BioSpace Career Fair: Genetown Cambridge

If you live in the greater Boston area, you may want to attend this event:

Genetown Career Fair
Cambridge Marriott
Monday, November 7, 2011
11am to 4pm

Job seekers can spend a day with HR representatives and Hiring Managers from top biotech, pharma, and medical device companies in the Northeast region.

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. Exhibitors who have jobs posted on BioSpace.com have their company name linked to their job postings in the list below. We highly recommend researching open positions before you attend the event. It will help you determine which companies are a good match and make you look more prepared and knowledgeable when approaching recruiters.

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2012 ACPE Winter Conference

Want to escape to Florida this winter? Attend the American College of Physician Executives
(ACPE) 2012 Winter Conference in Naples, Florida.

January 20–22, 2012
Naples, FL

ACPE’s Winter Conference is your opportunity to get the education that you, your medical staff leadership and board members need to be effective leaders—all in one weekend.

Two of the seminars can be completed within the three-day conference. The other — the Physician in Management (PIM) seminar — is offered in a blended-learning format combining both in-person and online courses.

Learn more here.

Greater Boston Chapter of Women In Bio

If you're a woman living in the greater Boston area and you have a strong interest in the biotechnology industry, read on:

Greater Boston Chapter of Women In Bio Launches

Inaugural Event will Feature Expert on Rare Disease Drug Research and Development

Boston, MA, October 28, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Women In Bio - Greater Boston announces the formation of the first Northeast U.S. chapter of Women in Bio (WIB), a national non-profit organization committed to fostering leadership, entrepreneurship and careers of women in the biosciences. The new WIB chapter expects to leverage the strength of the region’s biotechnology supercluster to provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for women professionals in New England across the career continuum - from those just beginning their careers to industry veterans.

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Taking an MBA Course in Pharmacoeconomics

This weekend, I'm taking an MBA course in pharmacoeconomics with other students who work in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health care industries. It's great to have an opportunity to take a course that is so relevant to what I do on a regular basis. In our company (MCM), we develop continuing medical education (CME) activities for managed care professionals and we're dealing with pharmacoeconomic issues all the time. In health care, we grapple with challenging issues like cost-effectiveness, cost-consequence, cost-minimization, cost-utility, or cost-benefit of medical therapies. I look forward to the discussions we'll be having in class about these things.

I am approximately 1/3 of the way through my MBA program at this point. This will be my 7th MBA course this year.

Here's a brief course description:

This course reviews the principal elements and concepts in economics, history and development of health economics, and the applied uses of the discipline of economics made possible since the quantification of studies has been developed and perfected. These introductory sections are presented by lecture and discussion group. In addition, the need for uses of, and value of health economics studies is reviewed and pharmaceutical-related examples are presented.

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Featured Physician Executive: Cristoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.

This week, our featured physician executive is Cristoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.
Founder and Partner, Longwood Founders Fund

Dr. Westphal founded Longwood Founders Fund, a venture capital fund based in Boston, and serves as General Partner.

In addition to these roles, Dr. Westphal is the Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of Sirtris, which he co-founded in 2004 and led as Chief Executive Officer until 2010. Under his leadership, Sirtris established itself as a recognized pioneer in the research and development of drugs targeting the aging process enzymes. In 2007, Dr. Westphal successfully guided the company through its initial public offering, resulting in recognition by the Boston Globe as one of the Globe 100 top companies of 2007. In June 2008, GSK acquired Sirtris for $720 million.

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SJU/HBS Roundtable: Pharmaceutical Sustainability

Tonight, Saint Joseph’s University/ Harvard Business School Health Industry Alumni Association is holding a roundtable discussion titled, "Why are People Still the Most Important Asset for a Pharmaceutical Firm’s Sustainability?"

Scan nearly any pharmaceutical company's annual report for the past five years and three strategic themes are usually conveyed: transformation of current operations, growth in emerging markets, and innovation for new products/services. While processes and systems are factors in supporting these remits, a firm's purposely-engaged staff is the critical element that ultimately drives long-term sustainability. To hear the latest insights on how a few firms are tapping into innovative human-capital management ideas, join us on October 27, 2011 at Saint Joseph's University, located at the corner of City Avenue and N. 54th Street in Philadelphia,

Learn more here.

