Doximity Launches ExpertFinder to Match Clinical Need with Clinical Experts

This came out earlier this week:

Doximity Launches ExpertFinder to Match Clinical Need with Clinical Experts

Physician network signs major partners guaranteeing minimum honoraria of $250/hour for members who opt-in to research interviews

San Mateo, Calif. (December 19, 2011)—Doximity, the largest professional network for physicians, announced today it has partnered with several expert network firms to power their medical expert searches. These firms are the largest in the industry and collectively paid over $100 million in honoraria to physicians last year. Using Doximity’s new ExpertFinder service, they can instantly search detailed CVs of over 30,000 physician experts.

Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO)

If you're a physician, you've probably participated in some type of market research survey. Did you know that these market research companies often employ physicians?

You can have a non-clinical career in market research and you can work either full-time or part-time. Perhaps you enjoy writing survey questions or analyzing data. Maybe you'll enjoy leading some focus groups.  If this interests you, then I'd encourage you to get familiar with the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO).

Founded in 1975, the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) represents over 300 companies and market research operations in the United States and abroad.

CASRO provides its members with numerous benefits, including access to invaluable industry data, and superb staff training and networking opportunities at workshops and conferences throughout the country.

CASRO's “Research Career Development” initiative reaches out to colleges and universities with information and resources to attract the best and brightest students and to make the survey research profession a career of choice.

Market research is a fascinating industry and there are many different types of market research firms out there. Learn about the CASRO here: http://www.casro.org

Health Economics, Outcomes and Reimbursement (HEOR) jobs

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

If you're considering a job in HEOR, get very familiar with the following topics:

• Health Economics
• Outcomes Research
• Pricing and Reimbursement
• Strategic Pricing
• Market Access
• Global Health
• Formulary Information
• Comparative Effectiveness
• International Markets
• Economic Modeling
• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Evidence-based Medicine
• Competitive Intelligence
• Quality Improvement
• Pharmacoeconomics

Click here to view HEOR jobs.

Healthcare Research Jobs in Business

I may have confused some of you with the title: "Healthcare Research Jobs in Business." How can you combine healthcare research with business?

When you speak with medical students and physicians about "research jobs," they often think about clinical research or basic science research. There are other types of research jobs in the world of health care. For instance, you may work in a market research company. Or, you may have a job focusing on medical education research. 

Here's an example of a market research job at Harris Interactive (posted on 10/14/2009, so I doubt it's still vacant, but you never know):

VP, Research - Healthcare Research

Overview:

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

Responsibilities:

Develops and manages existing research capabilities, establishes a significant market presence in the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry for the organization.

    * Develops and executes comprehensive plans and programs, short and long term, to support significant sales and revenue objectives of organization.
    * Develops and recommends product positioning, marketing, and pricing strategy to produce the highest possible long-term market share and profitability.
    * Oversees and evaluates market research and adjusts marketing strategy to meet changing market and competitive conditions.
    * Establishes and maintains relationships with industry influencers and key community and strategic partners.
    * Recruits and manages research staff.
    * Establishes and maintains an overall strategic marketing plan designed to build awareness of research capabilities.
    * Present research findings at industry conferences and events on a regular basis.
    * Provide direction on new research product development.
    * Lead the effort to build normative databases.

Non-clinical jobs in the UK and Europe

The other day, someone asked me, "do you know of any non-clinical positions in the UK/Europe?"

I replied: Join LinkedIn and you'll see discussions on this topic in various groups related to pharma, medical communications, medical devices, health care consulting, etc.

Many of the major pharma companies are based out of Europe. Plus, US pharma companies have offices in Europe. Therefore, there are many positions especially within pharma. Keep in mind that this means that there are opportunities within companies that provide services for pharma. Some examples include: medical communications companies such as advertising agencies, education companies, and more. There are companies that deal with market research. You'll also find many professional medical writers working in Europe.

So what's the best way to find these opportunities? This is where social networks like LinkedIn can play a vital role. It's a very quick way to build your network, meet recruiters, and find positions and opportunities that may be the right fit for your skill sets.

BusinessWeek Top 50 companies to launch your career

BusinessWeek has a list of 50 companies that are considered the "best places to launch your career." This guide isn't just for college grads. It could really apply to people who are in transition as well. I glanced at the list of 50 companies and I'd like to highlight a few that might be relevant for healthcare professionals who are interested in making the switch into the non-clinical world of medicine. Here are some of the companies that may interest you:

• Goldman Sachs (investment banking): ranked #6
  
• J.P. Morgan (investment banking): ranked #9
• Accenture (consulting): ranked #11
• Abbott Laboratories (health): ranked #13
• Merck (health): ranked #37
• Johnson & Johnson (health): ranked #41
• Protiviti (consulting): ranked #49

I realize that most physicians don't end up getting careers in investment banking. However, if you go into market research or if you pursue opportunities with venture capital firms, then you may have some significant interactions with investment banking clients. Who knows, maybe you'll even want to get an MBA in finance and go into investment banking.

