination of the cash budgeting process, and concludes with the development of the time value of money concepts. It is strongly recommended that

I am currently a business school student in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Executive MBA program at Saint Joseph's University Erivan K. Haub School of Business in Philadelphia, PA. The Nationally-ranked and AACSB-accredited Haub School of Business, centrally located in the mid-Atlantic pharmaceutical and healthcare corridor, is able to bring together industry experts and a world-class faculty for a unique industry-focused, immersive executive program.

You can read about my business school experience by reading all the blog posts tagged "Business School Blog."

Candidates for the 2011 ACPE Board of Directors

The American College of Physician Executives has announced the following candidates for the 2011 ACPE Board of Directors:

Click on the links below to read about the candidate and listen to their views in their own words.

		Sam Alfano DO, MMM, CPE, FACPE View and listen to candidate		Randy Bickle DO, JD, CPE, FACPE View and listen to candidate
		Ash Gokli MD, MMM, FACEP, CPE, FACPE View and listen to candidate		John Keats MD, CPE, FACOG, FACPE View and listen to candidate
		Arthur Lazarus MD, MBA, CPE, FACPE View and listen to candidate		Sheri Phillips MD, MPH, CPE, FACPE View and listen to candidate

You must be an ACPE member to vote here

20 days left. Don't miss this great opportunity!

There are 20 days left before we reach Feb 27 when you can hear Dr. Steven Peskin speaking about career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. This is a conference call that will be limited to 15 participants and we have 8 spots left. Learn more here.

Starting and growing your own business

If you're thinking about starting your own business, you may want to attend a SCORE seminar or workshop in your area. SCORE provides mentoring and training services for people who are starting small businesses.

SCORE Seminars and Workshops are recommended for :
·      Anyone planning to start their own small business - either now or in the future.
·   Owners of existing small businesses wanting to invigorate and grow their Company.
 
SCORE Seminars & Workshops are led by former business owners and corporate executives
who volunteer their support for the local small business community. Learn from their wide experience.
Benefit from their practical, down-to-earth advice on these important business subjects :
 
Starting & Growing the Company.  
Funding & Financial Management.
        Sales & Marketing.                      
Importance of Good Planning.

SCORE's 13,000 volunteer mentors have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their wisdom and lessons learned in business.

You can learn more about SCORE here: http://www.score.org/

My article in the Physician Executive Journal focuses on non-clinical encore careers for retired physicians

If you're preparing for retirement, perhaps you'll want to spend some time pursuing a non-clinical encore career. That's the topic of my article this month in the Physician Executive Journal.

The article is titled, "Retirees May Consider Non-clinical "Encore" Careers"

You can view it in the  January/February 2011 issue of the PEJ.

Published for more than 20 years by the American College of Physican Executives, The PEJ is the premier source of information and insight about the businesss of medicine. The PEJ is published bimonthly and is filled with peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of topical medical management subjects to help you get connected to leaders and experts working in the field.

QS World MBA Tour

Your Invitation to the World's BIGGEST MBA Fair
* What’s stopping you from maximizing your potential?
* Where do you see yourself in the next two years?
* Are you looking to change careers or increase your earning potential?
* What would give you that competitive edge when applying for your next role?
* Could an MBA hold the key to your success?

New York
19 Feb

Washington DC
23 Feb

Boston
24 Feb

Toronto
26 Feb

Learn more here: http://www.topmba.com/mba-tour/

Considering a Career Change? Prepare Your Launching Pad!

Author: Heather Fork, MD, CPCC

If you are considering making any significant career changes in the next several years, you can get a head start by shoring up your launching pad. Since it takes time and energy to explore a new direction, having your personal life in good shape will enhance the likelihood of success! Here are six key areas to consider:

Degree of Burnout: To what extent are you burned out from medicine? For those who have a hit a wall, it can be hard to find the interest or energy to make any changes. By taking specific measure to reverse the burnout, you will find it easier to move forward.