Fiction Writing for Physicians Conference - Cape Cod

SEAK's 12th Annual Fiction Writing Workshop for Physicians.

OCTOBER 28-30, 2011
The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Please click here to view a brief video overview of this unique, highly-acclaimed program.
We are thrilled that this year's program will once again be taught by the internationally best-selling physician-authors Michael Palmer and Tess Gerritsen.

We are also featuring 15 literary agents whom our attendees will have an opportunity to meet and pitch.

Included in every registration is a large amount of feedback on your work and ideas, including:

• Faculty review and critique of your query letter,
• Distribution of your query letter to our panel of agents,
• Faculty review and critique of writing exercises, and
• Faculty review and critique of up to three chapters of your manuscript.
This year's program will take place on Cape Cod on October 28-30, 2011.

Learn more here: http://www.seak.com

CMS Innovation Advisors Program

In the months and years to come, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) will seek to introduce transformative models of care delivery across the nation that will meet the aim of reducing cost and improving quality for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries.

The Innovation Advisors Program is designed to support delivery system reform, strengthening the capacity for change by creating a network of experts in improving the delivery system.

Specifically, the Innovation Advisors Program will engage individuals in the health care system to test and refine new models of payment and care delivery. Selected Innovation Advisors will refine, apply, and sustain managerial and technical skills necessary to deepen several key skill sets, including:

• Health care finance;
• Population health;
• Systems analysis; and
• Operations research

After completing this orientation, these individuals will:

• support the Innovation Center in testing new models of care delivery;
• utilize their knowledge and skills in their home organization or area in pursuit of the three-part aim of improving health, improving care, and lowering costs through continuous improvement;
• work with other local organizations or groups in driving delivery system reform;
• harvest new ideas or innovations for possible testing of diffusion by the Innovation Center; and
• build durable skill in system improvement throughout their area or region

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The BioCapital Career Fair is Coming Up

Looking for a job in the biopharma industry? A career fair is a good place to find a variety of different opportunities for physicians and scientists interested in working in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

BioCapital Career Fair
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
11am to 4pm
Bethesda North Marriott & Conference Center
Bethesda, MD

Spend the day speaking with representatives from top biopharmaceutical companies in the area. Face time is hard to get in today's world of technology, so take advantage of this great opportunity to speak with HR reps and hiring managers in person!

Read more »

Get my Physician Executive Journal articles from Amazon

If you missed some of my previous Physician Executive Journal articles about non-clinical careers for physicians, you can purchase them from Amazon.com.

Here are some of my recent articles that have appeared in the Physician Executive Journal:

Non-clinical career opportunities for physician executives.(PEJ Career Center)(Viewpoint essay): An article from: Physician Executive

Understanding the CME enterprise.(Continuing Medical Education): An article from: Physician Executive

Retirees may consider non-clinical "encore" career.(Career Choices): An article from: Physician Executive

Making the Leap: A Non-Academic Career Planning and Job Search Boot Camp

On October 28th and 29th, the New York Academy of Sciences is organizing an event focusing on career planning. The event will cover topics relevant for individuals looking for non-academic careers and is targeted at students and postdocs in the sciences planning to enter the job market within the next year. Scientific career changers are also welcome to attend. program will feature the following workshops:

· Career Planning 101: Strategies for Scientists
· Networking and Building an Online Presence
· Preparing Academic Scientists for Careers in Industry
· Navigating the Job Search Process
· Talking Your Way into a Great Job
· Jumping Off the Ivory Tower: Preparing for Interviews Outside Academe
· Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers: Demystifying the Process

This event is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking for career insights. This also prepares individuals for NYAS's event called What Can You Be with a Ph.D. - http://www.whatcanyoubewithaphd.net

Making the Leap: A Non-Academic Career Planning and Job Search Boot Camp
October 28 - 29, 2011
The New York Academy of Sciences

This two-day event is being organized and hosted by the Science Alliance program of the New York Academy of Sciences. Science Alliance provides career education, development, and training for graduate students and postdocs in the sciences and serves 8,000 young scientists from over 40 partner organizations located in the New York metropolitan area, nationally, and around the globe.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Jobs

Interested in being a Chief Medical Officer (CMO)? Do you want to work in a hospital, a health plan (managed care organization), a biotech or pharmaceutical company, or a consulting firm? That's where you'll find people who have the title "CMO." Let's also not forget the health information technology companies that generate electronic health records and other innovative technology solutions. Plus, there are education companies and clinical research organizations that have  Chief Medical Officer (CMO) positions available.

