quarterly career check-up//October, 2008

Finding your Next Management Position

Medical management is a growing field in today’s physician job market. Groups, hospitals, and organizations are striving to find doctors with executive ability – especially primary care groups. If you think you are interested in a management position, or have management experience and are looking for your next big career move, Kendall & Davis can help you find the next position that is right for you.

Is Management Right for You?

As a physician executive or director, your skill set will very greatly from the average clinician. Beyond medical knowledge, you will also be expected to have excellent communication skills, organizational strengths, business sense, and experience. A few key questions to help you determine if a management position is right for you are:

1. Do I enjoy the business aspect of medicine? Am I willing to cut down or eliminate the time I spend treating patients?

   There are many reasons a physician might consider a management job. Some doctors genuinely enjoy full-time management. Others enjoy switching between two hats: manager and clinician. Some prefer freedom from the headaches of a practice setting. Whatever your reason may be, you must be prepared to spend much less time working with patients.

2. Do I have enough clinical experience?

   Before considering moving in to a management position, you should have anywhere from 5 to 10 years of clinical experience. Many physician executives also boast additional business degrees on their resume alongside their medical training.

3. Do I have the executive skills and business mindset necessary to succeed?

   Most employers will expect your resume to demonstrate leadership skills, including board memberships, department or committee chairs, or previous medical director experience. Of particular interest to employers is demonstrated experience on a utilization review committee or similar experience that emphasizes diplomatic people skills.

4. Am I comfortable relocating for a position?

   Many physician management roles involve frequent relocation, especially if you work with a state or nation-wide medical group or managed care organization.

5. Can I motivate other physicians, nurses and staff in a medical environment?

   Helping other physicians and medical professionals to do their jobs well can be just as rewarding of a career as caring for patients directly. If you are a strong, motivational individual who can encourage others to achieve their own goals, you are an ideal candidate for a medical management position.

Finding a Management Position

Whether you are seeking your first management position or trying to advance your current management career, expectations of employers differ slightly from that of most clinical physician job searches. Employers will be looking for variety – both in your skill set and the types of environments you have worked in. Every organization’s culture is different and your ability to adapt to various environments is essential.

If you are looking for your first management position, you can likely expect to be placed in a junior associate position with part-time clinical duties. Salaries and compensation packages will not be much different from those of clinicians, but these opportunities are essential in your early management career so that you can develop the organizational abilities and business sense necessary to succeed in more advanced roles.

Having realistic expectations of your own abilities is essential. There are many skills, including technical knowledge and leadership qualities, that most employers expect to see before you apply for a job. Willingness to learn will not be enough – consider ways that you can demonstrate these skills within your current position and highlight them during the interview process. Constantly seek out new networking opportunities as well – being an active member of the medical community will not only help employers find you, but will also improve your interpersonal skills. For additional resources for physician leadership, including seminars and CME opportunities, visit the American College of Physician Executives at http://www.acpe.org.

Take the Next Steps

If you are interested in pursuing a career in medical management, Linde Healthcare has the resources available to help you achieve your goals. Speak to one of our dedicated recruitment consultants to find out what opportunities we have to offer. Contact us today at 1-866-480-3874 or by e-mail at {.