Finances: Take an honest look at your financial situation. Create a budget if you don’t already have one. Determine your short and long term financial goals and address any existing debt. Decide on your minimum acceptable salary requirements and lifestyle needs.

Read more »

Standing At A Threshold With Courage

Author: Lisa Chu, M.D.

"Sometimes
if you move carefully
through the forest,
...
you come
to a place
whose only task

is to trouble you
with tiny
but frightening requests,
...

Requests to stop what
you are doing right now,
and

to stop what you
are becoming while you do it"

David Whyte, "Sometimes"

If you're reading this, you may be standing at a threshold in your life. You may have your feet on the ground, but your heart may be pulling you, inexplicably, toward the open space in front of you.

You may be looking out over a ledge, clinging to your foothold, perhaps trembling with fear as you glance quickly down into the chasm.

If only I knew the answer, you might be thinking to yourself. If only I knew which way to go, how to stay safe, who has gone here before, and who might be a reliable guide.

If you're reading this, you are on a search for something. It may appear to you that you just need to find another job. You may just be focused on finding another way to pay the bills. Or you may be feeling like your whole life is falling apart, since everything you’ve built it upon no longer makes sense.

At times like these, it’s easy to feel that you are surrounded by people who are nothing like you, and who don't understand what you're going through.

I'm joining this conversation, started by Joe Kim, because, ten years after leaving medicine, I am finally beginning to feel like I have something to say. I am finally beginning to value my own story, and to accept myself for exactly who I am.

Read more »

Let's meet at #HIMSS11

Meet me at the #HIMSS11 Social Media Center

Job: Senior Research Associate – Healthcare

Senior Research Associate – Healthcare
Sanford C. Bernstein
New York, NY 10105

Job Description
We are looking for a Senior Research Associate to join the Medical Devices team in New York. As a Senior Research Associate, you will acquire expertise in your industry sector as well as learn the most rigorous level of fundamental company and financial analysis. You will contribute to our written product, build complex financial models, and interact with company managements as well as sales, trading, and institutional clients. Our industry teams are typically only two or three professionals in number, and you will have a high level of responsibility and be empowered to make an important contribution.

We make a strong commitment to Associate development, and give you opportunities to rapidly gain visibility and incremental responsibility. Series 7, 63, 86 & 87 licenses are required for this role, and participation in the CFA program is encouraged. While our culture is intellectually rigorous, it is also very collegial – Associates participate in a range of activities including training and development programs, philanthropy, social events, mentoring, and an annual global offsite.

Job Qualifications
Our Senior Research Associates typically have track records of outstanding academic and/or professional performance, excellent analytical and financial skills, relentless intellectual curiosity and a drive to excel at the highest level. The ideal candidate should have at least three years of relevant experience in health care, and an advanced degree in life sciences in addition to a finance background. An MBA is preferable, but credentials such as the CFA are also helpful. We look for stellar intellectual and academic credentials, including honors and awards, and test scores and grades in the 90th percentile and above. The ideal candidate should be a consummate team player who seeks a highly rigorous and challenging environment for their career development.

Read more »

Featured physician executive: David K Nace, M.D.

Each week, we feature a physician executive here on NonClinicalJobs.com.

This week's featured physician executive is David K Nace, M.D. and the following information is from the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative:

David K Nace, M.D. serves as vice president and medical director of clinical development of McKesson Corporation, one of the world’s largest health care services and information technology companies. Prior to his current role, Nace served as senior vice president and corporate medical director with United Health Group, vice president and chief medical officer with the Aetna Corporation , and founding principle of Health Strategy Solutions, LLC – a benefits consulting firm serving large employers. He has also held medical directorships in a variety of academic and community health care organizations, as well as a privately owned EAP company.

Read more »

Texas Tech Health Organization Management Program

The HOM Program created a joint venture between the School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. Students in this program receive both MD and MBA degrees within the four years of medical school.

The first graduating class of MD/MBA students completed the program in May 2001. At the time, TTUHSC School of Medicine was one of only two medical schools in the nation to offer a joint MD/MBA program.