You can view various types of Chief Medical Officer jobs here.

Not finding what you're looking for? Try narrowing your search by focusing on specific industries such as pharmaceutical, hospital, consulting, etc.

Physician leaders and executives here at the Connected Health Symposium #CHS11

I'm in Boston attending the Connected Health Symposium. Here, we're hearing about a number of different innovations that are revolutionizing the world of health care. I've seen a number of physician leaders and executives who have demonstrated leadership within various organizations and who are influencing the evolving world of health IT. Some of these physicians are working in industry while others are in academia. Some continue to see patients while others are fully engaged in business, administration, or medical management.

Here are some of those physicians who were here at the conference:

• David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, Former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
• Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School
• Robert Galvin, MD, CEO of Equity Healthcare
• Brent James, MD, MStat, Chief Quality Officer & Executive Director, Institute for Health Care Delivery Research at Intermountain Healthcare
• Joseph Kvedar, MD, Director of the Partners Center for Connected Health
• William Shrank, MD, Director of Evaluation of the Innovation Center, CMS
• Elizabeth Mort, MD, VP of Quality and Safety, Associate CMO, Mass General Hospital
• Gilbert Mudge, MD, VP, International Programs, Partners HealthCare, President of Partners International Medical Services
• M. Turner Billingsley, MD, CMO of Intersystems
• Peter Tippett, MD, PhD, VP of Industry Solutions and Security Practices, Verizon Business
• Kevin Schulman, MD, MBA, Duke University
• Julian Goldman, MD, Partners HealthCare Biomedical Engineering
• Jasper zu Putlitz, MD, President of Robert Bosch Healthcare
• Jeff Benabio, MD, Kaiser Permanente
• Steven Locke, MD, Harvard Medical School
• Kamal Jethwani, MD, Partners Center for Connected Health
• Jay Sanders, MD, President & CEO of the Global Telemedicine Group
• Nick van Terheyden, MD, CMIO at Nuance Communications
• and many others!

Mark your calendars for the Connected Health Symposium next year. This is a great conference where you'll see innovative ideas that are likely to transform the future of health care. You'll also meet physician leaders and executives who are in influential positions and you'll want to get to know them.

Amgen laying off about 380 R&D workers

According to this story on the Los Angeles Times, Amgen is cutting jobs in research and development (R&D).

The layoffs represent about 6% of Amgen's total 6,700 workers in research and development. Amgen employs about 17,600 workers globally.

A number of years ago, physicians and scientists who worked in R&D had a level of job security that pales in comparison to today. Changes in the global economy along with regulatory challenges in drug development have led to cuts in R&D in many biopharmaceutical companies.

Featured Physician Executive: Howard Grant, J.D., M.D.

This week, our featured physician executive is Howard Grant, J.D., M.D.
President/CEO Lahey Clinic

A physician, attorney and health care chief executive, Howard R. Grant, JD, MD, the president and chief executive officer of Lahey Clinic, has played a vital role in influencing patient safety and superior clinical care for more than two decades at some of the nation’s most preeminent health care institutions.

At Geisinger Health System, Dr. Grant was the executive vice president and chief medical officer responsible, with his administrative colleagues, for operations and budgets for 27 clinical service lines, and physician and administrator recruitment. He was also charged with aligning clinical operations with Geisinger Health Plan, a not-for-profit insurance company.

