Shifting from Medical Writing to the Locum Life
Part 2 of a PNC Classic from 2019 with Dr. Andrew Wilner - 362 This is Part 2 of my interview with Andrew Wilner about shifting from medical writing to locum life. You can find Part 1 at How to Blend Medical Writing and the Locum Life. When he decided to return to clinical medicine, Andrew discovered a wide-open locum tenens market for all specialties, even neurologists! Lucky [...]
How to Blend Medical Writing and the Locum Life
A PNC Classic from 2019 with Dr. Andrew Wilner - 361 Dr. Andrew Wilner discovered early that he could develop a career that would blend medical writing and the locum life. He has always been a dedicated writer. And he is passionate about medicine. Writing has been a part of his life since high school. After medical school and internship, Andrew became an emergency room doctor while trying [...]
Building the Private Practice of the Future with Technology
Interview with Dr. Phil Boucher - 360 I’ve invited a former guest from 2020 to show us how he created the private practice of the future while simultaneously growing a business start-up. Dr. Phil Boucher has been in private practice since 2014. He is known for integrating cutting-edge technologies into his practice, and for helping other physicians communicate better with patients, improve productivity, and understand marketing. Our Sponsor [...]
How to Become an IME: A PNC Classic from 2021
Interview with Dr. Emily Woolcock - 359 Today we provide an inspiring story and learn how to become an IME (Independent Medical Examiner) from an expert orthopedic surgeon in this classic episode from 2021. Dr. Emily Woolcock is an internationally recognized speaker, best-selling author, mentor, and consultant. She is among the country’s most well-known orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Woolcock is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and [...]
Land a Pharma Clinical Development Job: A PNC Classic from 2021
Interview with Dr. Laura McKain - 358 In this week's show, an interview from the archives with Dr.Laura McKain explains how to land a pharma clinical development job. Our guest, Dr. Laura McKain, is a board-certified physician with more than 10 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. She has managed clinical-regulatory strategy, study design, protocol writing, Phase 2, 3, and 4 clinical trials, medical monitoring, safety surveillance, data analysis, [...]
How to Set Up Your Medical Writing Business
How to Start Your Own Medical Writing Business: A Practical Guide Starting your own medical writing business can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you're an experienced medical writer or a healthcare professional looking to transition into writing, setting up your business involves several important steps. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you get started. Identify Your Niche First, define the kind of medical writing you want to specialize in. [...]
How to Exploit the Surprising Nonclinical Career Academy
Presentation by John Jurica - 357 In today's show, John introduces and describes the Nonclinical Career Academy and MemberClub, emphasizing their extensive resources for physicians seeking nonclinical careers. He explains the various courses and bundles available, including options for monthly or lifetime memberships. John also mentions a special discount code, RELAUNCH2024, for a significant reduction on lifetime membership during the relaunch week. Our Show Sponsor We're proud [...]
The Essential Guidebook to Being An Outstanding CMO
Interview with Dr. Mark Olsyzk - 356 In today's interview, outstanding CMO Dr. Mark Olszyk provides his advice and that of his co-authors from The Chief Medical Officer's Essential Guidebook. He discusses the critical skills required for effective medical leadership and practical tips for navigating complex healthcare challenges. And he emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and collaboration among healthcare professionals to be successful. Our Show Sponsor [...]
How to Become a Consultant to Venture Capital Firms
Presentation by Dr. Tom Davis - 355 Today's show presents Dr. Tom Davis' lecture on becoming a consultant to venture capital firms from the 2023 Nonclinical Career Summit. This serves as a motivational guide for those looking to navigate the consulting landscape successfully. Tom also shares his advice on using the consulting relationship to become a shareholder in selected start-ups. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have [...]
How to Recognize and Overcome Moral Injury in Healthcare
Interview with Dr. Jennie Byrne - 354 Today's episode features my interview with the author of Moral Injury: Healing the Healers. We explore the concepts of burnout and moral injury within the healthcare profession through a detailed discussion with Dr. Jennie Byrne. Dr. Byrne shares her insights and experiences, highlighting the evolution of these issues, their impacts on healthcare professionals, and potential solutions. Our Show Sponsor We're [...]
New Unconventional Clinical Careers Will Set You Free
Interview with Dr. Sylvie Stacy - 353 Today's episode features my interview with the author of 50 Unconventional Clinical Careers for Physicians. Dr. Sylvie Stacy discusses her journey from writing and blogging to full-time clinical practice. Despite many physicians moving towards nonclinical roles, she became increasingly involved in unconventional clinical work. This inspired her to write a book dedicated to unconventional clinical careers. This book highlights lesser-known clinical [...]
Find Your Great First Nonclinical MSL Job
Presentation by Dr. Maria Abunto - 352 Today's episode presents an excerpt from Dr. Maria Abunto's masterclass on securing your first nonclinical MSL job from the 2023 Nonclinical Career Summit. Dr. Maria Abunto, a senior manager of medical science liaisons (MSLs) at Exact Sciences, shares her journey and insights into the MSL role. Dr. Abunto's insights focus on relationship-building, continuous learning, and strategic networking. Whether you are [...]
Explore What Matters Most and Design Your Professional Career
Interview with Dr. Sharon Hull - 351 In today's episode, Dr. Sharon Hull explains why exploring what matters most is critical to designing your career. From her early experiences in small-town medicine to her role as a pioneering leader in physician coaching, Dr. Hull's story resonates with professionals seeking greater fulfillment and meaning in their work lives. Today, she empowers listeners to embark on their personal journeys [...]
How to Apply the Visibility Formula to Become Known
Interview with Dr. Nneka Unachukwu - 350 In today's episode, Dr. Una returns to the podcast to teach us how to use her visibility formula and to tell us about her new book. Two years ago, Dr. Una introduced us to the transformative power of entrepreneurship for physicians. Now, she shares the strategies that have propelled her clients to success, with practical advice for physicians ready to [...]
The Best Biopharma Positions For Motivated Practicing Physicians
Presentation by Dr. Nerissa Kreher - 349 In today's episode, we present an excerpt from Dr. Nerissa Kreher's masterclass on securing the best biopharma positions from the 2023 Nonclinical Career Summit. Dr. Nerissa Kreher is a pediatric endocrinologist and the Chief Medical Officer at a biotech company. She received her medical degree from East Carolina University. She then completed a pediatric residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at [...]
Make Your Clinical Practice Great or Move On
The Second Annual Summit is Here - 348 In today's episode, John provides an overview of this year's Summit designed to make your clinical practice great or move on to a better alternative. With a lineup of expert speakers and a comprehensive agenda, the Summit aims to equip attendees with actionable strategies for improving job satisfaction and exploring nonclinical opportunities. The second annual Nonclinical Career Summit runs this [...]
Priceless Advice for the New Expert Witness
Interview with Dr. Joe McMenamin - 347 In today's episode, Dr. Joe McMenamin provides priceless advice for the new expert witness. Dr. McMenamin, an attorney with an extraordinary blend of medical and legal expertise, shares his compelling journey from medical school to the courtroom. He describes the convergence of these two disciplines, offering insights into the integration of medical and legal expertise. Our Show Sponsor We're proud [...]
Why an Infusion Lounge May Be the Best New Thing
Interview with Dr. Jennifer Allen and Kimberly Lowe - 346 In today's episode, Dr. Jennifer Allen and Kimberly Lowe describe how they grew their Infusion Lounge business together. Dr. Allen and Kim Lowe were both fed up with conventional approaches to patient care. And they found that they shared a vision for a more upbeat joyful atmosphere. They describe their innovative approach to healthcare delivery, combining facets [...]
How To Secure Your First Utilization Management Job
Interview with Dr. Jonathan Vitale - 345 In today's episode, we present Dr. Jonathan Vitale's inspirational masterclass on securing your first utilization management job from the 2023 Nonclinical Career Summit. Dr. Vitale shares his journey, emphasizing the appeal of UM's remote nature, stable hours, and reduced stress compared to traditional clinical practice. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered [...]
Integrating the Best of Traditional and Functional Medicine
Interview with Dr. Lara Salyer - 344 In today's episode, Dr. Lara Salyer explains how she integrates the best of traditional and functional medicine in her practice. In the process, she takes listeners on a journey of career reinvention and personal empowerment. Dr. Salyer shares valuable insights and practical advice for practitioners seeking fulfillment and career balance. From the transformative power of creativity to the importance of [...]
The Extraordinary Life of the Physician Digital Nomad
Interview with Dr. Chelsea Turgeon - 343 In today's episode, Dr. Chelsea Turgeon describes her unique career as a coach and digital nomad. This episode is an excerpt from Chelsea's popular lecture from the 2023 Nonclinical Career Summit hosted by John Jurica and Tom Davis. The narrative explores the internal conflicts, moments of self-discovery, and the decision to step off the conventional path. The blog provides a [...]
Light Your Entrepreneurial Fire and Create Your Ideal Life
Interview with Dr. Angela Mulrooney - 342 In today's episode, Dr. Angela Mulrooney explains how to create your ideal life and shares her inspirational career journey. Dr. Mulrooney's unique journey began as a gymnast turned dancer and choreographer while studying dentistry. She built a thriving practice following graduation. However, she developed an illness that made it impossible to practice. So she transitioned into coaching dentists, leveraging her [...]
The Ultimate Swindle Known As Sham Peer Review
Interview with Dr. Lawrence Huntoon - 341 In today's episode, Dr. Lawrence Huntoon offers insights into sham peer review, an all-to-common abuse of the peer review process. Dr. Huntoon is editor-in-chief of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons and an expert on this topic. During our discussion, he highlights the importance of early recognition, prompt legal representation, and aggressive defense in response to sham peer review [...]
The Truth About Medical Specialists and UM Jobs
PNC Classic Episode with Dr. Rich Berning - 340 Today's podcast episode features Dr. Rich Berning, who explains the truth about medical specialists and UM jobs. It is loaded with practical advice on how to pursue a job as a health plan medical director. He also describes how to find similar positions at an Independent Review Organization or hospital UM department. Dr. Berning graduated from the University [...]
Negotiate a Great Contract, Avoid Burnout, and Be Happy
Interview with Ethan Nkana - Episode 339 In today's episode, Ethan Nkana explains how to negotiate a great contract, avoid burnout, and protect yourself legally. Ethan's advice revolves around empowering physicians to advocate for their best interests, understand the nuances of their contracts, and seek professional assistance for optimal negotiations. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the [...]
How To Know If You Will Love Medical Writing
Interview with Dr. Morgan Leafe - Episode 338 In today's episode, John interviews Dr. Morgan Leafe to help you determine if you will love medical writing as much as she does. Dr. Morgan Leafe shares her journey from clinical medicine to medical writing, emphasizing the flexibility and opportunities the field offers. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by [...]
Manage Your Practice Like a Valuable Business Asset
Interview with Mr. Eric Miller - Episode 337 In today's episode, John describes why you must treat your practice like a valuable business asset if you want to be successful. This episode serves as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their business acumen and secure the long-term prosperity of their practices. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA [...]
Add the SWOT Analysis to Your Growing Skill Stack
An Important Business and Management Tool In today's episode, John describes why the SWOT Analysis is an important tool for physician leaders and how to use it for project and strategic planning. The process of shifting to a nonclinical career often involves learning and applying new business knowledge and skills. Most physicians have not been exposed to formal project management or strategic planning concepts during their medical [...]
What Makes a Great Health System Chief Medical Officer?
Interview with Dr. Nilesh Dave - Episode 335 Today's podcast episode describes Dr. Nilesh Dave's four-year career transition to health system Chief Medical Officer. We pick up from his previous appearance 4 years ago in Episode 99, as he lists the steps he took on his interesting career journey. Starting with his role as medical director at a regional Blue Cross Blue Shield subsidiary, he describes the [...]
How Does a Consultant Start a New Telemedicine Service?
Interview with Dr. Luissa Kiprono - Episode 334 In today's episode, we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Luissa Kiprono who recently decided to start a new telemedicine service. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who transitioned her traditional practice into telemedicine with the creation of TeleMed MFM. The interview delves into the pivotal moments, challenges, and strategic decisions that led to the establishment of this innovative [...]
How to Practice Hospital Medicine and Found a Startup
Interview with Dr. Adam Robison - Episode 333 In today's episode, Dr. Adam Robison explains how he was able to found a start-up, AI Medica, while practicing hospital medicine full-time. This interview will reveal the impact of AI Medica's software on healthcare efficiency, its integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and its role in enhancing clinical decision-making. Adam provides his firsthand account of navigating the complexities of [...]
How to Find Fulfillment and Flexibility in Your Nontraditional Job
Interview with Dr. David Feig - Episode 332 In today's episode, John interviews a podcast listener who describes his search for fulfillment and flexibility in a nontraditional job. Dr. Feig completed his medical degree and his Master’s Degree in Public Health at Emory University. Then he completed a Family Medicine Residency at the University of Michigan and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Rush University Medical Center. Our [...]
Why Build Your Own Rewarding CME and CE Writing Business?
Interview with Dr. Alexandra Howson - Episode 331 In today's episode, John's guest Dr. Alexandra Howson will explain why you should consider building a nonclinical CME and CE writing business. During this interview, Dr. Alexandra Howson provides practical steps to leverage your medical background, apply adult education principles, and tap into the multi-billion dollar industry of continuing medical education. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University [...]
Follow This Plan to Establish a Solid Hospital CDI Career
Interview with Dr. Christian Zouain - 330 In today's episode, John revisits the hospital CDI career with Dr. Christian Zouain. He was first interviewed in March of 2019. We explore the fascinating world of Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) through the lens of Dr. Zouain, a seasoned professional in the field. Whether you are a seasoned CDI professional or someone considering a career shift, Dr. Zouain's experiences serve [...]
The Keys to an Amazing Remote Video Job Interview
Addressing the Technical Issues - Episode 329 In today's episode, John applies his expertise in hosting Zoom interviews and webinars to delivering an amazing remote video job interview. In today's digital era, acing a remote job interview goes beyond showcasing your skills. It requires mastering the technical intricacies that can make or break your impression. Elevate your virtual interview game with this guide to the technical aspects. [...]
Expert Witness or Medical Legal Consulting: Which Should You Pursue?
Episode 328 In today's episode, John helps listeners to decide whether expert witness or medical legal consulting best aligns with your needs. From decoding the nuances of medical documentation to navigating the uncharted waters of depositions and court testimony, John shares a roadmap for physicians eager to diversify their careers. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the [...]
What's New in My World and Is Coaching Worth the Expense?
What's New and the Cost of Coaching - Episode 327 In today's episode, John shares what's new, and explores the cost-benefit considerations of career coaching. This topic was triggered by a podcast listener's question. It is a common concern of those seeking a major career pivot, and are considering whether to hire a coach to help them navigate the process. He guides listeners on how to discern [...]
How to Prepare to Sell Your Growing Healthcare Business
Interview with Dr. Lisa Jenks - Episode 326 In today's episode, Dr. Lisa Jenks returns to the podcast to describe what she did to prepare to sell her MedSpa, a major milestone in her entrepreneurial journey. Dr. Jenks' initial interviews with John, in 2018 and 2020, delved into the founding and growing of her MedSpa business. This episode unveils the third major milestone in the life cycle [...]
Top Insider Tips on Branding and Social Media for Clinicians
Interview with Dr. Dana Corriel - 325 This week, John dives into an insightful interview with Dr. Dana Corriel, where she shares invaluable insights on personal branding and the path to nonclinical careers for physicians. Dr. Dana Corriel, a renowned expert in personal branding for physicians and nonclinical careers in healthcare, shared her valuable insights on episode 94 back in June 2019. She brings a wealth of [...]
What Is the Best Way to Generate Income and Create Wealth?
Own a Business - 324 In today's episode, John delves into the exciting world of clinician entrepreneurship, offering insights into various paths to business ownership and shining a spotlight on healthcare franchise opportunities. Whether you're looking to create wealth, escape burnout, or take charge of your career, this episode unveils valuable strategies for clinicians seeking new horizons beyond traditional practice. Our Show Sponsor We're proud to have [...]
Why Hospital Leadership Jobs Are Both Challenging and Rewarding
Consider This Well-Compensated Career - 323 In today’s podcast, John shares invaluable insights on the critical areas of expertise for physicians seeking hospital leadership jobs. John recounts his transition from a clinical role to leadership within his hospital. Like others, his transition started with physician advisor and medical director roles, which provide management experience. Our Episode Sponsor This week's episode sponsor is the From Here to There: [...]
Best First Resources to Use Before You Start Your Nonclinical Career Journey
Exploit These Free and Low-Cost Tools - Episode 322 In today's episode, John dives into a treasure trove of the best first resources for physicians to access when seeking to transition into a nonclinical career. He covers a range of tools and guidance. They range from a comprehensive website to a nudge in the right direction, this episode is a starting point for your nonclinical career journey. [...]
How to Market Your Surgical and Nonsurgical Careers Like a Pro – 321
Interview with Dr. David Geier In today's episode, Dr. David Geier explains how to market yourself using a combination of social media posts and public speaking. David is an orthopedic sports medicine specialist who recently added integrative medicine to his clinical practice. Dr. Geier first appeared on our podcast in August 2018, in Episode 49, as a groundbreaking orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. Since then, he's [...]
3 Top Tips to Ace Your Interview and Blow Away the Competition – 320
Three "Advanced" Tactics In today's episode, John updates his tactics to help you ace your interview with 3 more items to consider. This topic was originally presented in PNC podcast episode 223. We'll explore three invaluable tips for acing your job interview and standing out from the competition. John, our expert in non-traditional job searches, offers his insights on these crucial interview strategies. Our Sponsor This week's sponsor is [...]
Online Networking for Nonclinical Medical Professionals: Mastering Social Media and LinkedIn
Introduction In today's digital age, online networking is the gateway to unlocking numerous opportunities for nonclinical medical jobs. Leveraging social media and LinkedIn can significantly impact your career opportunities and professional connections. In the discussion that follows, we'll explore the strategies and tips that will help you excel in the world of online networking. Start with Precise Targeting and Keyword Optimization Begin your online networking journey by identifying specific keywords [...]
Apply Discovery, Innovation, Value, and Execution to Launch Your Business – 319
Interview with Dr. Kasia Hein-Peters In today's episode, Dr. Kasia Hein-Peters explains the 4 important factors to consider to successfully launch your business. She is a consultant for “sciencepreneurs,” helping them design successful commercialization strategies. Dr. Hein-Peters is a physician with over 30 years of experience working for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She helped introduce new drugs and vaccines to the market. Her career highlights the [...]
This Family Doctor Successfully Merged Medicine and Marketing in a Medspa – 318
Interview with Dr. Rachael Degurse In today's episode, Dr. Rachael Degurse describes how she escaped corporate-style practice by merging medicine and marketing to open a medspa. She shares her inspirational journey from traditional medical practice to successful entrepreneur in the MedSpa industry. Dr. Rachael Degurse is a board-certified family physician who took a bold leap after years in traditional medical practice. Her journey led to the creation [...]
How to Be Purposeful with Your Life and Career – 317
Interview with Dr. Karen Barnard In today's episode, Dr. Karen Barnard explains how to be purposeful with your life and career. She begins by sharing her inspirational journey. It starts with growing up and completing her medical degree in South Africa. It continues with moving to the United States and completing her residency and fellowship training in internal medicine and endocrinology. She worked as an academic clinician [...]
Why the Midcareer Physician Must Achieve Financial Freedom – 316
Interview with Dr. Brian S. Foley In today's episode, Dr. Brian Foley shares valuable insights on how the midcareer physician can achieve financial freedom. Dr. Brian Foley, known as the Wealthy Doc, pursued a medical degree at Upstate Medical University of the State University of New York and completed his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Alongside his clinical career, [...]