You can learn about the Texas Tech Health Organization Management Program here.

This year, Texas Tech is sponsoring and hosting the 9th Annual Conference for the Association of MD/MBA Programs. You can learn about that upcoming conference here.

Good Clinical Practices: Guide to Compliance

What do you know about GCP or Good Clinical Practices?

Here's a book by Barnett Educational Services titled, "Good Clinical Practices: Guide to Compliance"

Good Clinical Practices: Guide to Compliance, provides clear recommendations for full compliance with global regulatory requirements. The Guide includes templates for SOPs and other forms that can be copied and used directly in the GCP environment, including a full set of GCP inspection sheets.

This report will be available in electronic format and includes chapters and appendices covering the following information:

* Comparison of International GCP Regulations
* Regulatory Submission for GCP Data
* Critical Compliance Issues
* Internal and External Inspections and Audits
* SOP Templates

If you're interested in learning more about Good Clinical Practices, make sure to read some of these other books as well:

Registration Now Open for the 9th Annual MD/MBA Conference!

Author: Brittany Chan

If you’re a physician seeking a non-clinical career transition, a prospective or current MD/MBA student, or if you’d simply like to network with other bright minds, you should consider attending the 9th annual MD/MBA Conference. This year’s conference, hosted by Texas Tech University, will be held at the classy Overton Hotel and Conference Center in Lubbock, Texas. The students and faculty here have been working very hard to make this a successful conference.

I am most excited about the first annual AMMP residency fair. Texas Tech has invited residency directors from around the country to assist students with strategies for effectively marketing their dual degree when applying for residencies. Students will have the chance to ask questions and participate in small group discussions with the directors. If you’re an MD/MBA student, it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

The conference will also feature:

• Nationally recognized physician executive speakers
• Student poster competition
• Terrific networking opportunities
• And more!

The conference will take place from April 8-10, 2011. For more information and to register for the conference, click here!

Read more »

How can you earn a six figure income by blogging?

Many people ask why I'm such an active blogger. My answer is simple: I love what I blog about.

When you're writing about your hobbies and passions, it doesn't feel like a chore. Blogging can consume a significant amount of time on the weekends (that's when I mainly write), but it can also pay quite well if you have a targeted audience. That's where people almost fall out of their chairs when they hear how much you could make as a professional blogger. I personally know a number of bloggers who are generating a high six figure income just from blogging. You don't have to sell any products or services to generate that type of income. You can make money using a passive income strategy: advertisements.

For me, blogging has become a second career. Consider it one of my parallel careers.

Read more »

How to Encourage Your Team Members to Stand Up and Lead

I get monthly leadership tips from Dale Carnegie Training. Here's a monthly leadership tip from Dale Carnegie Training called, "The Coach's Corner."

How to Encourage Your Team Members to Stand Up and Lead

To win in today's market, team members have to step up and be ready to take a leadership role. It is not easy to develop leadership skills in others. It's very important to also understand that some people do not share your goals and aspirations. Keep an open mind and learn to use different techniques to inspire different team members to stand up and lead.

1. Challenge — Issue a challenge. (In today's market environment, you probably have many challenges to issue!) Some people need a specific challenge to motivate them. By laying down a challenge, you also create a very clear and measurable goal for a staff member to achieve.

2. Appeal to noble motives — Many employees think that their work does not make a difference. By appealing to a team's noble motives, you can increase morale while also setting higher standards for your staff members.

3. Be sympathetic — Never tell someone that they are wrong. Even when you disagree, listen and be empathetic to another person's ideas and desires.

Read more »

Reminder: "Let's Talk About Pharma Jobs" on Feb 27

If you're interested in learning about non-clinical physician jobs in the pharmaceutical industry, don't miss our next "Let's Talk NonClinicalJobs" on Feb 27 as Dr. Steven Peskin (Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of MediMedia USA) speaks about career opportunities for recent medical school graduates and experienced physicians.