We all know that consulting is very popular. Have you considered the companies listed above? If you can't work at McKinsey, would you consider other options?

Finally, in the health industry, the companies listed are no surprise. With all the mergers occurring in the world of biotech and pharma, we're sure to see displaced people in the upcoming months. Where will they end up settling?

Paid physician surveys

Doctors are in a unique position to earn some supplemental income by filling out surveys. Consider this one form of non-clinical moonlighting. You sit in front of your computer and spend 15-45 minutes filling out surveys. Then, you close your computer and wait for the check in the mail. Some of these surveys pay several hundred dollars per survey. Most of these are market research surveys, but you may also see some that are focused on educational research. Some surveys give you Amazon gift credit instead of cash. Would you prefer cash or Amazon gift credit? Want to start earning some extra cash through paid surveys? An easy place to get started is Sermo (but this site is only for U.S. physicians).

Reductions in the Pharma Sales Force

According to a recent ZS Associates survey, the number of US sales reps has decreased 10% since 2007. We now have 92,000 pharma sales representatives and the prediction is that it will continue to drop to 75,000 by 2012. With all the recent news about mergers, I wonder how that will impact these numbers. Many doctors are unwilling to see sales reps, so pharma/biotech/medical device companies are looking for alternative ways to send their marketing messages. e-marketing has been one of these options that many companies have embraced.

Non-Clinical Medical Opportunities for Physicians and Other Clinicians

If you're a physician and you're considering a non-clinical career, you may be wondering about all the opportunities out there. I get asked about this all the time. Over the years, I've had a chance to meet different physicians working in various companies and industries.

The following may apply even if you're not a physician. If you're a clinician (nurse, nurse practitioner or advanced practice nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant, medical researcher, podiatrist, physical therapist, psychologist, counselor, etc.), many of these opportunities may still be appropriate for you.

First, ask yourself what you enjoy. After all, if you don't enjoy clinical medicine, you don't want to end up doing something else you're not going to enjoy. Then, start networking using an intentional strategy. Leverage all the online social networking sites (like LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) and get reconnected with old colleagues, classmates, and friends. Find out what people are doing. They may help you get connected to some key people. You may find some of the best opportunities this way. If you're a woman, you may want to check out MomMD (www.mommd.com) and join a community of women who are seeking non-clinical opportunities ranging from part-time to full-time work.

The following list of opportunities is clearly non-exhaustive and many of these areas have significant overlap. This list is based on my personal interactions with people in these roles and as I meet more people, this list grows.

Here is my growing list of non-clinical opportunities for physicians (not in any particular order).

1. Healthcare administration, medical management, hospital administration, managed care - Are you a seasoned healthcare executive? Do you enjoy making administrative decisions? Then join the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) and run a hospital or a managed care organization. If you have a strong interest in managed care, then check out the NAMCP (National Association of Managed Care Physicians). You may want to get an MBA or an MMM (masters in medical management) if you don't already have one. An active US medical license is required for most (if not all) of these positions.

2. VC (venture capital), finance, Wall Street, etc.- Got an MBA? If not, are you thinking of getting one? Some will argue that once you have an "M.D." after your name, it may not matter as much where you get your MBA. However, I would argue that your MBA is your path to networking opportunities, so where you get your MBA is critical if you want to have a solid network. Once you get your MBA, you can work for venture capital (VC) firms, dig into market research companies, or work on Wall Street. Maybe you've heard of the Gerson Lehrman Group (www.glgroup.com)? No clinical experience necessary for many of these opportunities, but it's always helpful so that you can effectively communicate with KOLs (key opinion leaders) in the field. Many joint MD/MBA students have ventured directly into very successful careers this way. Also, an MBA is not necessary if you have some good business skills and understand the healthcare industry. You will need strong people skills and a willingness to work long hours.

3. Writing and medical communications (includes promotional education, certified CME/CE, consumer health education, and much more) - Do you enjoy writing? Many physicians and non-physicians have very successful careers as medical writers. The field is open to people who enjoy fiction writing, publications, research, or other types of writing. You can get involved working on journal publications, developing promotional content for marketing campaigns, or developing CME programs. Join the AMWA (American Medical Writers Association) and look for opportunities. You can work from home as a freelance writer and have a very flexible schedule. Or, you can work for a publisher or another type of healthcare communications company. No clinical experience necessary.

4. Technology and Informatics (health information technology, healthcare informatics, EHR/EMR, PHR, digital health) - Want to develop or improve an electronic health record (EHR) system? Do you love informatics? Then join the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology), the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association), and the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). Clinicians use EHRs and patients (or consumers) use PHRs (Personal Health Records). Keep up with HIMSS. There are many companies attempting to integrate the data between PHRs and EHRs. There is a national initiative to improve and standardize public health informatics, so now is a great time to enter this industry. No clinical experience necessary, but you should be familiar with ICD, CPT, and other billing codes used in this industry.