Develop These Essential Skills to Be a Visionary Medical Affairs Leader – 315
Interview with Dr. Savi Chadha In today's episode, Dr. Sava Chadhi returns to the podcast to explain the steps he took to advance his career as a Medical Affairs Leader. Dr. Savi Chadha's pharmaceutical journey began as an MSL with Amplity Health in 2016 and later advanced to Supernus Pharmaceuticals in 2017, where he thrived. Once he was working as an MSL he completed board certification by [...]
Want to Buy Your Own Senior Care Business? – 314
An Opportunity to Hit the Ground Running In today's episode, John describes the process of buying a small senior care business. He'll cover the key criteria buyers consider when evaluating a small business. The senior care business sector has evolved significantly over the past 15 years, with franchisees becoming a big part of the industry. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA [...]
Physician Advocate and Insurance Broker Shares Her Expertise – 313
Interview with Dr. Stephanie Pearson In today's episode, Dr. Stephanie Pearson returns to the podcast to the podcast to share her inspirational journey as an insurance broker. Her passion for safeguarding healthcare professionals' financial well-being grew out of her personal experiences following an on-the-job injury. First interviewed in February 2018, she explained then why securing one's income through life and disability insurance is so important. This time, [...]
Embrace Stage 2 of the 12 Month Roadmap to a New Career – 312
Months 2 Through 4 In this solo episode, John explains how to embrace Stage 2 of the 12-Month Roadmap. It is a plan he originally designed to guide you from full-time clinical practice to chief medical officer of a hospital. However, this comprehensive roadmap can also be adapted to other nonclinical roles, in industries such as pharma, consulting, insurance, education, and health system management. Our Sponsor We're [...]
Landing Your First Pharma Industry Job May Be Easier Than You Think – 311
What I've Learned from My Guests In this solo episode, John explains why landing your first pharma industry job may be easier than you think. In a recent webinar, a valuable discussion unfolded, shedding light on the allure of Pharma jobs: unveiling their attractiveness, potential for higher income than clinical work, and offering effective tactics to secure your first job in the industry. Today, John presents an [...]
Revisiting How to Land An Awesome Job Using LinkedIn – 310
Interview with Dr. Heather Fork Today's presentation is a replay of Dr. Heather Fork's presentation in which she explains how to land an awesome job using LinkedIn. Heather is an ICF master-certified coach. She helps physicians find their best career path forward, whether in medicine, a nonclinical career, or something else. In 2010 Heather founded the Doctor’s Crossing. Since that time, she has helped hundreds of physicians [...]
Let's Dispel These 5 Persistent Myths About Nonclinical Careers – 309
Begin Your Career Transition in Earnest In today's episode, we revisit the topic of 5 persistent myths that clinicians believe when they begin to contemplate a career transition. This presentation was given at the 2023 Licensed to Live online conference. In today's fast-paced healthcare landscape, many professionals find themselves yearning for a more fulfilling and rewarding career path. To embark on this transformative journey, the first crucial [...]
Research and Development in Nonclinical Pharma Careers
Unveiling the Science Behind Drug Development Let's delve into the intriguing world of research and development (R&D) in nonclinical pharma careers. Today, we explore the critical role played by nonclinical scientists in the captivating realm of drug development. From preclinical studies to groundbreaking discoveries, let's uncover the science behind this essential aspect of the pharmaceutical industry. Nonclinical R&D: A Foundation for Success In the field of pharmaceuticals, nonclinical R&D serves [...]
Making Your Way to a Rewarding Career in Clinical Development – 308
Interview with Dr. Linda Ho In today's episode, Dr. Linda Ho returns to the podcast to discuss working in pharma in clinical development. And she explains how she moved into this role after starting as a medical science liaison. During our interview in September 2018, Dr. Ho described her shift from clinical medicine to work as a Medical Science Liaison. In today's interview, she stands out as the [...]
Revisiting How to Use Real Estate Investing to Go from Burnout to Financial Freedom – 307
Interview with Dr. Ronnie Shalev This week, we revisit Dr. Ronnie Shalev as she explains how to use real estate investing to find financial freedom in this week's interview from early 2022. Dr. Shalev obtained her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Then she completed her Emergency Medicine Residency at Drexel University College of Medicine. She is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician. Her high-pressure job [...]
How to Navigate the Challenging Pivot from Family Medicine to Clinical Research – 306
Interview with Dr. Melissa Choi In today's episode, Dr. Melissa Choi takes us through her career journey to a position in clinical research. She shares the motivations behind her career pivot. And she offers valuable insights into how she navigated the transition to her first nonclinical position. Dr. Choi is a family physician who successfully transitioned to a career in the Pharma Industry. With a background in clinical [...]
Expanding Horizons: Lucrative NonClinical Career Paths for Physicians
What are the best-paying nonclinical career paths for physicians that do NOT involve patient care? As physicians, our dedication to patient care is unparalleled, but there comes a time when nonclinical career paths must be considered. However, some of us may reach a point where we seek new opportunities beyond the traditional realm of direct patient care. Fortunately, the field of medicine offers various lucrative nonclinical career paths that allow [...]
Embracing a Fulfilling Transition: The Ideal Job for a Pre-Retirement Physician
As physicians, we embark on a lifelong journey dedicated to healing and caring for others. After years of practicing medicine, it is natural for Pre-Retirement Physicians to ponder the idea of slowing down as retirement approaches. While the thought of stepping away from a career that defines us may be daunting, there exists a perfect opportunity for physicians in pre-retirement to embrace a role that allows for a more relaxed [...]
Top Tips to Find Your First Nonclinical Job Using LinkedIn – 303
A Great Tool to Find Your First Nonclinical Job In today's episode, John briefly describes how advanced features in LinkedIn can help you find your first nonclinical job. We delve into the advanced functionalities of LinkedIn, exploring how it enables users to expand their professional connections, customize profile visibility, and access job opportunities. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by [...]
5 Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Management Consulting Job – 302
Discover Healthcare Management Consulting In today's episode, John presents a career not previously highlighted: healthcare management consulting. John will focus on the role of employed physician consultants within the vast landscape of national and international healthcare consulting firms. These firms address hospitals' (and other healthcare organizations') needs and provide innovative solutions to tackle complex challenges. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, [...]
7 Important Zoom Settings When Presenting Your First Summit – 301
Zoom Settings to Know In today's episode, we share John's firsthand experience with Zoom to apply when presenting your first summit. Discover the valuable insights and lessons he gained while preparing for this event. From meticulous preparation to seamless execution, John shares his valuable insights, tips, and lessons learned during this groundbreaking virtual event. With an unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional summit, he applied overlooked settings in [...]
Top Advice for Generating More Money with Less Hustle – 300
Interview with Dr. Latifat Akintade In today's episode, Dr. Latifat Akintade describes how to generate more money with less hustle as she tells us about her newly released book, Done With Broke: The Woman Physician’s Guide to More Money and Less Hustle. Dr. Latifat is a Gastroenterologist and founder of The Money Coaching School for Badass Women Physicians. She combines her interest in personal finance, her training as [...]
What Does It Take to Pivot from Caring Pediatrician to Drug Safety Professional? – 299
Interview with Dr. Kerri Best-Sule In this interview, Dr. Kerri Best-Sule shares her tactics for making the switch from full-time pediatrician to drug safety professional in the Pharma Industry. Dr. Kerri Best-Sule is a certified pediatrician who shifted to the safety sector of the pharmaceutical industry at a relatively early stage in her professional life. She received her pediatric residency training from the University of Maryland and practiced [...]
How This Visually Impaired Physician Overcame Challenges to Achieve Success – 298
Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Gazzara In today's episode, John learns how a visually impaired physician overcame challenges during his training and career. Dr. Jeffrey Gazzara describes the difficulties he encountered and what he did to surmount them. For the past five and a half years, Dr. Gazzara has been a general practitioner working in telemedicine. During this period, he has advanced to several managerial positions, such as Medical Director [...]
How We Will Survive and Thrive While the Healthcare System Collapses – 297
Conversation with Dr. Tom Davis In today's episode, Dr. Tom Davis and John have a conversation about how we will survive as the healthcare system around us collapses. The context is about the challenges the co-founders and members of NewScript go through, and how the collaboration between NewScript Mentors and members can benefit everybody. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered [...]
Why You Must Wake Up Before Bad Behavior Ruins Your Career – 296
Interview with Dr. Ryan Bayley In today's episode, John interviews Dr. Ryan Bayley to find out why physicians must wake up about threats to their ability to practice. They also discuss his new book, "Physician Non Grata: A Survival Guide for Clinicians Around Poor Communication, Boundary Issues, and Disruptive Behavior." Ryan explains why the system is becoming more dangerous, how to avoid exposing yourself, and what to do [...]
How to Integrate Real Estate into Your Investing or Career Pivot – 295
Interview with Dr. Pranay Parikh In today's episode, Dr. Pranay Parikh explains how to integrate real estate into your overall investment plan. Pranay is a practicing nocturnist. In addition to his medical background, he recently completed a Master's Degree in Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is the host of the From MD to Entrepreneur Podcast and the co-founder of Ascent Equity Group, founded by physicians to [...]
How to Start and Grow a Profitable Cash Based Medical Practice – 293
Interview with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming In today's show, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming returns to the podcast to explain how to start and grow a successful cash based medical practice. You’re a clinician and you know how to care for patients. Finding a way to provide clinical care for patients who are willing and able to pay us directly sounds pretty attractive. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of [...]
Behind the Scenes Look at Planning the First Nonclinical Career Summit – 294
The First NewScript Summit is Ready to Roll This week John and co-founder Tom Davis and their team are putting the final touches on NewScript's first Nonclinical Career Summit. It is designed primarily for NewScript members but is open to anyone interested in learning more about nontraditional opportunities for clinicians. The Summit is a free live event that will be held next week! Mark your calendars for April 11 [...]
How to Improve Your New Business Odds of Success by Buying a Franchise- 292
Interview with Alan Goldberg Today's guest describes why buying a franchise is a wise approach to starting a new clinical or nonclinical business. Alan Goldberg is a franchise consultant and specialist. He is the Founder and Chief Connecting Officer of Fran-LINK. This national franchise business consultancy organization assists entrepreneurial professionals to achieve financial independence through franchise ownership. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive [...]
The 5 Most Popular Home Based and Remote Careers – 291
This List Keeps Growing In today's show, John will provide an in-depth overview of some of the popular home based and remote careers. There have been some significant developments in recent years. Multiple podcast guests have addressed remote careers and utilization management, in general, consulting, coaching, and so on. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of [...]
Why Your Nonclinical Job Search Is So Frustrating and Unproductive – 290
Address These Potential Errors In today's show, John describes why a nonclinical job search is so frustrating and unproductive at times. And he suggests ways to overcome those frustrations. It can feel like we’re bogged down and not making any progress once we’ve decided to pursue that first nonclinical position. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College [...]
How This Consulting Business Grew Directly From a Patient Need – 289
Interview with Dr. Eleanor Tanno In today's interview, Dr. Eleanor Tanno explains how her consulting business grew directly from the needs of some of her patients. She received her medical degree from the U. of Maryland School of Medicine. Then she completed her residency in Family Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University. She works as a full-time primary care family physician as a partner in a multispecialty medical practice. [...]
What Is the Proven Path to a Rewarding Online Business? – 288
Turn Your Passions Into Profits Today's guest describes how to build a rewarding online business. He is the host of The Affiliate Guy Podcast, your source for affiliate marketing news, tips, and strategies to take your online business to the next level. Matt McWilliams is also the author of the best-selling book Turn Your Passions Into Profits. He has worked with some of the world's most successful businesses [...]
Top 4 Questions from Clinicians About Nonclinical Jobs for February 2023 – 287
A New Q&A Feature Here are the top 4 questions John has received in recent months about nontraditional careers, and his answers. Every three months we will answer three or four questions from subscribers, podcast listeners, and mastermind members. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as the sponsor of this podcast. The UT PEMBA [...]
How to Become a Health Advisor With No Physician Patient Relationship – 286
Help Clients and Avoid Medical Liability This week, John explains how to develop a coaching or consulting business as a health advisor without creating a formal physician-patient relationship. In doing so, he mentions six guests from his podcast who are improving their clients' health or wellness while generating income outside the traditional medical setting. After reviewing each of their businesses, he offers recommendations for launching your own such business. [...]
How Do I Start My Search for a Great Nonclinical Job? – 285
How Should I Start My Search? In today's podcast episode, John answers this question: How do I start my search? He describes his experiences moving from practicing family physician to hospital chief medical officer. Based on his conversations with podcast guests, and his own transition, he outlines an approach that works for most clinicians. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered [...]
Why Adopt This Email Strategy in Your New Business? – 284
Improve Engagement and Build Authority In today's episode, John offers his opinions on email marketing. And he describes a particular email strategy he has been using. He explains why email is a great marketing tool, and why starting early in your business is important. Email marketing should be a fundamental part of most small business marketing programs from the beginning. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University [...]
Advanced Degrees and Other Decisions on the Road to a Nonclinical Career – 283
Interview with Dr. Laura Kaufman Dr. Laura Kaufman shares her thoughts on advanced degrees and other decisions as she moved from traditional practice to consulting. She recently quit her full-time clinical position and launched her consulting business. And she enrolled at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to pursue a master's degree in patient safety and healthcare quality. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of [...]
You Must Address 3 Big Issues Before Leaving Your Clinical Job – 282
Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail In today's episode, John describes how to address 3 big issues when leaving your current employer for a nontraditional career. The whole process can be less disruptive and stressful by taking steps to address them proactively. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as the sponsor of this [...]
Why You Must Consider Starting a Medical Legal Consulting Business – 281
Interview with Dr. Armin Feldman In today's episode, Dr. Armin Feldman returns to update us on creating a medical legal consulting business, and new resources for learning how to do so. He first appeared as a guest on Episode 227, which was released a year ago. Dr. Feldmman attended the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for his psychiatric residency after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Medical [...]
Top 10 Ways to Encourage Your Guests to Leave After a Party – 280
When They Overstay Their Welcome In today's episode, John presents a humorous holiday edition with a list of the top 10 ways to encourage your guests to leave your home after a dinner party. Today we address a topic that we often face during the holidays: how to discreetly get your guests to leave at the end of a get-together. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of [...]
Inspiration from the Author of ‘How to Lose Weight for the Last Time' – 279
Interview with Dr. Katrina Ubell In today's episode, John invites Dr. Katrina Ubell back to discuss her business and new book How to Lose Weight for the Last Time: Brain-Based Solutions for Permanent Weight Loss. She began her journey from practicing pediatrician to master-certified life coach while taking a break from practice. She found that she quickly connected with medical professionals struggling to lose weight. Our Sponsor We're [...]
How to Go from Surviving to Thriving in a Remote Healthcare Job – 278
Interview with Dr. Frieda Wiley In today's episode, Dr. Frieda Wiley shares her secrets for thriving in a remote healthcare job. Frieda is a pharmacist who worked remotely for several years and is the author of Telecommuting Psychosis: From Surviving to Thriving While Working in Your Pajama Pants. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as [...]
Complete the Journey to Your First Fabulous MSL Job – 277
Pursuing an MSL Job - Part 2 In today's episode, listeners will complete the highlights from the training to land their first fabulous MSL job. This is Part 2 of the excerpt from John's course, How to Secure a Career as a Medical Science Liaison. He developed this course as one of the first courses for his Nonclinical Career Academy. The presentations will provide you with a solid [...]
How to Secure a Captivating Career as an MSL – 276
Pursuing an MSL Job - Part 1 In today's episode, John presents his roadmap for landing a captivating career as an MSL. This is Part 1 of a 2-part excerpt of his course How to Secure a Career as a Medical Science Liaison. John developed this course as one of the first courses for his Nonclinical Career Academy. Part 2 will be presented next week. Together, these 2 [...]
5 Interesting and Unique Nonclinical Careers to Learn About – 275
Check Out These Inspirational Stories In today's episode, John shares 5 unique careers to learn about that you may not have previously considered. This episode will be devoted to sharing with you the careers that were the most unusual and fascinating and why. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as the sponsor of this [...]
Why Physicians Should Not Underestimate the Value of Coaching – 274
Interview with Dr. Jen Barna In today's episode, Dr. Jen Barna returns to the podcast to explain the value of coaching. Jen Barna, MD is a board-certified radiologist and founder and CEO of DocWorking. Our Sponsor We're proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as the sponsor of this podcast. The UT PEMBA is the longest-running, and most [...]
How the Medical Matchmaker Provides a Solution to Burnout – 273
Interview with Dr. Lara Hochman This week, we discover that the Medical Matchmaker has a traditional solution for burnout: joining the right medical group. Dr. Lara Hochman is a Family Medicine physician. She graduated from the University of Texas School of Medicine and finished her family medicine residency at St. Anthony North Hospital in Oklahoma City. Solving the Burnout Problem Dr. Lara Hochman is the "Medical Matchmaker." She [...]
How to Use a Professional Organization on the Road to a New Career – 272
An Important Tactic to Speed Up Your Progress Today's episode is devoted to the selection and use of a professional organization while pursuing a nonclinical career. This is the third presentation in the series on the 12 Month Roadmap to a New Career. Episodes 269 and 271 addressed other steps in the process. Early in the process of career transition, it is important to identify and join a [...]
How to Network Effectively on the Road to a New Career – 271
How to Network Effectively on the Road to a New Career Today's episode describes how to network during Phase 2 of The 12 Month Roadmap to a New Career. A few years ago, I devised a 12-month plan of action that would lead to your first CMO job. The first month of this roadmap was introduced in Episode 269. […]
Podcast Blast From the Past: 8 Mistakes That Derail a Job Search – 270
And How to Avoid Them This week, we revisit the 8 mistakes that will derail a job search from Episode 180. You can find the show notes for the original episode HERE. […]
Month One of the 12 Month Roadmap to a New Career – 269
Here Is Where We Start Today we introduce the 12-Month Roadmap to a New Career. The 12-month timeframe is an arbitrary one. It is possible to complete the process in as little as 4 or 6 months. However, employment contracts sometimes require 6 months' notice. And you will need to craft a resumé and build a LinkedIn profile. As a result, 12 months is a comfortable timetable for [...]
Achieving Personal Success by Writing and Self-Publishing a Novel – 268
Interview with Dr. Debra Blaine In today's podcast, our guest describes her personal success in writing and self-publishing a novel. In 2019, Dr. Debra Blaine released the medical thriller, “Code Blue: The Other End of the Stethoscope.” Then, in late 2021, she released the political thriller “Undue Influences.” […]
Why You Should Embrace the Powerful Mastermind Principle – 267
A Proven Method for Success In today's podcast, John explains the power of the mastermind principle. He recounts the history of the discovery of the Mastermind Principle in 1939 attributed to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich. John first discussed masterminds in Episode 208 as a way to support and accelerate career transition. […]
Create a Life with Freedom of Time, Place and Means – 266
Interview with Dr. Cherisa Sandrow In today's podcast, Dr. Cherisa Sandrow explains how she created a life with freedom of time, place, and means (money). In Episode 222, Cherisa offered her expertise in telemedicine. Now, she has created a comprehensive program with didactic lessons, and group and individual coaching to teach doctors how to live lives of purpose using telemedicine as a tool. […]
Pursuing Leadership Roles with Health Plans and Self-Insured Employers – 265
Interview with Dr. Laura Clapper In today's podcast, Dr. Laura Clapper joins us to discuss jobs in leadership roles with health plans and self-insured organizations, and how to best prepare for those positions. Dr. Clapper is a seasoned C-suite executive with substantial experience developing value-based care, provider-health plan joint ventures, and digital health solutions. As a thought leader, she has concentrated on integrating analytics and cutting-edge technology into [...]