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Findings from 2011 Physician Executive Compensation Survey

Cejka Executive Search and the American College of Physician Executives Release Findings from 2011 Physician Executive Compensation Survey

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician executive compensation experienced the lowest growth rate for the first time in ten years, according to the Cejka Executive Search and American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) 2011 Physician Executive Compensation Survey. In this eighth biennial survey of ACPE members, key trends and factors that drive change in physician executive compensation are identified. The results of the survey will be presented at the ACPE 2011 Fall Institute on November 8, 2011 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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Connecting Doctors, Helping Patients: The Story Behind QuantiaMD

The following is from the ACPE update (I'll be speaking with Eric on a panel discussion at the ACPE Fall Institute and I hope to see you there):

Eric Schultz was at an investors’ party for his new company, Quantia Communications Inc., when he met the man who would redefine the organization’s mission.

The man was Dr. Leon Smith Sr., an infectious disease specialist and a pioneer in AIDS diagnosis and treatment.

Smith suggested Quantia be re-created to address what he believes are the two biggest problems in medicine:

• Doctors need to find a way to get ahead of all the information with which they are bombarded. To do this, someone needs to re-instate the collaborative, fraternal elements of medicine that are being driven out by time and pressure.
• Patients need to be more involved in their care.

With those simple words, QuantiaMD was reborn. Today it is the country’s largest physican-to-physician online learning collaborative with more than 125,000 registered users. The site offers presentations by physician experts and allows doctors to share ideas with their peers. Earlier this year, ACPE joined QuantiaMD to create a series on overcoming disruptive physician behavior. Click here to listen.

Participants in the ACPE Fall Institute will get the opportunity hear Schultz speak as part of the Implementers Panel, held Monday, November 7 at 4:45 p.m. The session is free and open to all participants.

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I'm speaking today about social media and medicine at Connected Health #CHS11

I'm now in Boston attending the 2011 Connected Health Symposium. I'll be speaking this afternoon about social media and medicine. The panel discussion is titled, "Facebooking Health: Scouting Out the Latest Trends in Online Patient Communities and Social Media." It's at 2:10 pm on Thurs and I hope to see you there!

Job Post: Biomedical Terminology Specialist

Biomedical Terminology Specialist
Humedica
Boston, MA 02135

An innovative, VC backed startup with offices in Boston, MA is looking for a biomedical terminology specialist who is passionate about using information technology to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of the health care system.

The environment is fast paced and innovative. We are looking for smart, innovative employees who will take ownership of their responsibilities, work collaboratively and always look for ways to add to the personal and professional growth of the company and their peers.

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I'm heading to Boston today for Connected Health

I'm heading to Boston today to speak at the 2011 Connected Health Symposium. I'll be a quick trip, but I hope to see you there! (can't wait to go back to MIT to see how it's changed since the last time I visited)

7 career-building reasons to join ACPE (American College of Physician Executives)

Are you familiar with the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE)? Here are 7 career-building reasons to join the ACPE:

1. Better Business Intelligence: Stay informed with your free subscription to the award-winning Physician Executive Journal, ACPE’s medical management journal.

2. Enhanced Knowledge & Expertise: Gain valuable management training and CME credits through ACPE’s educational programs. Classes are offered both on-line or in-person at a substantial discount for members.

3. Career Advancement: Unlimited access to Career Link — ACPE’s online job bank. A free introductory career counseling and coaching session from ACPE's skilled career development staff.

4. Credentials & Recognition: Be recognized as a physician leader and business expert by applying your ACPE curriculum toward an MBA, MMM or MS-HQSM through ACPE and its prestigious university partners.

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BioConference Live Fall: Life Sciences

Here's a free online conference called BioConference Live Fall: Life Sciences
October 26-27, 2011

Hear from physicians working in the biopharmaceutical industry about some of their research and their work.

The theme of this free virtual conference is Drug Discovery, Cancer Research, and Genetics & Genomics. This event will bring together research scientists, post docs, principal investigators, lab directors and professionals from around the world to learn about recent advances in life sciences. BioConference Live offers an amazing opportunity as it is free to participants, there is no out-of-pocket expenses for travel, and all available from the comfort of your office or home.

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Early Career Day at AHA Scientific Sessions 2011

Are you attending the AHA Scientific Sessions this year? Want to develop your career in the world of cardiology?

Early Career Day
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

To further your area of expertise and to explore various educational opportunities, join us for Early Career Day, on Saturday November 12, 2011. This year there will be panel discussions on topics important to everyone, especially early career investigators. No advance registration is required and attendance is free as part of Scientific Sessions registration.