5. Disease management - Managed care organizations (MCOs) are always looking for better disease management (DM) programs for their plans. Some MCOs develop their own DM plans and others outsource them to external companies. These companies create and deliver various services to managed care organizations, including DM, wellness programs, personal health record (PHR) services, etc. Do you ever get educational pamphlets from your own health plan? Who puts them together? Who designs and develops these wellness and preventive health programs? It's not always WebMD. There are other companies that provide similar services.

6. Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Medical Device- If you're a medical specialist, there are many opportunities to do research for these companies. If you don't enjoy research, then you can develop marketing strategies. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements have become very popular these days. See all those ads in the medical journals? Get ready for that "corporate America" lifestyle if you plan to venture into industry. You may be working even more hours and carrying a Blackberry instead of a pager, but if you climb that "corporate ladder" and play the corporate game, you may qualify for an early retirement. Young people who are fast learners may be very aggressive and advance rapidly. Be prepared to have a younger boss if you're a seasoned clinician.

7. Independent medical examiner (IME), Expert witnessing, and Legal medicine - Personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home care, etc. There are firms that specialize in specific areas (like nursing home cases). Want more information? Join the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM). You can also become board certified by the American Board of Legal Medicine (ABLM).

8. Public health, population health, health policy, and government health - Get an MPH, join the APHA (American Public Health Association), and find a local health department. Or, join the CDC and travel the world. Develop strategies to improve population health. Some pharmaceutical companies also have public health sections and are very devoted to public health and international health (Pfizer in particular comes to mind). Bridge gaps in healthcare disparities. Work for the FDA or a state or local health agency.

9. Consulting - The world is open. Want to work for yourself or for a company? Many healthcare companies are looking for experts to help them develop, refine, and improve their products and services. It may be hard to get started unless you've already established connections. Once again, social networking becomes critical. Your initial success will depend more on who you know.

10. Research - Academia vs. private vs. industry vs. CRO. You don't have to go into industry to do research. Look for a Contract Research Organization (CRO) in your area. Join the ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations). You may want to look at PPD (no, this is not the TB skin test). PPD is a large global CRO. Of course, there are also many other CROs.

11. Executive recruiting, search firm, headhunting, human resources - Physicians can work as an executive recruiter to hire and place other physicians. You can also work your way up and manage other recruiters who do the hiring. Remember, these 'head hunters' get paid a commission based on the salary of the person they place. The $ earning potential can be tremendous if you're successful.

12. Start a company - Have an innovative idea? Are you an entrepreneur? Start a company! New companies seem to be sprouting all the time. Stay connected with people and keep your eyes open for new ideas. Thinking about getting an MBA? Be sure to connect with others who can help you get a concept off the ground.

Not sure where to start? As I mentioned above, start building your social and professional network. Reconnect with people and ask many questions. Find people who are in various positions and ask them what they like/dislike.

Join some associations to build your network and to find companies. Note that some associations are specifically for physicians, but many are open to all types of healthcare professionals. Also, even those that are specifically for physicians offer affiliate memberships for certain non-physicians.

ABLM: American Board of Legal Medicine
ACHE: American College of Healthcare Executives
ACLM: American College of Legal Medicine
American Association for Physician Leadership
(ACPE: American College of Physician Executives)
ACRO: Association of Clinical Research Organizations
AMDIS: Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems
AHIMA: American Health Information Management Association
AMIA: American Medical Informatics Association
AMWA: American Medical Writers Association
APHA: American Public Health Association
CCHIT: Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology
NAMCP: National Association of Managed Care Physicians

Thanks again for visiting NonClinicalJobs.com. I hope you'll visit frequently because we publish new articles daily.

Non-Clinical Medicine

To many people (including myself), the phrase "non-clinical medicine" sounds a bit odd. After all, the practice of medicine is clinical in nature.

Can you image the following conversation?

Q: "So what type of medicine do you practice?"
A: "I practice non-clinical medicine."
Q: "Oh, you mean like radiology or pathology?"

See, many people equate clinical medicine to seeing and treating patients. So if you're not actively engaged in direct patient contact and patient care, does that mean you're practicing non-clinical medicine? Not necessarily. The answer to the question above could also sound like this:

A: "No, I work behind in a company developing population-based disease management programs for managed care organizations."
or,
A: "No, I work in a medical education company developing continuing education programs for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses."
or,
A: "No, I now work in Wall Street"
or,
A: "No, I now work for the marketing division of a pharmaceutical company"
or,
A: "No, I work on developing market research surveys on different therapeutic topics."
or,
A: "No, I now work as a medical news reporter."

To some, the phrase "non-clinical medicine" means that you sit in an office and have full-time administrative duties. And yet to others, "non-clinical medicine" just means that you're no longer engaged in anything that directly relates with patient care.

Are public health physicians working in non-clinical medicine? Population health issues may conflict with direct patient care issues since population medicine needs to weigh decisions against the "greater good." Direct patient care is individualized medicine.

I've gone on quite a tangent, but the point I'd like to return to is this: non-clinical medicine is a very broad phrase that means different things to different people. So don't make any automatic assumptions about someone's career if they tell you that they are now engaged in pursuing a non-clinical career.