What Is the Best Way to Empower Physician Leaders? – 264
Interview with Dr. Peter Angood In today's interview, Dr. Peter Angood explains why the best way to empower physician leaders is to join the American Association for Physician Leadership. Peter has been the AAPL's President and CEO since 2011. […]
How to Unlock Your Creative Potential as a Physician – 263
Interview with Robin Landa In today's podcast, Robin Landa describes how to unlock your creative potential and find great ideas worth pursuing. Berrett-Koehler will release Robin's new book in November. It's called “The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential”. In it, Robin presents a novel technique for coming up with great ideas that matter. […]
How to Be the Best Expert Witness Consultant – 262
Interview with Dr. Gretchen Green In today's podcast, Dr. Gretchen Green returns to explain how to be the best expert witness consultant you can be. Gretchen has appeared on the podcast before, on Episode 163 in October 2020. She discussed why this is such an exciting side business, and how to get started. She also introduced the new Expert Witness Startup School that she had created. Dr. Green [...]
Medical Science Liaison Is Still a Fantastic Pharma Job – 261
Good Pay and Low Barrier to Entry in the Pharma and Medical Device Industries In today's podcast, John revisits the Medical Science Liaison, a fantastic pharma job, and a popular nonclinical career. An MSL serves as an educational and feedback link between a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device company AND healthcare professionals. This role is strictly educational and collaborative in nature. MSLs are not permitted to market or sell. [...]
Boost Well-Being and Align ’Soul to Role’ During Career Selection – 260
Interview with Dr. Joe Sherman In today's podcast, Dr. Joe Sherman describes how he helps physicians align ‘soul to role' during their career selection process. By avoiding burnout and broadening possibilities, Dr. Joe Sherman, a physician coach and retreat leader, helps other doctors discover greater joy in their lives. […]
How Creative Writing Restores Vitality and Prevents Burnout – 259
Interview with Dr. Claire Unis In today's podcast, Dr. Claire Unis describes how creative writing restores vitality. At Dartmouth College, Claire double-majored in creative writing and literature. She participated in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of San Francisco while attending medical school at UCSF. At USF she concentrated on memoir and narrative nonfiction writing. She finished both degrees at the same time. [...]
Why You Must Dare to Discover Your Purpose When You Retire – 258
Interview with George Jerjian In today's podcast, author and retirement coach George Jerjian explains why you must discover your purpose if you want to take full advantage of your so-called retirement. George Jerjian is an author, lecturer, and mindset mentor. He helps retiring baby boomers understand that they deserve to live lives filled with passion and purpose in their later years. His advice is to leave this world [...]
Why Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine Make for a Great Career – 257
Interview with Dr. Shelly Bhowmik In today's podcast, Dr. Shelly Bhowmik describes how her training in preventive medicine and lifestyle medicine enhances patient care. Dr. Bhowmik is the founder of Platform Wellness, a business devoted to assisting patients in recovering from burnout. She founded her business on the principle that “mindset is medicine,” which she discovered via her personal journey, which started at the edge of a subway [...]
How to Save Healthcare, Satisfy Patients, and Fix Physician Burnout – 256
Interview with Ron Barshop In today's podcast, Ron Barshop explains how to save healthcare, satisfy patients, and fix physician burnout. Ron Barshop is a serial entrepreneur with several ventures serving primary care physicians. His podcast Primary Care Cures presents thought leaders and CEOs of companies improving primary care and the majority of what's wrong with healthcare. And it has been featured on top healthcare podcast lists. [...]
Capitalize on Nonprofit Board Membership and Strengthen Your Resumé – 255
Effective Physician Leadership Series Learn how to capitalize on nonprofit board membership in today's podcast episode. During clinical training and medical practice, it is difficult to develop basic business skills. However, there are ways to get those experiences through volunteer activities. […]
How Nonprofit Board Membership Can Be the Key to Executive Experience – 254
Effective Physician Leadership Series In today's podcast, we learn how nonprofit board membership enables you to acquire management and leadership skills. If we wish to demonstrate our executive skills on our resumé and our LinkedIn profile and describe them during our interviews, we need to know what they are. […]
How to Overcome Adversity and Find Success in a Nontraditional Career – 253
Interview with Dr. Anjani Mahabashya In today's podcast, internist Dr. Anjani Mahabashya describes her efforts to overcome adversity following a disabling injury sustained early in her medical career. Anjali completed medical school in India. She immigrated to the U.S., completed several clinical rotations, and joined the McClaren Flint Internal Medicine Residency in Flint, Michigan. She completed her training in 2015. […]
Revisiting Why Utilization Management Physician Advisor Is a Great Hospital Job – 305
Interview with Dr. Robert Craven This week's episode is a replay of the second most popular episode since the podcast was launched discussing a great hospital job: utilization management physician advisor. It was first posted in January of 2022 and featured Dr. Robert Craven. Dr. Craven went to medical school at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, in Memphis, Tennessee. Then he completed his internship and residency [...]
How to Kill the Myths About Alternative Jobs for Clinicians – 252
Back to Basics In today's podcast, John dispels the myths about alternative jobs for clinicians. When you're burned out and thinking about leaving clinical practice, you may feel overwhelmed. And you may buy into certain myths that can stop you before you even get started. […]
Revisiting How to Prepare For a Great Job at a Medical Device Company – 304
Interview with Dr. Paul Hercock This episode is a replay from early 2022 that explains how to prepare for a great job at a medical device company. This is by far the most listened-to PNC Podcast episode released to date. Dr. Paul Hercock is an expert at landing a medical device company job, particularly in the European Union. He even wrote a book about it called “Beyond The Ward: A [...]
4 Things the CMO Should Never Say to the CEO – 251
Effective Physician Leadership Notes In today's podcast episode, I present my take on things the CMO should never say to the CEO. These admonitions apply to anybody in management, not just the CMO. For reference purposes, the term “senior management team” refers to the CEO and all the CEO's direct reports. This includes the CNO, the senior VP for HR, the CFO, the COO, and other senior-level positions. [...]
Find the Fulfillment of a Freelance Remote Yoga and Meditation Teacher – 250
Interview with Dr. Rachel Beanland In today's podcast, Dr. Rachel Beanland describes her transition from working for the NHS to becoming a freelance Yoga and Meditation Instructor. Dr. Rachel Beanland completed her basic medical degree in the United Kingdom at the University of Bristol. A few years later, she completed additional Public Health training at the University of Sheffield. […]
How to Use Consulting and Advising to Find Freedom – 249
Interview with Dr. Carl Peters In today's episode, Dr. Carl Peters describes his transition from traditional practice to telemedicine, consulting and advising. Dr. Carl Peters graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School. Then he completed his Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of California, Davis. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and Urgent Care Medicine. […]
Are Career Ambitions Beyond Conventional Practice Within Reach? – 248
Interview with Dr. Abeyna Bubbers-Jones In today's podcast, Dr. Abeyna Bubbers-Jones explains how she helps physicians (or medics) follow their career ambitions in new ways. In 2014, Dr. Abeyna Bubbers-Jones was an NHS Urology Specialist Trainee working in Blackburn (in northern England). Having graduated from medicine at the age of 22 at Nottingham, she worked for several years as a surgical trainee in the NHS. But she was [...]
How Do I Prepare for the Use of Psychedelics in Clinical Medicine? – 247
Interview with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski In today's podcast, Dr. Lynn Marie Morski describes the current use of psychedelics in clinical medicine. Lynn Marie is a Mayo Clinic-trained physician, attorney, and former adjunct law professor. Dr. Morski spent nine years as a physician at the Veterans Administration. […]
How You Can Forge a Wonderful Life After Medicine – 246
Interview with Dr. Chelsea Turgeon In today's podcast, Dr. Chelsea Turgeon explains how to face burnout head-on and create a life after medicine. Dr. Chelsea Turgeon completed her medical education at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. During year two of her OB/GYN residency, she realized clinical medicine was not a sustainable career choice. […]
Doctors Should Explore One of These 4 Unique Nonclinical Careers – 245
My Latest Discoveries In today's podcast, we review 4 unique nonclinical careers. Each is open to just about any physician with some clinical experience. And there is a specific training program available for each. That training will teach you how to prepare for and land your first job in the field. […]
You Wrote a Brilliant Book Now Record an Awesome Audiobook – 244
Interview with Dr. Andrew Wilner Dr. Andrew Wilner recently recorded an awesome audiobook. It is the narration of his book, “The Locum Life: A Physician's Guide to Locum Tenens.” Andrew is an old friend to the podcast. I've interviewed him for three episodes prior to this one. We discussed his book, his experience as a medical writer, and his expertise with locum tenens jobs. But when I discovered [...]
Why You Must Put Yourself First to Avoid “Healthcare Disease” – 243
Interview with Dr. Simon Maltais This week's guest explains why you must put yourself first in order to overcome burnout and “Healthcare Disease.” He is a successful academic cardiac surgeon who fell victim to both of those conditions. However, he overcame them and wrote a book to assist others to do the same. Dr. Simon Maltais recently released “Healthcare Anonymous: Put Yourself First to Avoid Anxiety, Addiction and [...]
Highlight These 5 Experiences to Land Your First Pharma Job – 242
Interview with Dr. Laura McKain This week our guest returns to highlight these 5 experiences you can use to land your first pharma job. She is the founder of the Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters Facebook group which has now over 19,000 physicians. And she last joined us in Episode 214 of the PNC Podcast. Dr. Laura McKain is a board-certified physician with more than 10 years of pharmaceutical [...]
Federal Career Coach Shows Us How to Find a Government Job – 241
Interview with Kathryn Troutman Today's guest describes how to find a government job. Kathryn Troutman, also known as the Federal Resumé Guru, is the founder and president of Resume Place, Inc., a service business located in Baltimore, MD. It specializes in writing and designing professional federal and private-sector resumes, as well as coaching and education in the federal hiring process. […]
Why Part Time Remote Medical Director Is a Great Job – 240
Interview with Drs. Lev Grinman and Daniel Cousin Today's podcast guests are two physician entrepreneurs who enable doctors to earn income working as a remote medical director. Dr. Lev Grinman and Dr. Daniel Cousin co-founded Doctors for Providers. Their company matches collaborating physicians with nurse practitioners and physician assistants. […]
How Physicians Can Use Online Courses to Boost Income – 239
Interview with Dr. Chester Zoda Dr. Chester Zoda teaches other physicians to use online courses to create passive income. He is a young physician entrepreneur from Hong Kong and a former emergency room physician who created his own online business. And now he teaches his methods to other healthcare professionals. He owns an education company called Digital Doctor where they're helping doctors build passive income with online courses. [...]
Do You Want to Live Life and Practice Medicine on Your Own Terms? – 237
Interview with Dr. Nneka Unachukwu This week Dr. Una returns to teach you how to practice medicine on your own terms. She will also be announcing the release of her new book. Dr. Nneka Unachukwu is a pediatrician and founder of EntreMD. She received her medical degree from the University of Nigeria College of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Una [...]
Is Everlasting Love and Success in Marriage Possible? – 236
Interview with Dr. Jeep and Vanessa Naum In this interview, Dr. George (“Jeep”) and Vanessa Naum explain how to achieve success in marriage. Best Friends Again is a Physician Marriage Coaching company. Their specialty is in helping physicians and healthcare professionals reignite their marriage. […]
How to Go from Population Health Strategy to Chief Health Equity Officer – 235
Interview with Dr. Nwando Anyaoku In today's inspirational interview, Dr. Nwando Anyaoku teaches what health equity is, and how to pursue a career as a chief health equity officer. Dr. Nwando Anyaoku is Vice President and the inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer for a large health system in the Seattle area. She has been there since 2016 leading the pediatrics and Medicaid strategy. More recently, she served as [...]
Achieve Beautiful Balance as Medical Director and Concierge Physician – 234
Interview with Dr. Nkeiruka Duze Dr. Nkeiruka Duze achieved balance in her professional life by balancing her roles as medical director and concierge physician. Dr. Nkeiruka Duze earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. She is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician practicing exclusively in the outpatient setting. […]
How to Survive and Thrive on the High Pressure Healthcare Battlefield – 233
Interview with Dr. Jen Barna Dr. Jen Barna has created a place where frustrated and burned-out physicians can learn to survive and thrive. Dr. Barna earned her medical degree and completed her Diagnostic Radiology residency at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine. She also holds a master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a board-certified practicing radiologist and founder [...]
How to Land An Awesome Job Using LinkedIn – 232
Interview with Dr. Heather Fork Dr. Heather Fork makes her third appearance on the Podcast in today’s interview with an important message about using LinkedIn. Heather is an ICF master certified coach. She helps physicians find their best career path forward, whether in medicine, a nonclinical career, or something else. […]
How to Become a Marvelous Medical Mystery Author – 231
Interview with Dr. Debra Blaine Dr. Debra Blain is a marvelous medical mystery author. She was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island, New York. Debra attended Baylor College of Medicine. She returned to New York for post-graduate training. For over thirty years, she has practiced Family and Urgent Care Medicine on Long Island and Queens. […]
How to Use Real Estate Investing to Go from Burnout to Financial Freedom – 229
Interview with Dr. Ronnie Shalev Dr. Ronnie Shalev explains how to use real estate investing to find financial freedom in this week's interview. Dr. Shalev obtained her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Then she completed her Emergency Medicine Residency at Drexel University College of Medicine. […]
How the Healing Power of Poetry Saved My Life – 228
Interview with Dr. Barbara Loeb Dr. Barbara Loeb shares the healing power of poetry in this interview. She is an author, speaker, mentor, facilitator, and physician leader. And she is committed to promoting well-being, especially for people working within healthcare. She believes that individuals devoted to caring for others often fail to take care of themselves. Her work is now focused on inspiring caregivers to do just that. [...]
How to Do a New Kind of Medical Legal Consulting as a Part Time Gig – 227
Interview with Dr. Armin Feldman In this interview, Dr. Armin Feldman explains how to use a new kind of medical legal consulting as a lucrative side gig. Dr. Armin Feldman is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He completed his training in psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. […]
Get No-Nonsense Medical Information at the Awesome BS Free MD Podcast
Interview with Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh This week, Drs. Tim and May Hindmarsh describe the genesis of BS Free MD Podcast. They also share some of the challenges they have faced together as a two-physician couple. This is the second time we’ve presented an interview with two guests. In both cases, it was a physician “power-couple.” Besides producing a podcast, today's guests have both worked primarily in [...]
How to Use GuideStar to Improve Your Nonclinical Career Prep
A Valuable Free Tool Learn how to use Guidestar to better prepare for a nonclinical job search. Guidestar reports the data submitted to the IRS for all nonprofit corporations in the U.S. […]
Why CDI Medical Director Is a Great Nonclinical Job – 224
And How to Pursue It Today we discuss CDI Medical Director. It's a popular hospital-based job that can be a stepping stone to the C-suite. CDI was originally the acronym for clinical documentation improvement. More commonly today, it refers to clinical documentation integrity. […]
8 Great Tips to Help You Prepare for Your First Job Interview – 223
Attitude, Preparation, and Expectations Are Key On today’s show, I provide 8 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your First Job Interview. This is a critical part of your nontraditional job search. You’ve narrowed your choice to a single job. You’ve convinced someone that you’re qualified. And now you’re scheduled for your interview. […]
How Do I Generate Awesome Income with Telemedicine Services? – 222
Interview with Dr. Cherisa Sandrow On today’s show, we're taking another look at telemedicine services with Dr. Cherisa Sandrow. She is a board-certified family physician who completed her medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She worked for nine years practicing family medicine, with an emphasis on obstetrics. After practicing medicine as an employee, Dr. Sandrow pivoted out of her busy office-based practice and developed [...]
Outstanding Professional Societies and Associations You Must Know – 221
Another Piece of the Career Success Puzzle Today’s topic is one I’ve been dying to talk about. It has to do with professional societies and associations. They have an important role to play in physician career transition. Today I will introduce you to important professional societies and associations. I will visit each society’s site and provide you with specific information on each one. […]
Three Top Tips from a Physician Career Strategist – 220
Interview with Dr. Andrew Tisser Dr. Andrew Tisser is an emergency medicine physician and physician career strategist. He also hosts the Talk2MeDoc Podcast. The podcast and Dr. Tisser's work as a career strategist focus on the unique issues of the early career physician. He works with his clients to accelerate their goals to completion! […]
Are You Ready to Become a Certified Physician Executive? – 219
Factors to Consider Today I will present factors affecting your decision to become a Certified Physician Executive. To set this up, I wish to mention an article on KevinMD by Patty Fahy, MD that talks about the Business School Mindset, or BSM. […]
6 Important Assignments of a Hospital CMO – 218
Typical Projects for the Hospital Executive Today I will describe my experiences with the assignments of a hospital CMO. These are based on my 14 years as a senior hospital executive. There was a lot to like about that job, with lots of fond memories. More than I can cover in one podcast episode. But today, I’ll focus on some of the specific projects I worked on and [...]
What Is the Newest Way to Earn Extra Income While Seeing Patients? – 217
Interview with Dr. Chase DiMarco In today's interview, Dr. Chase DiMarco explains how physicians can earn extra income teaching medical students. Chase describes how difficult it can be for medical students to find clinical rotations. Unfortunately, the process of securing rotations can also be very expensive. […]
More On How to Hire a Suitable Physician Career Coach – 216
Part Two – Selecting Your Consultant or Coach This is Part 2 of my discussion about how to hire a suitable physician career coach. Here is a link to Part 1, in case you have not listened yet. I receive frequent questions about this topic from listeners. Their questions generally involve one or more of these themes: Should I use a coach? Where do I find a coach? [...]
How Do I Hire a Suitable Physician Career Coach or Consultant? – 215
Part 1 – Coaches Featured on the PNC Podcast Podcast listeners ofter ask about engaging a physician career coach. They have heard that coaching can substantially improve the chances of finding a nonclinical career. Today's episode is Part 1 of my discussion of physician career coaches and how to hire one. […]
How Does a Physician Land a Pharma Clinical Development Job? – 214
Interview with Dr. Laura McKain Today on the podcast you will learn how to pursue a clinical development job. Our guest, Dr. Laura McKain, is a board-certified physician with more than ten years of pharmaceutical industry experience. […]
Get Ready for What Will Happen When You Quit Your Miserable Job – 213
Follow These Steps to Prepare Yourself Get ready for the financial, legal, and psychosocial consequences of giving notice to your employer or partners. What can you expect, and how should you prepare, when leaving your current position? […]
How Does Mind Remapping Help with Nonclinical Career Transition? – 212
Interview with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne Dr. Maiysha Clairborne returns to the podcast to discuss mind remapping. Maiysha is an amazing coach. She has worked with hundreds of physicians to improve their careers and their lives. And she has a new program to share with you. As a quick reminder, Maiysha is a Board Certified Family Physician, Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Master NLP and Hypnotherapist Trainer, Successful Entrepreneur and Author [...]
PNC Podcast Blast from the Past – No Residency Is No Problem – 211
Options for Those Without Postgraduate Medical Training Today we revisit six jobs in which no residency is no problem. With the right experience and preparation, physicians have successfully landed all of these jobs. And for many, residency and not board certification are not required. This discussion was first presented in June of 2019. It was in response to one of the most common questions in the Physician Nonclinical [...]
