Although physicians trade in some independence when they become employed by an organization, a new world of leadership opportunities can open. For many employed physicians, administrative positions offer the chance to make a difference on a larger scale, ease up on the number of patients they see and potentially boost their earnings, according to an article from Medscape.
To increase the odds of a successful and satisfying career trajectory, experts who spoke to Medscape recommended doctors take deliberate steps:
- Define career goals and build requisite skills. "It helps if you can define your goals early," said Michael Hanak, M.D., an employed family physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "That allows you more time to focus your energies on the skills and experiences that will help you pursue them." As an early career physician, Hanak has set his sights on becoming proficient in HIT and population health management to help achieve his goals.
- Get serious about soft skills. It's also essential that physicians spend time building "soft" skills around communication and motivating people, added Linda Komnick, who recruits physician-executives for Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm. These skills are critical to handling the organizational politics of leadership positions and acting as the liaison between physicians and administration.
- Get involved. While physicians are increasingly finding value in formal business training, experts told Medscape that hands-on involvement with committees and medical societies is even more important. Moreover, committee work can serve as a testing ground on which physicians can feel out whether they enjoy the non-clinical work, said Peter Angood, M.D., president and CEO of the American Association for Physician Leadership.
- Take on a project. Next, taking on a cause, such as reducing infection rates or working on a group's retirement plan, can earn ambitious doctors attention and credibility that will sharply increase their chances of being considered for leadership opportunities that arise.
- Commit. To graduate ambitions to reality, be available and affable. This means responding to emails promptly, being prepared to work long hours and having a good attitude about the personal ramifications of one's decision.
To learn more:
- read the article