Early Career Day is to promote networking and mentorship between early career members and senior investigators for scientific outreach and career building. The sessions are open to all attendees but will be specifically targeted to early career participants.

Here are some of the sessions:

• Early Career: Lunch with the Mentor
• Early Career: Opening the Door to Successful Careers in Clinical Practice and Clinical Research (Clin Card)
• Early Career: Training and Funding: How to Get Started as an Early Career Investigator (EPI/NPAM/QCOR)
• Early Career: Navigating the Road to a Successful Career in Cardiovascular Research (BCVS)
• Early Career: Global Cardiovascular Health Opportunities
• Early Career: Starting a Successful Career in Quality of Care and Outcomes Research (QCOR)

Learn more about Early Career Day here.

VPMA (Vice President of Medical Affairs) Jobs

I run into many physicians who are not familiar with the acronym VPMA (vice president of medical affairs).  Most people know things like CMO (chief medical officer) and now the CMIO (chief medical information officer) is becoming a highly visible and important role.

You'll find VPMA jobs in hospitals, in pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, and various other industry settings. Take a look at all the VPMA jobs that show up here. Most of these are related to hospitals and medical management, but did you see the others? (you'll also see some jobs listed as Vice President, Medical Director)

Clarity around your purpose and values

Author: Michelle Mudge-Riley, DO, MHA

What do you want out of life?

Working with doctors at all stages of their careers, I find that the most successful ones are those who have clarity on two fundamental things: their purpose, or what they want to achieve in life, and their values, or what they stand for. Knowing these allows a doctor to have the energy and self-awareness needed to pursue his or her goals and dreams in the face of obstacles.

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R&D opportunities with AstraZeneca

Every day, AstraZeneca takes on scientific challenges that can seem insurmountable. But working together, our 62,000 people constitute one of the most formidable research and development communities ever created. And with that kind of team behind you, just think what's possible.

The following specialists are needed to enhance our team. Bringing both fresh thinking and deep experience, you'll help us work towards a shared future of better public health.

Senior Medical Director -- Anti-infectives Patient Safety
Wilmington, DE; Requisition #: 602372
You'll ensure that all safety surveillance activities are conducted to the highest ethical and safety standards, in compliance with GCP and regulatory requirements. You'll help set the strategic direction for patient safety surveillance and make vital decisions on product safety profiles.

Director/Assistant Director -- Health Economics & Outcomes
Wilmington, DE; Requisition #:601574
Focused on maximizing the commercial success of products throughout their lifecycle, you will design and implement innovative research activities and produce scientific evidence to optimize price and value propositions. In-depth, specialist knowledge of health economics and outcomes research and its application to pharmaceutical development is essential.

Read more »

Featured Physician Executive: Samuel Nussbaum, MD

This week, our featured physician executive is Samuel Nussbaum, MD
Executive Vice President, Clinical Health Policy, Chief Medical Officer for WellPoint, Inc

Dr. Samuel Nussbaum is Executive Vice President, Clinical Health Policy, Chief Medical Officer for WellPoint, Inc., and Interim President of WellPoint’s Comprehensive Health Solutions Business Unit.

Within Clinical Health Policy, Nussbaum oversees corporate medical policy, clinical pharmacy programs, and public health policy. He also has responsibility for HealthCore, WellPoint’s clinical outcomes research subsidiary. As the leader of Comprehensive Health Solutions, which includes WellPoint’s provider relations, care and disease management, imaging management, personal health guidance companies, and WellPoint’s pharmacy solutions group, Nussbaum is responsible for focusing on the issues of medical cost, quality of care and enhancing member value through innovative health solutions.

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Show your support of NonClinicalJobs.com on Facebook and LinkedIn

If you've been following NonClinicalJobs.com, please show your support of this site by "liking" us on Facebook. It only takes a click if you already have a Facebook account. We have over 1,200 people who have "liked" NonClinicalJobs.com, so what are you waiting for? Click the "Like" button here.

Don't forget to join our LinkedIn group as well.

AMA Foundation seeks student leaders in medicine

The AMA Foundation is looking for medical students who have strong, non-clinical leadership skills.