Want to Establish a Concierge Practice Before Finishing Your Fellowship? – 210
Interview with Dr. Brook Choulet Is it possible to establish a concierge practice while still in training? Dr. Brook Choulet is still in her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship and runs a growing practice in Scottsdale Arizona. Brook is the founder of Choulet Wellness. She completed her medical degree at the University of Missouri Kansas City’s rigorous six-year BA/MD program. Then she pursued training in General Psychiatry at [...]
Use These Simple Tactics to Land a Fantastic First Pharma Job – 209
Interview with Dr. Marsha Caton Our guest today shares tested strategies to enable physicians to find their first pharma job. Dr. Marsha Caton obtained her M.S. in Biology and Ph.D. in Human and Molecular Genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years. She is an expert in managing NDA submission teams and delivery of regulatory documents for drug [...]
How Do I Choose the Best Coaches Mentors and Masterminds for Me? – 208
Essential Tools for Career Transition In today's episode, I describe how coaches mentors and masterminds can support your career transition. My first mentor was an internist I met through my volunteer work in continuing medical education at my hospital and state medical society. He encouraged me to pursue a career in hospital management. […]
PNC Podcast Blast from the Past Medical Communications Revisited – 207
Interview with Dr. Dana Carpenter It is time to present a Blast from the Past Medical Communications Revisited. As I mentioned last week, I decided to bring back some of the classic episodes during this summer of 2021. Many are my most popular episodes. And they are as inspiring and informative today as they were when I first posted them (in my humble opinion). Today I am revisiting [...]
PNC Podcast Blast from the Past: Clinical Documentation Improvement – 206
Interview with Dr. Cesar Limjoco Nonclinical Nation, it has been a long time since we have heard about clinical documentation improvement as a nonclinical career. And I thought it was time to revisit this topic. With over 200 episodes under our belt, the PNC Podcast has covered a lot of territory. And it can be very easy for new listeners to miss the classic interviews on important nonclinical [...]
How Revenue Cycle AI Can Save Small Group Practices – 205
Interview with Dr. Fisayo Ositelu In this week's interview, Dr. Fisayo Ositelu explains how technology, including artificial intelligence (A.I.), can help save small group practices. Dr. Ositelu completed an MD and MBA, graduating from Stanford University with both degrees in 2013. Rather than attend a clinical residency, he chose to leverage his education by working in Silicon Valley. Using his medical and business training, he helped his first [...]
How to Be a Leader and Humanitarian Improving Maternal-Fetal Health – 204
Interview with Dr. Luissa Kiprono Dr. Luissa Kiprono is a perinatologist, leader and humanitarian. She is the Corporate Medical Director and Consultant in Maternal & Fetal Medicine at the Texas Perinatal Group (part of Mednax). She attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Then she completed her residency at Wright State University/Wright Patterson Medical Center (OB-GYN) and perinatology fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center [...]
Why This Critical Care Specialist Launched a Healthcare Technology Company – 203
Interview with Dr. Jonathan Baktari Today's guest is a fascinating healthcare technology company CEO. Dr. Jonathan Baktari received his medical degree at Ohio State. He then completed his internal medicine residency at Northwestern University and Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship at UCLA. He was at the peak of his medical career when he saw a new opportunity. […]
Why Locum Tenens Is the Best Way to Practice on Your Own Terms – 202
Interview with Dr. Stephanie Freeman Today, my guest explains why locum tenens is the best way to practice on your own terms. This is especially true when starting your career following residency or fellowship. Dr. Stephanie E. Freeman is a board-certified critical care specialist, best-selling author, speaker, and consultant. In addition, she is the expert in helping doctors discover alternative careers in medicine. […]
Why Being Health System Chief Value Officer is More Fun Than Being CMO – 201
Interview with Dr. Leelee Thames This week, Dr. Leelee Thames, the Chief Value Officer at Novant Health, is our guest. She is the third University of Tennessee physician executive MBA graduate to join us. During our interview, she will explain why she loves her job. Leelee completed her medical degree at Texas A& M College of Medicine and her anesthesiology residency at the University of Oregon Health and [...]
Discover Your First Nonclinical Job Even If You Don't Know Where to Start – 200
Here Is the “Readers Digest” Version In honor of my 200th episode, I want to tell you how to discover your first nonclinical job. But first, I will play a recent audio review from one of my listeners. Then the rest of oday's episode is an abbreviated version of the webinar I presented last week. […]
How Did This Clever Physician Build an Indispensable SmartPhone App? – 199
Interview with Dr. Kirsten Limmer In today's interview, Dr. Kirsten Limmer describes how she built an indispensable smartphone app. Kirsten addresses one of my favorite topics: building a business using an online platform. In this case, it's a smartphone app that supports her real estate business and meets the needs of other real estate investors. […]
How a Great Physician Executive Combines QI Expertise with Strategic and Operational Skills – 198
Interview with Dr. Rachel George In today’s interview, we'll hear from another great physician executive who graduated from the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA program. Dr. Rachel George explains how she was able to apply her expertise in quality improvement, and strategic and operational skills as a physician leader. Dr. Rachel George obtained her medical degree from J. J. M. Medical College in Davangere, India. And she [...]
Top Reasons Why Coaching Is So Essential for Healthcare Leaders – 197
Interview with Dr. Randall (Randy) Cook Dr. Randall (Randy) Cook explains to us why coaching is so essential for health care leaders. His father was a coach. He has been coached. And now he is coaching others. Randy is a respected clinician, educator, and organizational leader. He holds board certifications from the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is certified by the [...]
The Best Healthcare Leaders Never Give Up and Never Stop Learning – 196
Interview with Dr. Harvey Castro This week, I present my interview with Dr. Harvey Castro in which we discuss the attributes of the best healthcare leaders. Harvey is an emergency room physician and leader. He thrives on motivating teams by providing the most technologically advanced healthcare services to communities throughout the state of Texas. He believes in building sincere trust with patients, doctors, staff, and community leaders. And [...]
What Are the Best Resources for Finding a Nonclinical Career? – 195
Getting Back to Basics This week on the podcast, I decided to revisit the best resources for finding a nonclinical career. I was recently reminded that not everyone listening to this podcast has been with us since the beginning. It is very easy for me to go deep into a very specific topic with a guest. Occasionally, it is helpful to revisit a basic question such as “How [...]
How Persuasive Branding and Marketing Can Save Private Practice – 194
Interview with Omar Khateeb In today’s interview, I interview Omar Khateeb, the Head of Growth at Gentem, about how to save private practice using persuasive branding and marketing. Omar is a former medical school student who left to become a sales, marketing, and branding expert. He is the Head of Growth at Gentem. Gentem is a Billing and Revenue Cycle Management company that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to [...]
How to Build a Thriving Real Estate Passion Project Without Being a Landlord – 193
Interview with Dr. Peter Kim I’ve brought a great guest back to the podcast. Dr. Peter Kim will teach us a bit about how to build a thriving real estate passion project on today’s show. Many of you should be familiar with Dr. Peter Kim. He offers the Leverage & Growth Virtual Summit, the Passive Income MD blog, and his Passive Real Estate Academy. He first joined us [...]
To Pursue Freedom Tomorrow You Must Imagine Your Eulogy Today – 192
Interview with Dr. Francis Yoo In today’s interview, Dr. Francis Yoo explains why we must imagine our eulogy in order to pursue freedom and meaning in our lives. Francis is a born-and-raised New Yorker. He runs a part-time cash-pay, holistic-integrative private practice. And he helps physicians awaken to their potential, do soul-searching, inner work, and profound personal development. His goal is to help them find authentic meaning in [...]
Which Advanced Degree Will Be Right for a Nonclinical Career? – 191
John Responds to a Listener's Question This week, I spend a few minutes discussing which advanced degree to pursue. This issue was triggered by a listener’s question. And it truly made me think more deeply about the issue. I start by listing the general principles to consider when deciding on which advanced degree to pursue if any. There is no randomized controlled study to apply to the decision. [...]
How to Apply Positive Psychology to Save Your Career – 190
Interview with Dr. Sanj Katyal In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Sanj Katyal describes how he can help you apply positive psychology and save your career. Dr. Sanj Katyal completed his Medical Degree at the New York University School of Medicine, and his residency in Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Sanj also holds certifications in Positive Psychology and Positive Psychology Coaching from the Whole Being [...]
How to Go from Retirement to Ardent CMO and Medical Expert – 189
Interview with Dr. Dan Field In this week's interview, Dr. Dan Field explains how he went from retirement to ardent CMO. Dr. Dan Field is the chief medical officer for MDstaffers, recently ranked the 49th fastest-growing company in the United States. There, he oversees all clinical staff operations and quality assurance. He also oversees the Medical Expert staffing component. […]
How to Find a Top Remote Nonclinical Career – 188
Interview with Dr. Jonathan Vitale In this week’s interview, Dr. Jonathan Vitale explains how he found his remote nonclinical career. Dr. Vitale is a board-certified Family Physician, certified counselor, and Physician Transition Coach. He pivoted from a traditional clinical career to a full-time remote nonclinical career in Utilization Management. […]
How to Create Uncommon Success In Business and In Life – 187
Interview with John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneurs on Fire Podcast In this week’s episode, John Lee Dumas, of Entrepreneurs on Fire, explains what it takes to create uncommon success. JLD is the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire. With over 1 million monthly listens and 7-figures of annual revenue, he is spreading Entrepreneurial FIRE on a global scale. […]
How to Help Committed Colleagues Heal the World – 186
Interview with Dr. Dianne Ansari-Winn Dr. Dianne Ansari-Winn explains in this week's interview why she left clinical medicine and why she wants to help committed colleagues heal the world. Dianne is an Anesthesiologist. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. Then she completed a Master’s Degree in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public [...]
Can Lifestyle Medicine Help Me and My Patients? – 185
Interview with Dr. Heather Hammerstedt This week the inimitable Dr. Heather Hammerstedt teaches us about Lifestyle Medicine and how she made her pivot from full-time emergency medicine physician to coach and online business owner. Dr. Heather Hammerstedt is board certified in emergency medicine and lifestyle medicine. She received her medical degree from Temple University and a master’s in public health at Harvard University. Subsequently, she completed her training [...]
How to Find a Job in Pharma That You Love – 184
Interview with Dr. Mario Mendoza This week Dr. Mario Mendoza helps you find a job in pharma or the medical device industry. Mario is an anesthesiologist, chemist, biotech medical affairs consultant, and biotech careers coach. He shares what he has learned from 13-plus years of experience in patient care, drug/device clinical development and medical affairs, and FDA regulation of medical devices. […]
How Can I Boost My Resilience? – 183
Interview with Pennie Sempell, JD Pennie Sempell has spent much of her adult life answering this question: How do I boost my resilience? In today’s interview, she explains what she and her colleagues have produced to answer that question. Pennie Sempell completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her law degree at the University of California. […]
This Is How to Publish Your First Book – 182
Interview with Dr. Mandy Armitage This week Dr. Mandy Armitage explains how to publish your first book. You might recall that she was interviewed in Episode #22 about medical writing. She returns now to promote her new book and teach you how to self-publish your first book. […]
What Is the Best Way to Leverage Telemedicine? – 181
Interview with Sam Lippolis Sam Lippolis teaches physicians and organizations how to leverage telemedicine. She has been implementing telehealth programs full time for 11 years. She teaches her clients how to plan, implement and grow telehealth services. […]
8 Common Mistakes That Will Derail a Job Search – 180
And How to Avoid Them I recently joined Michelle Mudge Riley on her free webinar to talk about mistakes that will derail a job search. We listed the major ones that we have witnessed. And we took questions from the audience. I have narrowed down my list to EIGHT big mistakes that will derail a job search. I’ll go through each one, and provide examples where I can. [...]
Add Discipline to Creativity to Be a Successful Medical Writer – 179
A Popular Nonclinical Career Option Today I present my thoughts on how to become a successful medical writer. I am presenting an excerpt from my course on the Nonclinical Career Academy called Introduction to Careers as a Medical Writer. It should answer some of the questions you have about this popular career. […]
Do You Want to Be a Medical Voice Over Professional? – 178
Interview with Michael P. Cyll Michael Cyll is a cardiac sonographer working in the Phoenix area for over 30 years who retired and began doing work as a medical voice over professional. As Mike Cyll approached retirement from his clinical career, he developed an interest in narration and voice over work. He now specializes in performing narration in the science, technical and medical fields. […]
Learn to Be an IME and Improve Your Life – 177
Interview with Dr. Emily Woolcock Today we provide an inspiring story and learn how to be an IME (Independent Medical Examiner) from an expert orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Emily Woolcock is an internationally recognized speaker, best-selling author, mentor, and consultant. She is among the country’s most well-known orthopedic surgeons. […]
How to Run Your Business and Master Your Finances – 176
Interview with Dr. Brent Lacey For today’s interview, we discuss money issues, coaching, podcasting, and how to master your finances. I have the pleasure of speaking with a fellow podcaster, and one of our Mentors on the Clinicians Career Cooperative, Dr. Brent Lacey. […]
5 Steps I Took to Be a Hospital Executive – 175
Follow These Steps Intentionally to Become CMO In this week's show, I explain the 5 steps I took to go from family physician to hospital Chief Medical Officer. I start by explaining why I believe hospital leadership is an excellent career. Then I set the stage for the rest of the discussion. […]
Who Can Help When Private Practice Matters? – 174
Interview with Dr. Phil Boucher Today’s guest is the guy you call when you're dealing with challenging private practice matters. Dr. Phil Boucher is a husband, a father of five, and a pediatrician in private practice in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is very prolific, treating patients, educating parents, and helping his colleagues enjoy their clinical work. […]
What Is the Latest Telemedicine-Supported Specialty? – 173
Interview with Dr. Christopher Leonard and John Sory The latest telemedicine-supported specialty, wound care, is becoming more popular. Today we hear from two leaders from a company that helped integrate telemedicine with this growing medical field. Vohra Wound Physicians is the largest physician wound management group in the US, delivering over a million patient encounters per year. […]
Can Meditation Offer Help for Burned-Out Physicians? – 172
Interview with Dr. Jill Wener Today’s guest found a new passion and learned how to offer help for burned-out physicians, as a result. Jill obtained her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. Then she completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Washington Medical Center, in Seattle. […]
The Best New Business Solves a Problem – 171
Interview with Dr. Jessica Lubahn Our guest, Dr. Jessica Lubahn found that the best new business solves a problem. In her case, it's a problem experienced by her own patients. Jessica is a urologist, health writer, and consultant. She is also the founder of ONDRwear. It's her new apparel company that sells luxe leakproof underwear. She created this company to destigmatize urinary, menstrual, and other leakage problems. To do so, [...]
How to Validate Your Business Idea
The Problem In this post, I want to explain why it is important to validate your business idea. You may recall that in my previous blog post in this series, I described the factors needed to select a product or service to offer future customers: It's an area that you’re passionate about (or reflects your purpose), You have expertise or skills to share, There are customers with a problem to [...]
What Is the Latest Way to Connect Doctors with Interesting Jobs? – 170
Interview with Dr. Greg Hanson Dr. Greg Hanson decided to start a business and created the latest way to connect doctors with interesting jobs. Greg is a PGY-3 interventional radiology resident in Philadelphia. He graduated from UCLA with his BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences before moving to New York City. While in New York, Greg obtained his Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology with an advanced certificate in [...]
How to Prepare for a Job in the Medical Device Industry – 169
Interview with Dr. Paul Hercock In today’s interview, we build on the discussion in Episode 168 by speaking with Dr. Paul Hercock from the United Kingdom about the Medical Device Industry. Dr. Hercock is an Emergency Medicine physician who started out working for the National Health Service. […]
How to Claim Your First Job in Industry – 168
Interview with Dr. Nerissa Kreher In this week's interview, we take our first deep dive into how to land your first job in Industry. Dr. Nerissa Kreher is a pediatric endocrinologist and the Chief Medical Officer of a biotech company. Today she helps us understand what the term “Industry” means in the context of nonclinical physician careers. […]
How to Make Medical Connections and Nurture a Business – 166
Interview with Jordan Roberts, PA-C In today's interview, Jordan Roberts, PA-C, describes how his passion for medical writing led him to build and nurture a business that helps clinicians generate extra income and advance their careers. Jordan G. Roberts, PA-C is a medical writer and neuroscience physician assistant. He is the owner of Modern MedEd, a company that creates and markets continuing medical education for premier CME providers across the [...]
How to Boost Your Income With Short Term Rentals – 167
Bonus Episode with Dr. David Draghinas In today's interview, I offer a replay of my interview with Dr. David Draghinas addressing short term rentals as a possible side business. As I hoped he would, Dave has now created his own course to help physicians replicate what he has done, i.e. find, manage, and generate income through short term rentals. And I’m really happy to be able to offer access to [...]
What Is It Like to Be CMO for a MAC? – 165
Interview with Dr. Meredith Loveless In today's interview, we learn how to prepare for a job as the CMO for a MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractor). Dr, Meredith Loveless practiced obstetrics and gynecology with a subspecialty in pediatric and adolescent gynecology for 14 years. She started at Johns Hopkins, then moved to the U. of Louisville and Norton Healthcare. […]
How to Invest Wisely and Support Your Career Pivot – 164
Interview with Dr. David Yeh In this week's podcast episode, Dr. David Yeh describes how to invest wisely when preparing for a career pivot. David is a practicing physician, speaker, author, investment advisor, and founder of The Wealthy Doctor Institute. He is also a Registered Investment Advisor. […]
Top Reasons to Become an Expert Witness Now – 163
Interview with Dr. Gretchen Green In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Gretchen Green explains how she became an expert witness, and how she opened her expert witness consulting business. Gretchen describes how her expert witness business allowed her to cut back on clinical work, find more freedom, spend more time with her family, and make more money. […]
How to Best Apply Your Genius In a New Career – 162
Interview with Performance Strategist Laura Garnett In this week’s episode, you will learn how to apply your genius during this interview with performance strategist, speaker, and author Laura Garnett. Laura works with CEOs and executives to identify their unique genius and purpose, and leverage them in their day-to-day work. […]
3 Big Communication Mistakes That Will Derail Your Career – 161
Advice from a Senior Hospital Executive In this week's podcast episode, John describes three communication mistakes that will easily derail your career in many large organizations, if you do not stop making them. Communication has ALWAYS been a big deal. And with social media, email, and texting, we have so many more ways to screw it up than ever. The higher you progress in an organization, the more important communication [...]
What Is It Like to Be a Medical Editor? – 160
Interview with Dr. Jennifer Spector In this week's Podcast episode, Dr. Jennifer Spector describes how she became a medical editor for a popular online medical journal. She is is a Board-Certified Podiatric Physician and Surgeon with 14 years of clinical experience. She also spent over 5 years in national leadership positions at the American Association for Women Podiatrists. She’s had a long-term interest in education, writing, and consulting. She is [...]
How to Find Nonclinical Opportunities in Retirement – 159
Interview with Dr. Robert Adams In this week's PNC Podcast episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Robert Adams as he provides highlights from his long military and clinical careers and offers advice for finding nonclinical opportunities in retirement. Bob Adams may be the most accomplished guest I’ve ever met. Coming from a military family, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy. Then, he continued his naval career and after [...]
How to Be a Life Coach and Professional Artist – 158
Interview with Dr. Jessie Benson In this week's PNC Podcast episode, Dr. Jessie Benson describes how she became a coach, musician, and professional artist after practicing anesthesiology for 10 years. Jessie received her medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She then completed an anesthesia residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a critical care fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. […]
Your Resume is the Passport to That Desirable Job – 157
Interview with Dr. Heather Fork In this week's PNC Podcast episode, Dr. Heather Fork describes why your resume is so important and how to optimize it. Heather completed her medical degree at the University of Texas and her residency in dermatology at the University of Miami – Jackson Memorial Program. And she is a Master Certified Coach through the Coaches Training Institute. […]
How to Nurture a Career in Cutting-Edge Healthcare Technology – 156
Interview with Dr. Samantha Nazareth In this week's PNC Podcast episode, Dr. Samantha Nazareth describes how to find a medical advisor/director position with a healthcare technology company. Dr. Nazareth is a gastroenterologist and Chief Medical Officer of a data privacy company. She is an advisor to multiple startups and venture capital funds locally and internationally. Since January 2019, she has been a member of the medical advisory board for Women's [...]
How to Shine as a Technical Medical Writer – 155
Interview with Dr. Kaci Durbin In this week's PNC Podcast episode, Dr. Kaci Durbin describes her journey from obstetrical hospitalist to technical medical writer. Kaci received her medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Louisville Hospital. She later completed an MBA while in practice, at Southern Illinois University. […]
Why Should I Invest in a Passive Private Real Estate Deal? – 154
Interview with Dr. Peter Kim In this week's PNC Podcast episode, we learn why private real estate deals are a great way to diversify income. And investing in real estate makes a very nice part-time side hustle. Earlier this year, I was a participant in the Leverage & Growth Virtual Summit, organized by Dr. Peter Kim from Passive Income MD. It was a unique experience with about 50 experts providing [...]
9 Excellent Books That Will Help Launch Your New Career – 153
Getting Back to Basics In this episode of the PNC podcast, John describes nine excellent books that will help educate you as you begin your career journey. The first two books will get you in the right frame of mind. And they provide tools to help you to overcome the self-limiting beliefs that might hold you back. Then John presents four books written to assist you in your selection of a [...]
What is the Expert Surgeon and Inspirational Podcaster Up to Now? – 152
Interview with Dr. Nii Darko In this episode of the PNC podcast, inspirational podcaster Dr. Nii Darko shares his story and his advice about following your dreams. Nii Darko received his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, and an M.B.A. in Health Care Leadership from Rockhurst University. He completed his General Surgery residency at Morehouse School of Medicine and a Trauma/Critical Care fellowship at the [...]
How to Overcome the Top Mindset Traps – 151
Interview with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne In this episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne describes the most common mindset traps and how to overcome them. Maiysha is a Board Certified Family Physician, Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Master NLP, and Hypnotherapist Trainer, Successful Entrepreneur, and author of The Wellness Blueprint and Eat Your Disease Away. She is a former guest on the PNC Podcast and a business coach. […]
How to Go From Burnout to BadAss – 150
Interview with Dr. Errin Weisman In this episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Errin Weisman describes how she went “from Burnout to Badass.” And she explains how she now mixes her entrepreneurial interests with serving her podcast listeners and taking care of patients. Errin is a life coach, podcaster, and all-around badass doctor mom in southwestern Indiana. Besides being sassy, she enjoys getting mud on her shoes, teaching her children to [...]
Is the Cooperative or the Academy Best for Me? – 149
Do You Prefer Mentoring or Online Courses? In this episode of the PNC podcast, I try to answer this question: Is the Clinicians Career Cooperative or the Nonclinical Career Academy best for me? I know this may sound like a 30-minute promotional spot, but I don't look at it that way. I've been creating new resources for “seeking physicians” since I started my podcast three years ago, and, honestly, it [...]
Is It Really That Hard to Find Your New Career? – 148
Here Are Some Popular Options In this episode of the PNC podcast, I present an excerpt from the upcoming What to Consider Next Virtual Conference that may help you find your new career! This live, interactive online conference is being presented by Michelle Mudge-Riley and Physicians Helping Physicians in July 2020. […]
Here Are the Keys to Being a Strong CME Writer – 146
Interview with Sarah Campbell In this episode of the PNC podcast, Sarah Campbell offers her expert advice to become a strong CME writer. NetCE is a continuing education company that produced online education for health care professions. Sarah has spent much of her career working there. She is the Director of Development. In that role, she works with planners and authors to develop the materials that NetCE produces. [...]
50 Outstanding Ways to Dump an Awful Career for a Bright One – 147
Interview with Dr. Sylvie Stacy In this episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Sylvie Stacy returns to discuss how physicians can dump an awful career and find a career that is right for them. She also tells us about her brand-new book 50 Nonclinical Careers for Physicians. Sylvie was a guest on the show for the first time almost two years ago. Since then, her blog, Look for Zebras, has [...]
How to Build a Terrific Freelance Consulting Business – 145
Interview with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming In this episode of the Physician NonClinical Careers, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming revisits the podcast to discuss freelance consulting. Mike was one of the first guests on the PNC Podcast, in Episode 19. During this visit, he also tells us all about his new book, The Positioned Physician: Earn More, Work Smart & Love Medicine Again, which 15 years in the making! […]
What Is the New Clinicians Career Cooperative? – 144
A Great Resource for Seeking Clinicians On this special episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Nneka Unachukwu, from the EntreMD Podcast, returns to interview John about the Clinicians Career Cooperative, a new project he is working on. In addition to hosting the PNC podcast, supporting the Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters Facebook group, giving live presentations, and hosting the Nonclinical Career Academy, John is adding a new resource for his [...]
How to Create a Popular Course From Your Passion – 143
Interview with Drs. Letizia Alto and Kenji Asakura On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, a dynamic physician couple explains how they used their passion for real estate investing to create a popular course that teaches what they've learned. After hearing about their experiences with real estate, and the success of their online courses, I was really pleased when they agreed to come on the podcast. So, today [...]
How to Get Started on Your Nonclinical Online Business
A New Blog Series I have decided to write a series of blog posts focused on how to get started on your nonclinical online business. It has been a long time since I wrote a dedicated blog post not related to a podcast episode. But it is time to ramp up this part of the web site! The topics will be about starting and growing a business, entrepreneurship, and all [...]
Is One of These Popular Home Based Careers for You? – 142
Eliminate Your Commute On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, John runs through the most popular home based careers for physicians. He starts by explaining why home based careers are so attractive. Then he describes the benefits and challenges of each one. […]
4 Big Reasons to Be an Affiliate Marketing Expert – 141
And Generate More Revenue for Your Business On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, I explain why most physician online business owners should learn to be an affiliate marketing expert. Affiliate marketing is a program in which an online retailer pays commissions to an external website for sales generated from their referrals. There are two ways to participate in an affiliate program: As the business owner, creating an affiliate [...]
Why You Will Love the Locum Life – 140
Interview with Dr. Andrew Wilner On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Andrew Wilner explains why he believes you will love the locum life. Andrew Wilner is an internist, neurologist and epileptologist. He is also the author of The Locum Life and a locum tenens expert. This Latin term basically refers to a person serving as a fill-in, such as a substitute teacher. In the medical world, a [...]
Be Creative and Design the Career That You Really Love – 139
Interview with Dr. Uchenna Umeh On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Uchenna Umeh, also known as “Dr. Lulu” and the “Momatrician,” describes how you can find a career that you really love. Uchenna spent the early part of her career in a traditional pediatric practice. When she decided she needed a change of pace, she enlisted in the Air Force. She completed her time there, and entered [...]
How Can We Run a Healthcare Business in a Scary Pandemic? – 138
Reflections on Two Businesses During the Pandemic On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, I provide a brief overview of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on two of the businesses I'm involved in: my urgent care business and my wife's home services agency. On the positive side, both businesses have remained open, which highlights one of the benefits of owning a healthcare-related business. The need for services is [...]
7 Top Reasons to Complete Your Business Degree – 137
On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, I give 7 top reasons to complete your business degree. I also list one poor reason for doing so. A Master’s in Business Administration is not for everyone. But if you are in it for the right reasons, it can be a career-changing decision that benefits you in many ways. […]
How to Be a Remarkable Resume Writer – 136
Interview with Charlotte Weeks On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Charlotte Weeks joins me to discuss the best way to become a remarkable resume writer, especially when seeking nonclinical careers. Charlotte Weeks is an executive career coach, resume writer and an outplacement consultant. She is an expert in career transitions and has worked with many physicians. We first met at the Annual SEAK Conference, and I interviewed her on [...]
Why You Should Celebrate International MSL Day -135
Interview with Dr. Maria Aguiluz-Abunto On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Maria Abunto explains why we should celebrate the first International Medical Science Liaison Day on March 27. Maria is an MSL herself and an MD with experience directing operations for a busy medical practice. After completing her master’s in public health in 2016, she joined the National Institutes of Health. Then, she leveraged her MPH and [...]
Young Doctors: How to Be a Part-time Academic Consultant – 134
A Fufilling Side Hustle On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Shirag Shemmassian joins me to discuss a nonclinical career I’ve never considered before: academic consultant. Shirag was pre-med throughout his college career and planned to be a surgeon. But when the time came for him to apply to medical school, he decided to switch his focus to the area of his research, clinical psychology. With little direction [...]
Know This to Be a Great Hospital Quality Medical Director – 133
And Prep for Your Interview This week, John describes what a great hospital quality medical director needs to know to succeed. By understanding and implementing these concepts, the medical director will be able to lead a strong QI program. A hospital's quality improvement program is designed to ensure that medical care is undeniably effective, evidence-based, timely and error-free. The field has exploded over the past 30 years, with an increasing [...]
How This Heart Surgeon Found a Rewarding Nonclinical Niche – 132
Interview with Dr. Robert Applebaum On this episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Robert Applebaum joins me to discuss the transition into his nonclinical niche as a physician advisor after many years of clinical practice. Rob’s training was in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. He spent decades working in private practice, then as a hospital employed physician. He is the first guest I’ve had on the podcast that I have worked with in [...]
What Makes a Physician MedSpa Owner So Happy? – 131
Interview with Dr. Lisa Jenks On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, I’ve invited physician medspa owner Lisa Jenks back for a follow-up interview about medical aesthetics and her business, Genesis MedSpa. Lisa is a former emergency room physician who went into medical aesthetics 13 years ago. She joined me on this podcast about a year ago. This week we catch up, learn more about her business, and about a [...]
It Looks Like 2020 Should Be a Crazy-Good Year – 130
It's Time to Update You On this episode of Physician NonClinical Careers, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at all of the exciting new projects I’m developing for you this year. In order to maintain a web site, produce a podcast, and host online courses for you, I need to transition my role in this venture from hobbyist to business owner. I started that process about 18 months ago Now I [...]
The Exciting Life of the Home Care Franchise Owner – 129
Helping with My Wife's Business This week on the PNC podcast, I discuss the experience that I've had with my wife, Kay, pursuing home care franchise ownership as a nonclinical career option. Kay was a working as a respiratory therapist when her mother became chronically ill with lung disease. While working as her primary caregiver, she realized how difficult providing 24/7 care is. And she recognized a passion for helping others with [...]
What Is New for the Restless Physician Executive? – 128
Interview with Mr. Paul Esselman On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Paul Esselman returns to the show to discuss new leadership roles for the restless physician executive. Paul is the President and Managing Director of Cejka Search, a health care executive search firm that focuses on leadership positions. He describes how the spectrum of leadership roles for physicians has expanded beyond the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director roles of [...]
How to Start an Innovative Career as a Healthcare Navigator – 127
Interview with Dr. Nicole Rochester On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Nicole Rochester explains how she found fulfillment and freedom as an independent healthcare navigator. Nicole is a board-certified pediatrician who spent her first four years after residency in primary-care before transitioning to hospital medicine. For about 13 years, she had what she thought was a perfect job: working in a community hospital while teaching medical students and pediatric [...]
How to Get Your Fabulous First MSL Job – 126
Advice from the Podcast Archives I want to focus on pharma jobs this month. So, I decided to do something a little different with this episode of the podcast to help you get your first MSL job. I’ve taken the best parts of my interviews with Drs. Savi Chadha and Linda Ho, from Episodes 50 and 51, and combined them to bring a very focused guide to getting your first [...]
Here is the Designer of the Best Medical Image Repository Ever – 125
Interview with Dr. Gerald Diaz On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Gerald Diaz discusses how he is using his background in computer science to make physicians’ jobs a little bit easier. Dr. Gerald Diaz is an academic hospitalist and former software engineer who founded grepmed.com. He received his medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at UC Davis. [...]
Should I Work for a Contract Research Organization? – 124
Interview with Dr. Michelle Bailey This week, I bring you my conversation with a former academic pediatrician who now works as senior medical director for a contract research organization, or CRO. Dr. Michelle Bailey knew she wanted to be a pediatrician since she was 12 years old. She received her medical degree from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Sciences University and completed her pediatrics residency at Duke [...]
How to Be a Successful Physician Entrepreneur – 123
Interview with Dr. Nneka Unachukwu On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Nneka Unachukwu discusses how starting her own practice as a physician entrepreneur has empowered her to create the career in medicine she wants. A pediatrician by training, Dr. Una began learning how to run her own practice unintentionally while working her first job. When a relocation forced her to find a new opportunity, she was a [...]
3 Reasons to Scream “I've Had it!” – 122
Then It's Time to Get to Work On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, I offer 3 reasons to scream "I've Had It!" when you reach the end of your rope. This is the first in a series of solo episodes addressing one of the most common questions I receive from listeners: “When I'm facing burnout or disillusionment with my medical career, and I'm thinking about pursuing a nonclinical [...]
The Best Solution to Burnout Is an Interesting Side Gig – 121
On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Nisha Mehta explains why engaging in an interesting side gig may be the best way to ensure a long and fulfilling medical career.
How to Reclaim the Best Parts of Your Career – 120
Interview with Dr. Lara Salyer If you want to reclaim the best parts of your career after going through burnout, you'll want to hear how Dr. Lara Salyer did just that. During this week's interview, she describes how she felt when she realized that something wasn't right in her career as an employed family physician practicing in southern Wisconsin. Read More
How to Really Get to Know Your Best Customers – 119
And Learn to Speak Their Language Today I describe the ways you can get to know your best customers. With that knowledge, you can better design products and services for them. Better yet, you will be able to speak their language. Why Do We Need to Know Our Customers? It helps to know our customers well so we can effectively and efficiently meet their needs through the products and services [...]
This Coach Is the Ultimate Physician Advocate – 118
Interview with Dr. Jarret Patton On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jarret Patton, author, speaker and the ultimate physician advocate. Jarret is a successful physician hospital leader and beloved pediatrician. Recently, he has devoted his efforts to speaking, writing and coaching physicians and other leaders. That transition was not part of his career plan. It occurred following an unexpected life-altering [...]
How to Be an Orthopedic Surgeon and Venture Capitalist – 117
Interview with Dr. Marshall Kuremsky On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, John interviews an orthopedic surgeon who pursued his interest in finance to become a venture capitalist. Dr. Marshall Kuremsky is an orthopedic surgeon in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in sports medicine and hand surgery. He completed his medical training at Columbia University and his orthopedic residency at Carolinas Medical Center. He then completed fellowships in Upper Extremity [...]
How to Influence the World by Writing a Medical Thriller – 116
Interview with Dr. Debra Blaine Dr. Debra Blaine, an urgent care physician, recently released a medical thriller called Code Blue – The Other End of the Stethoscope. And I was very pleased to welcome her to the podcast to discuss it. Although she is not a full time author, I thought it would be instructive and fun to hear how her writing journey began, culminating in the publication of her [...]
How to Nurture a Fantastic Fun and Effective Facebook Group – 115
It Only Takes a Few Minutes Each Day Today I’m going to be talking about fun and effective Facebook Groups. If you have established a nonclinical business, you might want to use a Facebook Group to support it. I’ve been involved with a popular group for about a year and a half as an admin. So, I’ve learned a lot about Facebook during that time. The Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters [...]
Beware the Legal Landmines of Your New Business – 114
Interview with Dr. Marjorie Stiegler On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, I had the pleasure of a return visit from Dr. Marjorie Stiegler. Marjorie shares her insights into the legal landmines that a physician encounters when starting a new business or side hustle, and offers some strategies for avoiding them. As Marjorie is a returning guest, this episode is a little different. We don't go into Marjorie's own [...]
How to Introduce Transparency to the Healthcare Marketplace – 113
Interview with Dr. Jawad Arshad On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, John interviews Dr. Jawad Arshad, an emergency physician looking to bring much-needed transparency to the healthcare marketplace. He and his partners also intend to disrupt the health insurance industry by removing insurers from the physician-patient interaction. Background Dr. Arshad is an emergency medicine physician. He completed his medical training at SUNY Upstate Medical Center and his emergency [...]
Why Consistency is Key to a Successful Podcast – 112
How I Create Each Episode Today I talk about podcasting, and why consistency is key to a successful podcast. And I'm continuing my series on creating an online business. I also explain why I believe a podcast is an awesome platform for supporting your business and growing your tribe. And, I walk through the process I follow to produce each successful podcast episode. Finally, I provide information about a dozen [...]
How to Be a Shrewd Business Coach and Consultant – 111
Interview with Dr. David Norris This week on the PNC podcast, John discusses the importance of treating your practice like a business with business coach and consultant Dr. David Norris. Background David also describes his journey to financial consultant, author of The Financially Intelligent Physician, and business sales broker. Throughout his clinical training, David was always fascinated by the financial and business aspects of running a practice. He asked his [...]
How to Select the Best Online Business Niche – 110
Don’t Follow My Example Today it's just me talking about how to select the best online business niche. I'm continuing a series of episodes on the creation of your online business. In Episode 107, I talked about building an email list. Today, I want to step back to an earlier stage in the business development process. It's the important process of deciding on your niche – your online business niche. [...]
Eager Entrepreneur Delivers Solution to Staffing Challenge – 109
Interview with Dr. Haneen Abu-Remaileh On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, John delves into the exciting world of startups with eager entrepreneur Dr. Haneen Abu-Remaileh. Haneen is the founder and CEO of Locumunity. The company is an online marketplace matching physicians with locum positions across Canada and the US. Background Haneen completed her medical degree at the University of British Columbia, and her residency in family medicine at [...]
How to Become a Popular Freelance Consultant – 108
Interview with Dr. Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD On this episode of the PNC podcast, freelance consultant, Christopher H. Loo, MD-PhD, describes how he left clinical medicine, became financially independent by the age of 29, and developed his consulting practice. Now a freelance consultant and author of three books, Christopher is a fascinating example of the ways in which you can make your MD work for you outside of clinical practice. [...]
How to Cultivate a Growing Email List
Use Consistent Relevant Incentives In this episode, it's just me describing the tools I use to cultivate my growing email list. Why Bother? The need for a vibrant email list is fairly self-evident. But here are 5 reasons that my business needs a growing email list: To stay connected. If I'm not in constant communication with my tribe, providing valuable tools and information between podcast episodes or blog posts, they [...]
What Is the Best New Alternative to Physician Employment? – 106
Interview with Dr. Tom Davis This week on the PNC Podcast Dr. Tom Davis is presenting his take on the best new alternative to physician employment: telemedicine. I wanted to learn more about this new approach to providing care. So I invited him back for a conversation on telemedicine. And Tom doesn't disappoint. He shares his wealth of experience, advice, and a perspective on telemedicine that is different than most [...]
Never Surrender and You Will Find a Delightful Career – 105
Interview with Dr. Helen Rhodes On this week's episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Helen Rhodes describes how persistence helped her find meaningful clinical and nonclinical jobs that, together, created a delightful career. Helen describes the difficulties of returning to obstetrics after several years away, the value of diversifying your employment opportunities, and the fascinating world of plasmapheresis. Background Helen began her career in her home state of Texas, completing [...]
5 Big Steps on the Path to Career Success – 104
Interview with Dr. Jattu Senesie This week's episode of the PNC Podcast is the last interview in our series of physician coaches that offers a systematic approach to achieving life and career success. John speaks with Dr. Jattu Senesie, a physician coach who is also a member of the Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters Facebook Group. Jattu shares her story of leaving clinical practice, and offers fascinating insights into her coaching [...]