Each year the AMA Foundation honors a select group of physicians and medical students who exemplify the medical profession’s highest values: commitment to service, community involvement, altruism, leadership and dedication to patient care.

Have you or has someone you know exhibited outstanding leadership in organized medicine, advocacy, community service or public health? Then apply or nominate that person for the 2012 AMA Foundation Leadership Awards.

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Growing opportunities to consult for health IT and mobile health startup companies

There are a growing number of opportunities to provide consulting services for health information technology (health IT) and mobile health (mHealth) startup companies looking to make an impact in the world of health care. We know that the government is pushing billions of dollars towards health IT innovation and implementation. The use of electronic health records (EHRs) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems is only the beginning. Doctors are using iPads and iPhones, but most are not using mobile devices to their fullest potential. Patients are also becoming empowered about their own health and they're using digital tools to quantify their biometrics. Plus, social media is becoming an integral part of health care and many organizations are looking for clinicians who understand and actively use social media.

This is an exciting time to be in the health care industry and I am constantly encountering startup companies that have innovative ideas and concepts that will transform the health care landscape. To learn more about some of these organizations, make sure to follow my other sites where I regularly write about startup companies, venture contests, conferences, and more! Make sure to follow these other sites:

Futures in Life Sciences Program - Finance, Legal, and Operations

Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd have joined together to organize a series of networking and panel events focused on raising awareness of career paths that exist in life sciences for individuals with advanced degrees. This Futures in Life Science program will bring together experts across a wide range of disciplines and functional areas within the life science industry, who will detail their roles and will provide a rich context for the audience to gain a clear understanding of the skills, aptitudes, competencies, and personalities that thrive in their particular functions.

Attendance for this program is open to current graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and medical residents who are interested in careers in the life sciences industry. Space is limited to 100 individuals.

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Innovative program in bio-entrepreneurship from Johns Hopkins University

The Center for Biotechnology Education is now accepting applications for a unique graduate degree grounded in the life sciences and intended for biotechnology professionals working outside the research setting to commercialize biotechnology products.

The Master's in Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship leverages the best enterprise and regulatory components of the existing graduate programs. The degree allows working professionals, who need weekend, evening and online courses, to fit their educational ambitions into their professional careers. This degree will be offered online, at the Montgomery County Campus and at the Homewood Campus in Baltimore.

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I hope to see you in Boston next week for the Connected Health Symposium

I'm going back to Boston next week! I hope to see you at the 2011 Connected Health Symposium - Boston October 20-21. I'm speaking on a panel titled, "Expert panel #5: Facebooking Health: Scouting Out the Latest Trends in Online Patient Communities and Social Media"

Moderator: Lisa Gualtieri, PhD, Assistant Professor, Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
- John Brownstein, PhD, Research Faculty, Children's Hospital Boston; Director, Computational Epidemiology Group, Informatics Program, Children's Hospital Boston
- Chris Cartter, General Manager, MeYou Health
- Tara Cousineau, PhD, Founder and CEO, BodiMojo
- Joseph Kim, MD, President of Medical Communications Media

Read more »

Medical Director Jobs

Don't miss out on these medical director jobs within pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, managed care organizations, health information technology (CMIO), and more! You can search through thousands of non-clinical jobs on the NonClinicalJobs Job Board.

Reminder: There's still time to register for the Medical Fusion conference

There's still time to register for this event, so don't miss it! They've got a great lineup of fantastic speakers. Medical Fusion brings together physician thought leaders as mentors who have developed careers outside of traditional, clinical practice.

Whether you are a medical student, a budding physician entrepreneur, a full time clinician with a busy practice, or a seasoned physician considering retirement, Medical Fusion will help you evaluate your options, teach you unique ways to leverage your clinical training, and introduce you to career possibilities that you have not considered. Come learn from physicians who have already succeeded in their attempts to create more personal freedom, a more balanced lifestyle, increased financial security, and a thriving career.