How This Survivor is Helping the Helpers Thrive – 103
Interview with Yvonne Ator, MD, MPH After suffering burnout herself, and seeing its effects first hand, Dr. Yvonne Ator dedicated her life to helping the helpers (physicians) thrive. In this week’s episode, we dive into the world of physician executive coaching with Dr. Ator. As a physician, musician, coach, writer, author, speaker and serial-quester, Yvonne is tireless in her mission as a “Helper for Helpers” to empower, equip and inspire [...]
Why You Need to Get an Executive Coach Now – 102
Interview with Dr. Starla Fitch On this week’s episode of the podcast, we'll take a look at the fascinating world of life and executive coach Dr. Starla Fitch. Starla found salvation from burnout through coaching by accident and quickly realized its potential to help other physicians. After making a slow transition out of clinical practice, she now works full time as an executive coach and speaker. Background Starla followed a [...]
Limited Coaching Helps This Full Time Medical Director – 101
Interview with Dr. Krystal Sodaitis On this week’s podcast episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Krystal Sodaitis, who has found that coaching helps bring balance to her life. Like my previous guest, she is a member of the Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters Facebook group where she shares what she has learned with other members. Krystal is a UM Medical Director who offers a fascinating new perspective on the [...]
How Did Episode One Hundred Arrive So Damn Quickly? – 100
Updates from My Guests In Episode One Hundred, we look back over the previous 99 shows and celebrate by presenting updates from nine of our outstanding guests. Our Sponsor If you're looking to advance your career to a management or leadership position, you'll need finance and business skills. So, you may consider getting a management degree. If so, then strongly consider the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered [...]
First Gain Know-How Then Secure an MBA – 099
Interview with Dr. Nilesh Dave In this illuminating interview, Dr. Nilesh Dave touches on many interesting aspects of his career journey, including why it might be best to secure an MBA after you gain some know-how. Current Role Nilesh is working as Medical Director at a large health insurer, where he oversees innovation, strategy, health care quality and population health of the plan’s 350,000 members. A graduate of the Medical [...]
How to Develop a Passionate Side Hustle – 098
Interview with Dr. Alfred Atanda This week on the podcast, Dr. Alfred Atanda, Jr. describes how he developed a side hustle that brings balance to his clinical practice. We explore his experiences developing expertise in telehealth, and helping others to bring similar passions into their professional lives. Alfred provides an illuminating look into the growing world of telemedicine. And he makes a strong case for its role in providing quality [...]
Avoid These Dumb Mistakes I Made in My Business – 097
Expedite Your Online Success In this week's episode, I'll be talking about three of the dumb mistakes I made while building an online business. Why focus on developing an online buisness in this episode? There are two primary reasons to do so: There is a group of you who do NOT want to get into a traditional nonclinical job, such as UM physician advisor, CDI specialist, or pharmaceutical medical director. [...]
How to Pivot from ER Doctor to Innovative Healthcare Design Expert – 096
Integrating Medicine and Design to Improve Care Todays’ interview with Healthcare Design Expert Dr. Manuel Hernandez is going to be really fun and inspirational. Manny has unique talents unlike those of any previous guest. But first, let me tell you a bit about what’s going on in my life. The Maturing Podcast This has been a crazy month, with lots of things happening. I can’t believe I’m approaching the 100th [...]
Nonclinical Careers That Will Save Discouraged Doctors – 095
Explore One of Six Wonderful Vocations In this week’s episode, John is alone behind the microphone to take a deep dive into nonclinical careers for discouraged doctors. This episode explores some of the best career options for doctors that are not board certified. However, they are also an option for more experienced board-certified clinicians. Before getting into the specifics of the careers, John highlighted some of the key general tactics [...]
The Delightful Life of the Expert Social Media Doctor – 094
Interview with Dr. Dana Corriel Dana Corriel is an internist, speaker, coach and expert social media doctor. She completed medical school at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, and her internal medicine residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After Dana finished her residency, started practicing, and had three children, she needed some time off. “I chose, after my third child, to stay home. I felt like I needed [...]
How to Emerge as an Awesome Physician Executive – 093
Interview with Dr. Barbara Loeb In my quest to promote physician leadership, I've been looking for an awesome physician executive to interview. So, I invited Dr. Barbara Loeb to tell us about her career journey. Barbara is an accomplished physician executive and leader. Currently, she’s the Associate Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Population Health at Loyola Medicine. But Barbara started her career as your typical general internist, running a small [...]
The Interesting Life of the Chief Information Officer – 092
Interview with Dr. Christopher Leonard – Conclusion Today we have the conclusion to my interview with chief information officer Christopher Leonard. The stage was set in Part 1. In this conclusion, Chris explains: how medical informatics has evolved, whether to pursue an advanced degree, and, how to enter this growing field. What Is Informatics? Chris was intrigued by the way information and technology could help solve problems for physicians and [...]
How to Exploit the Opportunities in Medical Informatics – 091
Interview with Dr. Christopher Leonard Dr. Christopher Leonard is the CIO at a physician management company, where he leveraged several opportunities in medical informatics. He now leads the team that designs and develops a proprietary EHR. Christopher is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Kansas City School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the Medical College of Georgia, and Master's in Health Informatics at Northwestern [...]
The Fascinating Life of the Holistic Practice Consultant – 090
Interview with Dr. George Huang I’m intrigued by physician entrepreneurs, especially physician consultants. Today’s guest is a great example of a physician in a seemingly awesome career who chose to pivot out of medicine completely. He left a very lucrative field, plastic surgery, and moved into consulting. But it was not an easy transition. And we get to hear all about it in today’s fascinating interview. However, before we get [...]
How to Network Effectively to Become an MSL – 089
Interview with Dr. Swati Shah I recently spoke with an obstetrician who was able to network effectively to land a job as a medical science liaison. I’ve been fascinated by the MSL career. Its an entry level position in the pharmaceutical industry that is often open to both licensed and unlicensed physicians. In today’s interview, I speak with an obstetrician who really leveraged her clinical work, professional relationships, and [...]
How to Secure a Rewarding Medical Director Position – 088
Interview with Dr. Rich Berning Today's podcast is loaded with practical advice on how to pursue a job as a health plan medical director. My guest, Dr. Rich Berning, explains the various roles within that career. He also describes where you can find similar positions outside of health plans, such as with an Independent Review Organization or a hospital UM department. Rich is a full-time medical director. He worked for [...]
Top Five Start-Up Secrets for the Physician Entrepreneur – 087
Interview with CEO Matt McGuire I have a very interesting interview this week with an entrepreneur who has spent the last 4-½ years developing his international start-up company. He is not a physician, but his story is so compelling, and the technology solution so important, that I had to interview this guy. I met Matt McGuire at the Physicians Helping Physicians Conference in Austin, Texas. He was a fellow presenter, [...]
How to Improve Your Life Using Strategic Quitting with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski – 086
Necessary Tool for a Fulfilling Life In today’s interview, we meet a physician who has written the book on strategic quitting. Then, we learn about her career journey, and why she believes that knowing when and how to quit is so important. Lynn Marie Morski graduated from the St. Louis U. School of Medicine, and completed a Family Medicine residency at Mayo Clinic – Arizona, and Sports Medicine Fellowship at [...]
How to Employ Powerful Online Strategies with Dr. Marjorie Stiegler – 084
Boost Your Online Authority Dr. Marjorie Stiegler describes how she developed her expertise in online strategies for physician branding. She’s an entrepreneur, author, and accomplished keynote speaker. Marjorie is an anesthesiologist and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an expert and national speaker on patient safety, simulation, medical decision making, cognitive errors, and critical event debriefing. She completed medical training at Emory [...]
What Is the Most Exciting New Nonclinical Career Conference? – 085
A Review of the First Physicians Helping Physicians Networking Conference I’m still super excited by the conference I attended last weekend in Austin, Texas. And I want to talk about it today. Enjoying Austin Texas I apologize for any confusion around the numbering of today's episode. I recorded this after my interview with Marjorie Stiegler, so this is Episode 85 and the next one will be Episode 84, because it [...]
Blueprint for a Fascinating Career in Quality Improvement with Dr. David Lucier – 083
Pursue a Rewarding Career Improving Patient Care I’ve always been interested in a fascinating career in quality improvement. After all, hospital care makes up the biggest percentage of health care costs. Furthermore, the measurement and public reporting of quality data becomes more important each year. I heard today’s guest discuss his journey at a conference last year. And I knew he’d be an excellent person to discuss such a career [...]
How to Promote Diversity in Physician Leadership with Dr. Priti Golechha – 082
Check Out Physician Women in Leadership Pediatrician Priti Golechha is committed to bringing more diversity to healthcare leadership. In today's interview, we discuss how she became so passionate about this issue. Furthermore, we delve into what she is doing to address it. Dr. Golechha attended medical school in India. She comes from a family of surgeons. They expected her to go into a surgical field or be an OB/GYN, but [...]
How to Fulfill an Academic Need and Spawn a Business with Dr. Jason Ryan – 081
A Model Online Business In today’s show, I present my conversation with a cardiologist who has successfully built an online business by meeting an academic need. Dr. Jason Ryan is a practicing cardiologist who received his MD and MPH degrees at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 2001. He followed that with an internal medicine residency and a general cardiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He’s [...]
How to Pursue a Nonclinical Career in Hospital Management – 080
A Fulfilling and Well Compensated Career This is a solo bonus episode about pursuing a career in hospital management. It's a summary of the presentation that I'm giving at the first Physicians Helping Physicians Nonclinical Career Conference. The conference is being held in Austin, Texas in April 2019. Important Questions During the discussion, I answer the following questions: What are the most common senior hospital management positions for physicians? Why [...]
How to Exploit the Short-Term Rental Game with Dr. David Draghinas – 079
A Potentially Lucrative Side Hustle This week I'm learning about investing in short-term rental properties from Dr. David Draghinas. David is a full-time anesthesiologist located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He also produces the DoctorsUnbound podcast, which features stories of doctors doing different and interesting things outside of clinical medicine. Dave received his medical degree and anesthesia training at the University of Southern California. Following his residency, he spent about [...]
The Powerful But Overlooked Impact of Networking – 078
An Important Career Strategy In today's solo episode, I tackle the topic of networking. This is the first in a series of mini solo episodes I'll be adding to my usual shows. My plan is to devote my regular weekly podcast episodes to interviews. I continue to learn greatly from my guests. And, I know you enjoy the interviews. I'm putting together a course that will be hosted on [...]
Top Reasons to Become a CDI Expert with Dr. Christian Zouain – 077
A Growing Nonclinical Field Dr. Christian Zouain is a foreign medical graduate who used networking to land his first job as a CDI expert. He graduated from medical school in the Dominican Repubic. He worked first as a medical assistant and a medical scribe because he had not completed residency and was not licensed. Christian realized that he was not alone in his decision to pursue a non-clinical path [...]
How to Leverage the Locum Life with Dr. Andrew Wilner – 076
Use Locums to Balance Nonclinical Work This is Part 2 of my interview with Andrew Wilner about living the locum life. You can find Part 1 at How to Weave Medicine into a Dedicated Writer's Life. When he decided to return to clinical medicine, Andrew discovered a wide-open locum tenens market for all specialties, even neurologists! Lucky for him, the opportunities for finding work had exploded during the previous decade. [...]
How to Weave Medicine into a Dedicated Writer's Life with Dr. Andrew Wilner – 075
First Become a Full-Time Medical Writer Andrew Wilner has always been a dedicated writer. He has also been passionate about medicine. And he wanted to pursue both. Writing has been a part of his life since high school. After medical school and internship, Andrew became an emergency room doctor while trying to decide the next steps for his career. Dr. Andrew Wilner Using the flexibility that came with the ER [...]
How to Free Yourself Using Locums and Coaching with Dr. Nana Korsah – 074
Find a Balance of Clinical and Nonclinical Work In this week's episode, Dr. Nana Korsah describes how you can free yourself using locums and coaching. Nana is a former nephrologist turned adult locum hospitalist. She is board certified in internal medicine. But, she's also a certified life and financial coach for physicians who want to pay off debt and live wealthy lives. Nana helps physicians who want to enjoy the [...]
How to Start a Thriving Educational Company with Dr. Andrea Paul – 073
Taking Calculated Risks Dr. Andrea Paul is a physician entrepreneur who has a unique story to share about her educational company. She started BoardVitals to provide relevant medical information to help residents prepare for and pass their board exams. Although BoardVitals hasn’t been around that long, it’s grown tremendously into an Inc. 500, eight-figure business. Now, Andrea and her company are part of a much larger educational organization, Ascend [...]
How I Found My Wonderful Nonclinical Careers – 072
This Time I'm the One Being Interviewed Michelle Mudge-Riley recently interviewed me about my wonderful nonclinical careers. She runs Physicians Helping Physicians , a site that helps physicians land new careers. She interviews physicians like me who have developed interesting side hustles or careers outside of medical practice, and posts the podcasts on the site. Along with a dozen other physicians, I’m helping Michelle and PHP to present it’s [...]
How to Prepare Financially for a Career Pivot with Ryan Inman – 071
Create a Written Plan I’ve been interviewing experts in physician career transition for over a year. So, I thought it important to discuss how to prepare financially. For many of you, loss of income is one of the big fears that stops you from even considering a change. Much of that can be ameliorated with good planning. So, I decided to get an expert on the show to help us [...]
How to Get a Great Job with a CRO with Dr. Christian Urrea – 070
Leverage Communication Skills Dr. Christian Urrea is currently working as a medical monitor for Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services, a Contract Research Organization (CRO). He graduated from Drexel University School of Medicine in 2012, then landed a job as a Specialist in QI and UM for a community hospital before moving to Novum as a Medical Monitor. In today’s interview, Christian provides great advice as he describes his career journey. His [...]
How to Go from UM Physician Advisor to Revenue Cycle CMO with Dr. Ralph Wuebker – 069
Look Here for a UM Career Dr. Ralph Wuebker is CMO at Optum 360, a revenue cycle company offering end to end solutions for hospitals and physician groups, and he hires and deploys UM physicians. Ralph’s current responsibility is building Optum’s On Site Physician Advisor (OSPA) program, including: sales support, recruiting, training and oversight of physicians at over 70 hospitals. Prior to that he worked as VP at Executive Health [...]
How to Pursue Acting and Practice Medicine with Dr. Dara Lifschutz – 068
Sometimes Passion Prevails When Dr. Dara Lifschutz is not working as a radiologist, she is an actor. Her creative streak started when she was a child, performing in school choirs and orchestras. But music took a back seat once she entered medical school and residency. Dara didn’t know when giving up music she’d miss it so much. After being in practice for a few years, she realized that she needed [...]
How to Find Success in a Healthcare Technology Company with Dr. Jonathan Larson – 067
Find a Problem and Create a Solution Dr. Jon Larson and his partner started a healthcare technology company because they wanted to improve medical care. They realized that there was an opportunity to use technology to improve the lives of both physicians and patients, so Medspoke was born. MedSpoke is a physician-centric company, focused on solving healthcare credentialing challenges. It eliminates credentialing headaches, by keeping credentialing data automated, organized, current, [...]
How to Secure Your First MSL Job – 066
A Popular Choice Among Physicians Lacking Residency Training In today's episode, I summarized what I've personally learned from Medical Science Liaisons, and my own research, to help you find your first MSL job. Only certain careers are open to physicians who did not complete residency and are not board certified: medical writing consulting entrepreneur sometimes informatics medical science liaison (MSL) Since I receive so many questions about these kinds of [...]
How to Find Peace and Balance as a MedSpa Owner with Dr. Lisa Jenks – 065
A Nice Balance of Clinical and Nonclinical Work Today I had the opportunity to talk with medspa owner Dr. Lisa Jenks. She is an emergency medicine physician who tested her interest and ability to provide aesthetic services, then founded her own MedSpa 11 years ago. Lisa graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine in 1986. After residency training at Ohio State University, she began a career in emergency [...]
The Interesting Life of the Professional Development Coach with Dr. Ryan Bayley – 064
Helping Us Find Elusive Peace and Balance Today on the podcast, Dr. Ryan Bayley describes his career as a professional development coach. Professional Development Coach Ryan Bayley, MD Dr. Ryan Bayley is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. He holds an adjunct faculty position at the Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, his medical degree at Vanderbilt University, and his [...]
How to Be an Author and Nonclinical Career Expert with Dr. Heidi Moawad – 063
For today's podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to a nonclinical career expert. She actually “wrote the book” on this topic. Heidi Moawad, MD, is a neurologist and adjunct professor at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She's worked in many facets of medicine, including clinical practice, healthcare utilization, medical writing, telemedicine, payment policy and undergraduate and medical education. She's the author of the book Careers Beyond Clinical [...]
Why Medical Communications Is the Best Nonclinical Career – 061
Interview with Dr. Dana Carpenter I really enjoy speaking with physicians who have found a nonclinical career they love. I’ve seen that in life insurance medicine, teaching, and now in medical communications. The other aspect of this career that excites me is that it’s one in which you can express your creative side along with your scientific and technical side. Before I get to the interview, I want to acknowledge our sponsor… [...]
How to Blend Stand-Up Comedy and Keynote Speaking – 062
For this episode, I'm interviewing Dr. Lynette Charity to tell us about her experience with keynote speaking. You'll recall that I interviewed Carmen Landrau just a few weeks ago. Each of them took a unique path to this career. You'll get a much more complete perspective on keynote speaking by listening to both episodes. Before I get to the interview, I want to acknowledge our sponsor… The University of Tennessee [...]
5 Simple Tactics That Will Hasten Your Career Transition – 060
Welcome back to the PNC podcast. Today I'd like to discuss 5 simple tactics that will hasten your transition to a nonclinical career. [Note: this material was originally presented as a guest post on Look for Zebras. You can find many other useful articles and resources related to nonclinical careers there. – John] Before we get started, I want to thank our sponsor, the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA [...]
How to Nurture an Exciting Speaking Career with Dr. Carmen Landrau – 059
Today I bring you a great interview with Dr. Carmen Landrau, as she explains how to nurture your speaking career. But before we get to that I have an announcement to make. Our First Sponsor! Yes, that's right. The PNC Podcast now has a SPONSOR! That might not be as big a deal to you as it is to me. But having a sponsor means that I can cover some [...]
How to Recognize Your Zone of Genius – 058
Welcome back to the PNC podcast. It’s just me today. And I'd like to discuss your Zone of Genius. I’ve been meaning to review a book and discuss this topic for some time. It relates to self-limiting beliefs that keep us from pursuing the career that we’re meant for; a career that bring us joy and fulfillment; a career that uses our personal and professional gifts. Have you ever noticed that [...]
Despair and Hope at the 2018 SEAK Conference – 057
Welcome back to the PNC podcast. It’s just me and I’m a day late in posting this week’s podcast. My timetable for the podcast prep this week was a little compressed because I spent 2 days attending the 15th Annual SEAK Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians Conference. And that put me a little behind. I recorded my observations during the conference, and I’m going to share those with you today. I [...]
How to Find Freedom as a Freelance Medical Writer with Dr. Emma Nichols – 056
Working as a freelance medical writer is a great nonclinical career for several reasons: You can start by working part-time. There is a lot of flexibility. The demand for writers continues to grow. A large cash investment is not required to start. Before we jump into today’s interview, I want to thank listeners who have rated and review this podcast. It really means a lot to me. And for those [...]
How to Survive the 5 Stages of Career Transformation with Michelle Mudge-Riley – 055
Dr. Michelle Mudge-Riley joins us for her second visit to the PNC Podcast to explain the 5 Stages of Career Transformation. She has identified these stages during the course of her long career as a physician career coach. Before we get to the interview, I must mention that my NEW focused mentoring program, called Become CMO in a Year, is the sponsor for today's episode. In this program, you’ll launch your [...]
How to Deploy a Powerful Tool to Identify Goals – 054
Today it’s just me. I thought I’d spend this episode talking about a powerful tool that you can use to set goals for your clinics, surgery centers, divisions, and organizations. This is in follow-up to Episode #52, in which I talked about the skills and experiences needed to become a physician executive. You’ll recall that there were five major domains, beyond character and medical knowledge, that recruiters and CEOs [...]
How to Develop a Side Gig as an Expert Witness with Dr. Peter Steinberg – 053
In today's episode, we hear how to develop a lucrative side gig as an expert witness. Peter Steinberg is a urologist who has developed a part-time expert witness practice over the past five years. And, in this interview he explains how he did it. But before we get into today’s exciting interview, I need to tell you that today’s episode is sponsored by my NEW focused mentoring program called [...]
How to Become CMO in a Year – 052
Hello, and welcome to the PNC podcast. Today I'm going to run through a thought experiment: How to Become CMO in a Year! Granted, this is a pretty tall order. It’s certainly easier if the organization you’re working for is looking for a CMO, or if you’re in a large city with multiple hospitals, MCOs and large medical groups. But what do you need to do to get that chief [...]
How to Optimize Your Career as an MSL with Dr. Linda Ho – 051
Hello listeners and readers. I’ve made a slight scheduling change in today’s episode. At the end of Episode 50, I promised to bring you a solo episode in which I’ll explain what recruiters and CEOs are looking for in a Chief Medical Officer. However, today I present the second installment of my 2-part series on a career as an MSL. One of the reasons behind that decision is that I’m [...]
How to Thrive as a Medical Science Liaison with Dr. Savi Chadha – 050
I’m so glad you’re here. Today, I present an interview with a Medical Science Liaison. But, before we get into that, can you believe that this is episode number 50 of the podcast! I must say, producing this podcast has really been a learning experience. Today’s episode is a great example. A year ago, I had no idea what a medical science liaison was. I’m amazed at how many different [...]
How to Build a Platform and Create Authority with Dr. David Geier – 049
Today, I present an interview with an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who’s been building his platform for eight years. But, before we get to today’s interview, I want to let you know what I've been up to. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at the PNC podcast. Updates I’m collaborating with other physician entrepreneurs in a variety of ways that I’ll be talking about in future podcast [...]
How to Balance Clinical and Nonclinical Work with Dr. Sue Zimmermann – 048
Dr. Sue Zimmermann is an orthopedist with 24 years of clinical experience. She engaged a career coach to help her plan her pre-retirement pivot away from her full-time clinical position. Sue shows us how to balance clinical and nonclinical pursuits using good planning, coaching and networking. Before we get to today’s interview, I want to remind you about the new edition of my weekly newsletter. Once a week, I write [...]
How to Become an Author, Consultant and Online Authority with Dr. Tom Davis – 047
Dr. Tom Davis is a board-certified family physician who transformed himself into an author, consultant and online authority. Today's interview is one of the most compelling I've done since starting the podcast. Tom describes his transformation, and shares the lessons he's learned in the process. Before we get to today’s interview, I want to remind you about the new edition of my weekly newsletter. Once a week, I write about [...]
How One Physician Leader Makes His Career Decisions with Dr. William Lynagh – 046
Dr. William Lynagh is a board-certified family physician with a somewhat eclectic career. In today's interview, he describes some of the rules he uses to make career decisions. Photo by Mahkeo on Unsplash Before we get to today’s interview, I want to tell you about a new project I’m working on. As I mentioned last week, I’ve just started a new edition of my weekly newsletter. Once a [...]
How Blockchain Technology Can Protect Your Credentials with Dr. Leah Houston – 045
Dr. Leah Houston is a board-certified Emergency Physician. She was caught up in a credentialing snafu that inspired her to start a new company to address the issue. As an entrepreneur, she intends to create a very secure physician-controlled credentialing tool using blockchain technology. While practicing medicine across the U.S., Dr. Houston recognized a common problem affecting physicians. It’s uncompensated administrative burdens related to physician credentialing that lead to administrative [...]
Why You Should Look for Zebras with Dr. Sylvie Stacy – 044
We’re in the middle of a rather warm summer as I recorded today's episode in July 2018. This is a time to slow down a bit and enjoy a vacation and more time with your family. It's also a time to “Look for Zebras.” More about that in a minute. And since there’s often a bit more time to catch up with things this time of year, I’d like to [...]
Why You Should Evolve From Victim To Leader – 043
Hello, and welcome to today's edition of the PNC podcast. I'm a bit late posting this episode. I just returned from a trip to northern Minnesota, which included a short visit with one of my nine siblings and her husband. It was so nice to relax, do some fishing, and then chat with Carla and her husband, Fred. But I'm ready to talk about your journey from victim to leader. [...]
How to Overcome the Inertia in Your Career Search – 042
Welcome to today’s edition of the PNC podcast show notes. This week I'm offering a few suggestions to help you overcome the inertia that often slows your career search. One of the most common questions I hear from physicians considering a new career is “How do I get started? They get stuck right at the very beginning of the process. Today’s episode will be a short one, just hitting on [...]
What Do Recruiters Look For In a Physician Leader? with Paul Esselman – 041
I’ve always wanted to learn what healthcare CEOs and recruiters are looking for in candidates. So, I searched for a recruiter who has interviewed and placed hundreds of physician leaders. For this interview, I found an expert at a firm that’s focused on recruiting physician managers, directors and executives for hospitals, medical groups, health systems and managed care companies. In the future, I hope to talk to someone who is focused [...]
How to Negotiate the Stages of Career Change with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne – 040
Today’s guest, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, is a family physician and wellness and career coach. With an undergraduate degree in psychology and a medical degree from Morehouse, it’s no surprise she was interested in wellness coaching. She began her coaching career about 10 years ago, mostly helping professional women. But, she witnessed increasing numbers of physician colleagues suffering from burnout. And when she observed them struggling to find new careers, she [...]
How to Flourish in the Little-Known World of Life Insurance Medicine with Dr. Judy Finney – 039
In this podcast episode, I'm speaking with Dr. Judy Finney, an interventional cardiologist who transitioned into her current career in life insurance medicine six years ago. She describes her career journey and provides insights for those considering this career. I made a commitment to present a new episode each week. I must apologize for completely skipping last week's episode. My family and I were in Munich, Germany last week. I [...]
3 Simple Tactics to Launch Your Exploration for a New Career – 038
Hello friends. If you're a regular listener, welcome back. And if you're new, welcome to the podcast. My name's John Jurica. And, I've got episode number 38 today [3 Simple Tactics to Launch Your Exploration for a New Career]. You may have noticed, if you're a regular listener, that I've been a little bit delayed. My last episode was released a day or two late, and then the show notes [...]
Adopt These 10 Practices of the Meeting Maestro – 037
Welcome back to this week's episode of the PNC Podcast. Taking a really big chance today talking about this subject (10 Practices of the Meeting Maestro). It's rather dull, not very inspirational. But communication is really an important factor, whether you're doing a nonclinical or a clinical job. Obviously when you're working clinically, you need to communicate with patients, as well as with colleagues and other persons. If you're doing [...]
2 Big Things That Get Me Fired Up – 036
Welcome back to this week's episode of the PNC podcast. I really appreciate you for being here. I had a lot of really positive feedback about last week's interview. It was quite popular. If you didn't listen to my conversation with Katrina Ubell, I strongly recommend that you check it out now. She provided some really interesting ideas based on her training for and experience as a life coach for [...]
First, Optimize Your Attitude – Interview with Dr. Katrina Ubell – 035
In this podcast episode, I'm speaking with Dr. Katrina Ubell, a pediatrician and certified life and weight coach. She describes her career journey and why you should optimize your attitude before considering major career decisions. Before I get into the show notes, I want to let you know that I really appreciate you for your continued listening. And if you’re new to the podcast, welcome, and enjoy today’s episode. For [...]
Three Awesome Nonclinical Careers You Can Embark on Today – 034
Today we learn about three awesome nonclinical careers for those working in the hospital setting. But first, a story… Ten years into my career as a full-time family physician, I began to consider moving in another direction. For the most part, I enjoyed my practice, and my patients liked me. My two partners and I had busy schedules and a waiting list for appointments. And we had a good reputation [...]
3 Reasons to Pursue the CPE Qualification – 033
In this episode, we explore the CPE certification offered by the Certifying Commission in Medical Management. I attempt to answer these questions: What is the CPE? How was it established? What are the requirements for completing the CPE? How costly is the CPE to obtain? Is a management degree required? Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash […]
Advice for an Emerging Physician Leader – 032
Dr. Cindy Wang is a an emerging physician leader seeking advice to help advance her hospital management career. She responded to my offer to provide mentorship in exchange for recording and posting our conversation here on the podcast. First, My Sincere Thanks Before we get into our interview today, I’d like to thank all of you who sent me condolences following last week’s episode. I deviated from my usual topics [...]
Tribute to My Mother, Vicky Sorrentino Jurica – 031
Today's episode is going to be a little different. In part, I wish to explain my absence last week. And I want to express my thoughts about my recently deceased mother, Vicky Sorrentino Jurica. And present a tribute to her. So you won't be hearing anything today about nonclinical careers, or side gigs, or physician leadership, except maybe tangentially. And I'm still not exactly sure why I'm recording this. Other [...]
Dr. Charmaine Gregory Ends Burnout Through Health and Fitness Coaching – 030
Dr. Charmaine Gregory, Emergency Medicine Nocturnist, lost the joy of practicing medicine, and was struggling with burnout. By attending to her own fitness, coaching others, and bringing balance back into her life was she able to eliminate her burnout. Before we get into our interview today, let me repeat an offer I made to my email subscribers. Special Mentoring Offer to Subscribers I remember when I was first interested in [...]
Digital Health Innovator Sylvia Romm Personifies Telehealth Opportunities – 029
Sylvia Romm is a pediatric hospitalist with an MPH from Harvard University, and a telehealth expert. She is a digital health innovator who created and then sold her own niche telemedicine company called Milk on Tap. She now serves as VP of Medical Affairs at American Well, the healthcare IT company that bought her business. Telehealth Today, we address a field that is not often talked about when discussing career [...]
Root Causes of Physician Burnout – Interview with Dr. Dike Drummond – 028
I really enjoyed today's interview addressing the causes of physician burnout and its remedies. I knew I was talking with someone with very deep knowledge of the subject matter. Photo by Maria Freyenbacher on Unsplash But, before I tell you about the interview, let me remind you about a new “how-to-guide” I’ve written called 5 Nonclinical Careers You Can Pursue Today. It’s a 24-page manual, complete with checklists [...]
Follow These 8 Steps to a Career in Quality Improvement – 027
In this episode, I respond to a listener's question about pursuing a career in quality improvement. Her ultimate goal is to become a chief medical officer for a health system. I list the tactics I would use to achieve that career goal. Free Career Transition Guide Before I jump into today’s content, I need to tell you about a new “how-to-guide” I’ve written. It’s a 24-page manual, complete with checklists [...]
What Did We Learn and Where Are We Going After 25 Episodes? – 026
In this episode, I answer this question: What did we learn in the first 25 episodes of this podcast? I'll also describe where I plan to go next. I produce this podcast because I’ve personally pivoted to a nonclinical career. And I think that's a valid option that frustrated physicians should seriously consider. Over a period of several years, I shifted from full-time clinical practice to full-time hospital chief medical [...]
Boost Your Career Trajectory by Completing an Executive MBA with Dr. Kate Atchley – 025
I was very interested in hearing more about physician executive MBA programs. It's something that commonly comes up when speaking about nontraditional careers for physicians. As I talk with physicians who are early in the process of career transition, one of the bits of advice they often receive from friends and family is to “get an MBA, it will help open doors.” However, committing to an MBA is a serious decision, not [...]
The Ultimate Resource to Spark Your Transformation to Physician Leader with Dian Ginsberg – 024
I joined the American College of Physician Executives in 1994. It was one of the best resources I've ever found for fledgling physician leaders. It is now called the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL). And it has continued to provide education and support for me and thousands of other physician leaders. I thought it would be helpful to discuss the organization. It is clearly dedicated to promoting physician leadership. [...]
The Journey From Career Loss to Physician Advocate with Dr. Stephanie Pearson – 023
In this podcast episode, I speak with Dr. Stephanie Pearson, a disability expert and physician advocate. A work-related injury forced Stephanie to leave her specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. Next, she found her disability insurance carrier unwilling to cover her injury. This put her family at risk. Yet, she overcame these challenges, becoming a disability expert and physician advocate along the way. Not every physician who is struggling to find [...]
How to Become a Medical Writer with Dr. Mandy Armitage – 022
In this podcast episode, I speak with Dr. Mandy Armitage about her career as a medical writer. She was trained and board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and sports medicine. After working clinically, she transitioned to working full-time in medical writing. She has experience as a freelancer and a full-time employed writer. She currently serves as a Medical Director for HealthLoop and continues freelance medical writing at Armitage Medical. I've [...]
My Biggest Money Mistakes – Bonus Episode – 021
In this episode, I'll be describing four big money mistakes I've made over the years. Following that, I'm pleased to be able to tell you about a course for high income professionals that will help you avoid them, and other financial blunders. This is a BONUS EPISODE, that I really didn't want to delay publishing. I'm excited about an opportunity that dropped in my lap, so I wanted to tell [...]
10 Reasons Why You Should Pursue a Hospital Management Career – 020
In this episode, I'll be explaining why I think you should pursue a hospital management career. It’s just me today. A new interview will return next week. So, I’m going to take this opportunity to talk about something that's near and dear to my heart. As stated in the opening of my podcast each week, the goal of this podcast is to inspire, inform, and support you as you pivot [...]
Entrepreneur and Business Owner – Interview with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming – 019
In this podcast episode, Mike Woo-Ming, MD, MPH, describes how and why he started his current business. He then takes us back to his successful side hustle while still in residency, and highlights many of the other clinical and non-clinical businesses he developed during his career. Mike is a family physician, entrepreneur, speaker, author, medical marketing strategist, and consultant. He completed his master's degree in public health at the University [...]
Achieve the Life You Want with Career Coach Dr. Heather Fork – 018
In this podcast episode, I speak with physician career coach Heather Fork, MD, CPCC. She describes her own personal journey and her experiences helping physicians achieve the life they want. I found this interview to be very inspiring. She distills years of coaching into a clear outline for career transition. In addition, her own transition, from clinical medicine to a career she loves, serves as a beacon of hope to [...]
Create the Ideal Resume – Interview with Charlotte Weeks – 017
In this podcast episode, I talk with career coach and certified resume-writing expert, Charlotte Weeks, about creating that ideal resume. For most career pivots, we’re going to need to send out a resume. So, I’ve had this topic on my “to do” list for quite a while. And I’m very pleased to present my conversation with Charlotte Weeks. Charlotte is an Executive Career Coach, Executive Resume Writer and Outplacement Consultant. [...]
How to Quietly Build Leadership Skills As You Serve a Nonprofit – 016
In this episode, we discuss how volunteering to serve a nonprofit board provides leadership experience and expedites career transition. A Book Review As I’ve studied the issue of career transition, I’ve often encountered burnout as a reason to shift careers. But there is an ignored cousin to burnout: physician suicide. The physician suicide rate is double that of the general population. And it appears, at least anecdotally, that the training [...]
Answer These Questions Before You Quit Medicine – Interview with Dr. Robert Gleeson – 015
In this podcast episode, I speak with Dr. Robert Gleeson about the questions we might ask ourselves before we quit medicine. As an author, physician executive, and leadership coach, he has explored burnout and possible career transition with over 100 physicians. He recommends we do some serious soul-searching before throwing in the towel on our clinical careers. Before getting into the interview, I present another podcast by one of our [...]
Personality Types and Physician Burnout with Heather Fork
This week's blog post is a Guest Post by Heather Fork, MD, CPCC, who blogs at Doctor's Crossing. She provides advice on how to manage our burnout based on our personality types. Heather is a certified coach and owner and founder of Doctor’s Crossing. It's there that she works with physicians who are seeking to renew and reinvigorate their careers and avoid burnout. After practicing for 9 years in her own successful [...]
Reasons to Pursue a Career in Medical Informatics – Interview with Dr. Brian Young – 014
In this podcast episode, I speak with Dr. Brian Young about medical informatics. He is an Enterprise Physician Informaticist with Dignity Health, a 38-hospital system with sites in California, Nevada and Arizona. Brian received his medical training at Wake Forest, a master's degree in predictive analytics at Northwestern University, and his MBA from the University of Cincinnati. He is a credentialed Epic trainer and has been involved with multiple implementations [...]
5 Reasons to Discard the Victim Mindset and Start to Lead – 013
In this episode, we explore the victim mindset. It's easy to fall into a pattern of complaining about our circumstances. Many of our colleagues jump in and fan the flames of discontent. [This topic was first addressed in Physicians: Stop Complaining and Start Leading in July 2017 – VPE]. But when we find ourselves wallowing in victimhood, we ought to shift our perspective and make a commitment to lead instead. Dr. [...]
Meet the Modern Physician Advisor – Interview with Dr. Timothy Owolabi – 012
In this podcast episode, I talk with physician advisor and medical director, Timothy Owolabi. But first, I want to describe an opportunity and a podcast review. Opportunity Here’s the potential opportunity: I decided to participate in Michael Hyatt’s goal setting program called 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. I know it is a great program, and I'm a big believer in setting annual goals. It was something our hospital [...]
Small Steps Today Surpass Grand Leaps Tomorrow – 011
In this episode, we explore small steps that you can take to begin your career transition. While I generally prefer to bring you interviews with experts or physicians who have completed a career change, today is a solo episode. The Thanksgiving holiday presented some challenges to the podcasting process. […]
Break Through the Mindset That's Blocking You – Interview with Dr. Michelle Mudge-Riley – 010
In this episode, my guest helps you to break through the mindset that's keeping you from pursuing a new career. But before we get into the interview, let me mention a couple of other important topics. PNC Podcast Milestone First, this post represents a minor podcast milestone – Episode Number 10. As I reflect on these first 10 episodes, I want to thank you for joining me. You’re the reason [...]
Follow These Steps to Create an Awesome LinkedIn Profile – 009
In this episode, I'll be walking you through the steps to create an awesome LinkedIn profile, as was promised in Episode #8. But first, I’m going provide a quick book review. Book Review I recently picked up a copy of Do You Feel Like You Wasted All That Training?: Questions from Doctors Considering a Career Change. Written by Michael J. McLaughlin, and published in 2007, it provides answers to dozens [...]
Latest Update on the Podcast and Blog
Hello readers and listeners. I'm presenting this latest update on what's going on here at Physician NonClinical Careers Podcast and the Vital Physician Executive Blog. As you've probably noticed, I launched the podcast a few weeks ago. The episodes are being posted right here on the blog every week. They're also accessible on their own PNC Podcast Page. Each podcast episode has its own post that describes the material for those that prefer to [...]
Top Reasons to Use LinkedIn – 008
In this episode, we explore the top reasons to use LinkedIn. During the recent SEAK NonClinical Careers for Physicians Conference, I was surprised by the number of times LinkedIn was mentioned. It is a critical tool when seeking a nonclinical job. In one presentation the speaker noted that LinkedIn was the primary method for finding jobs as a medical writer. In this week’s podcast, I address two of three major [...]