2011 Medical Fusion

November 11-13

ARIA Resort & Casino, Las Vegas

Register here: http://medfusionconf.org

Medical Professionals in Politics

Author: Elaine Hirsch

Perhaps you're getting burned out in clinical practice. Maybe there's an issue you care about deeply and want to influence. Or the altruism that led you into a healthcare profession is now leading you toward public service. Any or all of these are reasons why doctors and other medical professionals are seeking jobs in politics. Whatever the reason, medical professionals' specialized experience make them ideal candidates for a range of political occupations. Even for those other than full-fledged doctors, it's not necessary to earn a PhD online or to meet the qualifications required for some positions.

The first political job one usually thinks of is an elected office. Twenty-seven members of the US Congress (two in the Senate, the rest in the House of Representatives) are doctors or allied health professionals. Former Vermont governor and Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean is a physician. Dozens of others hold elected positions in state legislatures, city councils, or school boards.

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Featured Physician Executive: Andrew J. Sussman, M.D., M.B.A.

This week, our featured physician executive is Andrew J. Sussman, M.D., M.B.A. President, MinuteClinic, SVP and Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS/Caremark

Andrew J. Sussman, M.D., M.B.A. has been President of MinuteClinic, the largest retail clinic provider in the United States, since 2009, growing them over 40%, and expanding its scope of services and health system affiliations. He is also the SVP and Associate Chief Medical Officer of CVS/Caremark.

He was previously Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of UMass Memorial Medical Center, the largest healthcare provider in central New England, and was responsible for all clinical services and daily operations at the 800 bed academic medical center, the major teaching affiliate of UMass Medical School. Dr. Sussman is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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MIT Venture Mentoring Service (VMS)

MIT is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovation and enterprise. The Institute counts many industrial leaders among its graduates, including Alfred P. Sloan, Arthur D. Little, Alfred du Pont, William R. Hewlett, Amar G. Bose and Robert M. Metcalfe. In recent decades MIT alumni and faculty have founded thousands of successful companies and created millions of jobs.

Today's emerging MIT entrepreneurs, however, face an unusually fast-moving and competitive business environment. The speed of technological changes, accelerated product cycles, global competition and sophisticated financing strategies often demand resources and experience beyond the reach of the typical start-up. Through its unique mentoring process, VMS offers the help that's needed to confront these complexities.

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Increases in hospital mass layoffs

According to this amednews.com story, we are seeing some dramatic increases in hospital mass layoffs.

• Thirteen mass layoffs occurred at hospitals in August, leading 1,085 people to claim unemployment benefits
• The BLS recorded 10 incidents in July with at least 622 people losing jobs
• In August 2010, the BLS reported 12 mass layoffs, with 1,027 lost positions

Are these mass layoffs also affecting physicians? Depending on where you live in this country, it may be very difficult for a physician to find another job without moving. As some hospitals struggle to survive, how will this impact physician employment opportunities? On a related note, how will these changes affect the clinical environment? Will physicians be more susceptible to burnout if they're expected to carry heavier patient volumes? Will we see more medical errors if hospitals are not sufficiently staffed with nurses and other clinical ancillary staff?

BioSpace Career Fairs this fall

BioSpace has a number of career fairs this fall. If you're in the market for a new job in the biopharma industry, consider attending one of these free events:

• Biotech Bay Career Fair, Burlingame, CA October 11, 2011
• Bio NC Career Fair, Durham, NC October 20, 2011
• BioCapital Beach Career Fair, Bethesda, MD November 1, 2011
• Genetown Career Fair, Cambridge, MA November 7, 2011

More information about BioSpace's Career Fairs can be found here.

Diversify your skill set and improve your work/life balance as a doctor

Author: Michelle Mudge-Riley, DO, MHA

Is it ever possible to have some sort of work/life balance as a doctor? Many seem to believe it’s a fantasy in part because of the culture of medicine but also in part because we don’t have any training or good examples on how to create some sort of work life balance for ourselves.

One way to help create a work/life balance could be to diversify your skill set. It could be as easy as learning more about healthcare IT and then helping with implementation of your organization’s EHR system. There are many low cost and easy ways like this to diversify yourself. Doing this as a seasoned doctor (and even as a resident) may go a long way in helping to mitigate or reduce feelings of stress and burnout. In fact, a recent JAMA study reported that quality of life and satisfaction with work/life balance was highest among residents who reported moonlighting, or working at a second job outside their regular residency training.

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AMIA 2011 Annual Symposium

AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) 2011 Annual Symposium
October 22-26, 2011
Washington DC
Improving Health: Informatics and IT Changing the World

The AMIA Annual Symposium is the world’s most comprehensive annual meeting on biomedical and health informatics. The Annual Symposium venue is the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC.

Learn more here.

The AMIA Annual Symposium is the primary forum for the presentation of research and development related to the structure and management of data, and the design, implementation and evaluation of information systems in the field of biomedical and health informatics.

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NYU Science and Technology Career Symposium

Supported by a New York City regional consortium of colleges and universities and recognized as a nationally preeminent career convention. What Can You Be With A PhD?: A Science and Technology Focused Career Convention is a unique opportunity to connect the private and public sector, industry and academe with the rising generation of scientists and engineers who will become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.

Over 1200 graduate students and postdoctoral trainees in the biosciences, physical sciences and engineering in the larger metropolitan area, representing the region’s great academic institutions from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, attended the last convention in 2009.

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Dr. Peter Angood Chosen to Lead American College of Physician Executives

The American College of Physician Executives today announced the selection of Peter B. Angood, MD, as its new chief executive officer.

Dr. Angood, who is currently president and CEO of a Boston-based health care consulting firm, replaces Barry R. Silbaugh, MD, MS, CPE, FACPE, who served as CEO for four years. ACPE is the nation's oldest and largest medical management educational association for physicians.

Dr. Angood said he was humbled and honored to be chosen for the position. As CEO, he plans to focus on expanding ACPE’s educational offerings and other initiatives while keeping pace with evolving technologies to allow all types of physician leaders to make meaningful contributions to health care.

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The Nine Skills You Need to Make Your Organization More Reliable

Craig Clapper advises his students to think of reliability as the platform for better patient care.

“Reliability is the one thing that affects quality, safety and satisfaction well,” he said. “By investing heavily in one thing, you can get three good families of outcomes.”

Clapper is a founding partner and chief operating officer of Healthcare Performance Improvement (HPI), a consulting firm that specializes in improving human performances in complex systems. He also teaches High Reliability 2.0 for ACPE.

The course is intended as follow-up to another ACPE course taught by Clapper, The Science of High Reliability. The introductory course lays a foundation, then High Reliability 2.0 gives participants the tools to take real-world solutions back to their organizations.

High Reliability 2.0 is being offered at ACPE’s Fall Institute, November 8-9, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ. For those who need to take The Science of High Reliability, it can be completed through ACPE's distance-learning program, InterAct Express.

The idea for High Reliability 2.0 grew out of a desire to offer more advanced courses through ACPE.

“We want them to be implementers, instead of just knowing what to implement,” Clapper said.

Participants come away with nine practical skills:

1. Choosing appropriate reliability behaviors using aggregating analysis of harm events
2. Implementing both a leader and a physician reliability bundle
3. Building collaborative interactive teams (CITs)
4. Simplifying protocols by using human factors for written guidance documents
5. Error-proofing an environment of care
6. Increasing the reliability of checks and verification
7. Using cause analysis methodology in peer review
8. Quantifying the reliability of a time-out using probabilistic safety assessment (PSA)
9. Using reverse tracer methodology to measure process reliability

While all the skills are necessary for creating a culture of reliability, Clapper said the ability to focus and simplify written documents is among the most valuable.

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At ACPE, Health Care Entrepreneur Shares Secrets for Getting Engaged, Improving Care

Ask Don McDaniel what a physician should do to be successful in today’s uncertain health care environment, and he’s got an answer at the ready.

“Get an MBA,” he said.

McDaniel is the CEO of Sage Growth Partners, a health care strategy and technology firm. While he’s a firm believer in the need for physicians to be trained in the business side of medicine, he said the most important thing is to become more engaged.

“Regardless of what your view is, you have to be educated on these issues,” said McDaniel, who will be one of four speakers at the Implementers Panel at the 2011 ACPE Fall Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz. “If you’re at the table but you can’t articulate a position, that’s a problem.”

The Implementers Panel is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. on Monday, November 7. Participants will hear from four entrepreneurs who are forging new paths in health care. The session is free for all Fall Institute attendees.

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