Burnout and Career Transition – Interview with Dr. Kernan Manion – 007
I'm excited about presenting this interview with Dr. Kernan Manion. In our interview, Kernan provides his insights on the interplay between physician burnout and career transition. Dr. Kernan Manion is a psychiatrist, coach, and consultant. His primary coaching clients are physicians addressing career transition and/or burnout. He also provides consulting programs for hospitals and health systems. Early in his career, he worked with PTSD, stroke, and head injury patients. In [...]
Review of SEAK NonClinical Careers for Physicians Conference 2017 – 006
I just spent the past weekend at the 14th Annual SEAK meeting dedicated to NonClinical Careers. I met physicians who have successfully transitioned into a nonclinical career and were serving as mentors. The attendees were physicians considering a career pivot, or in the midst of pursuing one. In addition to attending several very interesting presentations, I had a chance to meet several very interesting experts on various nonclinical careers. I'm [...]
Clinical Documentation Improvement – Interview with Dr. Cesar Limjoco – 005
Dr. Cesar Limjoco joins me on this week's episode. I've known Cesar for many years. He is a recognized expert on Clinical Documentation Improvement. During our conversation, he shares his advice about becoming a Medical Advisor for Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI). Cesar is a nationally recognized consultant. He has helped set up CDI programs at hospitals across the country. He’s been doing this work for over 30 years. I remember him [...]
Follow Six Essential Rules to Engage a Mentor – 004
In this podcast episode, I talk about mentors and coaches. My primary focus is on mentors. But I’ll spend a few minutes distinguishing them from coaches. I finish up by listing six rules to follow to find and engage a mentor. Who Needs a Mentor? Anyone thinking about exploring a new career, or just trying to excel at their current one, will benefit from having a knowledgeable and motivated mentor. [...]
Seeking an MBA – Interview with Atish Jaiswal – 003
Today I’m bringing you my first interview. It involves a colleague who is seeking an MBA. The topic was mentioned on my blog at Top 10 Reasons to Pursue a Business Degree. This interview should provide additional insights in to the issue. You may have been expecting an episode addressing mentors, but I decided that I wanted to present this conversation first. The episode about mentors will follow this one. Today’s [...]
The Proper Way to Pivot – 002
In this episode, we explore the proper way to pivot to a nonclinical career. Granted, there may be various ways to make such a change. But there is good evidence that following this process will minimize your risk while optimizing your odds of success. There are four major phases, some of which can easily overlap. I plan to use this model of the four phases to help organize future episodes of this [...]
Getting Acquainted with Physician NonClinical Careers Podcast – 001
Welcome to the first episode of the Physician NonClinical Careers podcast. This podcast is an offshoot of this blog. But instead of addressing emerging physician executives exclusively, I've designed this podcast to inspire, inform and support doctors looking to pivot to any nonclinical full- or part-time career. The podcast will include episodes addressing general topics, such as leadership, management, education, negotiation, motivation, and self-confidence. I will also talk about specific [...]
How to Support Physician NonClinical Careers Podcast Launch
I've witnessed an explosion in interest in physician nonclinical careers over the past few years. Whether because of increasing frustration and burnout, or a desire to "scale" our impact to larger groups of patients, physicians want to expand into new areas. In order to help support this movement, I am joining a small group of physicians who are creating podcasts to help support our colleagues in this process. [...]
Top Clues Reveal the Victim Mentality
Did I reveal the victim mentality in myself in a recent blog post? I think I did. In an article for my blog a few months ago, what I wrote was perceived as critical of certain physician leaders. I linked to examples of their writing that were popular with physician readers. They pertained to issues that physicians find very intrusive, that promote burnout, and often interfere with the practice of medicine. [...]
Effective Leaders Use Deep Work Wisely
I was becoming really nervous about my lack of preparation for a strategic planning retreat. The CEO, the senior executive team, and several physicians and board members were going to meet in three days to discuss a variety of important issues. One of my assignments was to present a 30 minute review of an important project. This would set the stage for selecting one of several possible approaches to the [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites – September 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites – September 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). The title of this month's post is a misnomer (the Monthly part), given that I did not post a Favorites list in August. That was intentional. Since I reduced my posting frequency from twice-weekly to weekly, I [...]
Not All Leadership Dyads Are Created Equal
Leadership Dyads have been touted as the solution to the challenge of executing complex initiatives in hospitals and health systems. Meaningful physician leadership has been found to be the missing component in some of these implementations. The thinking goes that partnering a strong executive with an engaged physician can overcome physician resistance to such new programs. But not all leadership dyads are created equal. What Is Dyad Leadership? As described in a [...]
Growth And Discomfort for the Vital Physician Executive
The title of this post is intended to have two meanings. Any manager, leader, or executive generally finds that there is rarely growth without discomfort. Growth and discomfort (sometimes outright pain) are usually linked. It also indicates that this blog itself is due for some growth. When I jumped in and took my first executive position as vice president for medical affairs, it began a period of growth that I [...]
Effective But Unorthodox Career Advice
When considering a career pivot, mentors and advisors often include an admonition to follow your passion as a key piece of advice. After all, following one’s passion means that you will stick with it. You won’t easily be swayed from working on something you're passionate about, so you'll see it through, even when there are big challenges. To do otherwise would seem to be unorthodox career advice. Besides, numerous surveys [...]
Top Reasons to Be LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social networking site designed for the business community. The site allows registered members to establish networks of people they know and trust professionally. To be LinkedIn is to be part of a business and professional network. It was founded in 2002 and is now owned by Microsoft. With over 500 million users worldwide, it boasts about 130 million users in the United States. It currently posts about [...]
Use This Proven 6-Step Process to Deliver Bad News
To make some extra money, I worked as an internal medicine intern for a short while after graduating early from medical school, while waiting to start my family medicine residency. While covering the medical floors and ICU, one of the duties that I felt very unsure about was to deliver bad news to patients and their families. On several occasions, I recall feeling totally unprepared to inform an elderly woman that her [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites – July 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites – July 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). Leadership Favorites – July 2017 Edition This month's favorites follow… Accumulate More Wealth as an Administrator Medscape recently presented the findings from its most recent salary survey. It included a list of factors that correlate with higher [...]
My Greatest Shortcoming as a Senior Hospital Leader
As I think back to my early experiences as a hospital executive, I recall a fairly steep learning curve. The AAPL management courses I attended helped. But it wasn't until I saw the principles taught in those courses applied in the real world that they started to sink in. And that's also when I began to see my greatest shortcoming as a leader. Most financial, human resource and management concepts eventually became [...]
Physician Leaders: Top 10 Reasons to Pursue a Business Degree
About a year ago, I wrote about the need for a business degree. In my post, I listed Four Reasons to Seek a Business Degree. Since then, I have witnessed some of my colleagues enroll in MBA programs. All healthcare organizations benefit from owners or leaders with knowledge of business principles, including private practices. Is it time for you to pursue a business degree? I am re-posting the material from my previous article. [...]
Physicians: Stop Complaining and Start Leading
I'm intrigued by the number of articles written about the frustrations of medical practice. It makes for good reading, because it resonates with many physicians. From bloggers writing about maintainance of certification and regulations that are destroying medicine, to articles on KevinMD about burnout, physicians are not shy about complaining. But maybe it's time to stop complaining and start leading. If you stop in any hospital doctor's lounge, you will certainly [...]
What You Need to Know About Physician Recruiting Incentives
If you work for a large medical group or hospital system, you may be involved with recruiting physicians or negotiating employment agreements. It’s a set of skills worth learning because so many systems are on a recruiting binge. Salary levels have consistently grown at single digit rates for years. But the type and size of physician recruiting incentives have been more variable. With the recent release of the Merritt Hawkins 2017 [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites – June 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites – June 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). Leadership Favorites – June 2017 Edition This month's favorites follow… How Leaders Kill Trust In 16 Ways Leaders Kill Trust, Skip Prichard provides a guest post by his colleague Bruce Rhoades. Rhoades lists 16 things leaders commonly do [...]
Inflated Physician Compensation Prompts OIG Scrutiny
Modern Healthcare recently reported that Mercy Hospital Springfield and its affiliate clinic settled a case with the Department of Justice for allegedly submitting false claims to Medicare (Mercy pays $34 million to settle fraud, physician compensation claims). The case involved allegations of inflated physician compensation at an infusion center. Modern Healthcare quoted the DOJ: “When physicians are rewarded financially for referring patients to hospitals or other healthcare providers, it can [...]
How to Stop Your Boss’ Micromanagement Today
Micromanagement can be defined as a management style that involves closely monitoring and/or controlling how employees do their jobs. It's a poor management technique that wastes time, fails to utilize our staff’s full potential, and causes resentment and frustration in those being controlled. … the highway! It is one of the 4 things that drive employees crazy, according to Dan Rockwell. […]
Building a Great Hospital Quality Improvement Program
“How would you design a great hospital quality improvement program?” A distinguished gentleman who looks to be in his 60s is asking the question. He and I are sitting across from each other at the end of a long, dark mahogany conference table. I don’t remember how I came to be here. I probably look a bit confused. “John. Tell me… How would you do that?” […]
Newly Discovered Physician Authored Blogs: 23 Additions
I have previously devoted two posts to blogs written by physicians. I continue to identify new sites as I scour the web for news and reviews to share with my readers. With these newly discovered physician authored blogs, there are 73 for you to explore. (I had 70 on my list, then realized I had forgotten to add The Productive Physician, a blogger I mentioned in my Monthly Leadership Favorites for March, Wealthy Doc and Smart Money [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites May 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites May 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). Leadership Favorites May 2017 Edition This month's favorites follow… Leadership Through Coaching Michael Hyatt provides some great advice in 3 Habits of Highly Effective Coaches. In this post, he mentions a book written by Michael Bungay Stanier: The Coaching Habit: Say [...]
What Are Your Biggest Challenges as a Physician Leader?
I feel that it's time for me to reflect on where VITAL Physician Executive has been, where it's going, and whether I am addressing the biggest challenges for the physician leader. Update on This Blog Last year when I started writing, I committed to myself to post twice a week. And I have stuck by that pretty well. Since June 2016, I have published 84 posts prior to this one. But [...]
Create a Wildly Effective Annual Management Plan
My practice partner and I had been working together for about a year in our small family practice. A medical equipment salesperson approached us promoting a new device that would surely bring in additional practice revenue. After considering the purchase, we decided to proceed. We signed a loan agreement and purchased the device. It would take 5 years to pay back the loan. We were convinced the device would generate procedures that [...]
Unlock Leadership Through Coaching
Before describing how to unlock leadership through coaching, I want to mention that Vital Physician Executive was featured on Future Proof MD. Please check out Future Proof Docs – The Vital Physician Executive and let me know what you think. How to Unlock Leadership Through Coaching My thinking about coaching has been evolving. The Death of Socrates – by Jacques-Louis David As I described in my post comparing coaching and [...]
Pursuing Resilient Physician Leadership
My practice had become a burden. My patients seemed annoying and overly demanding. I was living alone in a small duplex, feeling isolated. I was sleeping more than usual, yet fatigued most of the time. Any resiliency had been stretched and tested and was wearing thin. My usual optimism was gone. I did not become overtly suicidal, but I began to have thoughts about what it would be like if I was [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites – April 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites – April 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). Leadership Favorites – April 2017 Edition This month's favorites follow… United Airlines Faux Pas United Airlines provided some obvious examples recently of how NOT to treat your customers (a.k.a. patients). Without getting into the weeds, here is [...]
Failure Promotes Discovery and Breeds Character
I was awakened at 2:30 AM by the ringing of my home telephone not two feet away. It was startling and disorienting. My “land-line” never rang at night. And my wife and I rarely answer it because only telemarketers call us on that phone. But my wife answered. She determined that the caller wanted to speak to me. After clearing my head for a few seconds and focusing on what [...]
The Looming American Association for Physician Leadership Annual Conference
I really miss attending the physician leadership annual conference of the AAPL. For the past 2 ½ years, I have been consumed with starting a new urgent care center north of Chicago. In addition to interviewing, hiring, writing policies and procedures, and training staff, this required that I study for the American Board of Family Medicine exam (thankfully, I passed!). It also required a thorough review of workers compensation and occupational medicine. [...]
Top Reasons to Reintroduce Your CME Program
I've spent lots of time involved in planning, producing, evaluating and participating in CME. And I've observed over the past two decades that the number of CME providers in Illinois, where I live, has been declining. But there are recent changes that indicate that it's time to reintroduce your CME program if your organization has withdrawn from the CME planning world. Participating in CME (continuing medical education) has been a big part [...]
Preparing to Be a Better Physician Leader – Part 2
I started this series by discussing the attitudes or perspectives that physician leaders should understand and adopt. I would like to complete it with a description of some practical skills that you should seek to learn or enhance. If you are early in the journey, you can try to observe these skills in others as you're preparing to be a better physician leader. This is a process. Like any new realm of [...]
Preparing to Be a Better Physician Leader – Part 1
Several events this week inspired me to think about preparing to be a better physician leader. A colleague reminded me about the upcoming Spring Institute and Annual Meeting of the American Association for Physician Leadership. I had just completed registering myself. And I volunteered to act as an ambassador, assisting with introducing speakers and helping to support the meeting. Networking with colleagues and old friends will be fun. And I look forward to spending [...]
How to Evaluate Direct Reports
Julie waited patiently in the small waiting area in the administrative suite. As the Director for Inpatient Nursing Services , it was time for her biweekly meeting with Patricia (Pat), the Chief Nursing Officer. Pat opened the door to her office and motioned for Julie to come in and sit down. As she did, Pat recalled the lecture she attended the previous year about how to evaluate direct reports, and the [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites – March 2017 Edition
It's time for the VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites – March 2017 Edition. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally from outside of healthcare (but not always). March Favorites This month's favorites follow… Productivity Pointers Create a Personal Mission Statement for the Life YOU Want by the Productive Physician should inspire us to become more intentional This is the first time I am offering content from [...]
The Eight Essential Abilities The CEO Wants In A Chief Medical Officer
I am sometimes asked: what does a CEO look for in a CMO? I've heard this discussed at the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) meetings and American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) meetings, and it was a topic of discussion during the week-long tutorial for the Certified Physician Executive (CPE) qualification. I've looked at dozens of job descriptions which also provides insight into identifying the essential abilities the CEO wants in [...]
Blogging Has Taught Me 9 Keys To Writing Quickly And Clearly
After making a commitment to write consistently at Vital Physician Executive, I quickly learned that writing regularly can be a daunting task. From topic selection, to creating content efficiently, it is a process that requires practice and a perseverence. I've sought to learn the keys to writing quickly and efficiently. I believe the effort has been worth it, because the written word is so important for inspiring, teaching, entertaining and engaging [...]
Today I Try to Use A Leader's Two Most Important Skills
The Chief Operating Officer and I were meeting one day, and the Director of the Laboratory was asked to join us to discuss a staff challenge she had been having. As the director for the laboratory, she reported to me. We met regularly to discuss progress on her goals, any issues with the medical staff, and the other usual challenges that might arise. I was hoping to learn more about using a [...]
5 Benefits To Healthcare Executive Blogging Guaranteed To Deepen Your Influence
As healthcare executives, we must communicate clearly and effectively. This can be difficult at times. One-on-one communication is fairly straightforward. But how do we communicate regularly with dozens of physicians, hundreds of constituents, or thousands of patients? And how can it be done in a way that encourages a two-way dialogue? Perhaps healthcare executive blogging is the answer. As chief medical officer, one of my primary challenges was connecting with [...]
How to Pivot and Launch A New Career: A Book Review
I recently read the book Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, by Jenny Blake. It presented a model for career transformation that can be applied by clinicians seeking to move from patient care to an executive position. In the paragraphs that follow, I am going to explain how her pivot method can help you launch a new career as a healthcare executive. What is a Career [...]
5 Reasons Why You Must Lead the Crusade to Abolish Hospital Sentinel Events
I was sitting in a small conference room. Having worked full-time as hospital Chief Medical officer, I was now interviewing for a position in a larger institution. Midway through my interviews, I was talking with the hospital board chairman. He brought up the topic of hospital sentinel events. Apparently there had been a sentinel event at his organization and the chair and his board were quite concerned. He explained that it [...]
Monthly Leadership Favorites February 2017 Edition
OK – it's time for another edition of VITAL Physician Executive's Monthly Leadership Favorites. In this feature I share inspiring and enlightening advice from respected leaders, generally outside of the healthcare field. This month's favorites follow… […]
Are You Intrigued or Entertained by These 50 Physician Authored Blogs?
This month I am adding 20 blogs to my initial list, to present 50 physician authored blogs. You may recall that I posted my first list of 30 blogs at My Fascination with Physician-Authored Blogs. I've added twenty new sites. All 50 of them are included in this updated table. The new ones are listed at the top. In the updated list, there are several that have more of a commercial [...]
How to Prepare Quality Reports Your Board is Begging to See
For this post, I'm going to “nerd out.” I love using data. And I love monitoring, improving and discussing quality and safety. That was one of the fun things I did as hospital CMO. I also enjoy playing around with ways to display data, especially for lay people with a limited understanding of statistics. So today we will make our way to the “popular” Bubble Graph (well – it's popular with me [...]
Why the Hospital Pharmacy Director Should Report to the Senior Physician Executive
Each hospital CEO must determine which departments should logically report to each senior executive. Historically, the vice president for medical affairs or chief medical officer was hired to address the medical staff and its governance, continuing medical education and quality improvement. But there is another department head that should report to the senior physician executive of a hospital: the hospital pharmacy director. Pharmacy Medication administration is one of the most [...]
Interview With Lawrence Earl, MD, of UrgentCareMentor
Welcome to my second interview with a successful physician executive and leader. This time, I interview Lawrence Earl, MD. Larry made the transition early in his career from practicing clinician to medical director and then owner/CEO of his own urgent care company. He later sold his practice to Concentra, a large provider of urgent care and occupational medicine services that is very well-known in the urgent care arena. I know [...]
Does An Executive Salary Stand Up to a Clinical Salary?
One of the things that was nice about being on the executive team of a hospital was the possibility of making a year-end bonus. The bonus was generally tied to achieving four or five organizational goals, but we had a good team and we generally received 70 to 80% of the monies that we were eligible for each year. The bonus was usually paid in March. Including the bonus dollars, [...]
11 Medication Safety Rules You Must Adopt
Every year, the health system pharmacy director and I would sit down and review the latest Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) list of best practices. These are practices based on reports of medication errors from hospitals across the country. When the ISMP identifies a trend, it seeks the root causes. It then compiles preventive strategies and publishes them as ISMP Best Practices for Hospitals. I found these best practices to be [...]
7 Must See Hospital Board Reports
I was walking towards the cafeteria one morning when I recognized one of our hospital board members. I recalled seeing him at one the meetings where I had presented hospital board reports addressing quality. We stopped to chat for a minute. He had been on the board for several years, and had an intimate knowledge of the performance of the hospital. He knew many of the local medical staff. His [...]
Here's What Happens When You Fail to Communicate
Over the years, I have witnessed some minor disasters that could have been averted with a little better communication and planning. Some of these nightmares were of my doing. Some were by other overconfident leaders who could not find the time nor self-discipline to engage in the fierce conversations that were needed to avert them. But bad things can happen when you fail to communicate consistently. One of the more [...]
Monthly Favorites – January 2017 Edition
Rather than lecture you on some aspect of hospital leadership or management, I am sharing my favorites from the blogs that I read regularly. The topics will generally be about leadership. However, since I follow a number of personal finance blogs written by physicians, I share those, too. And there may be a few that are completely out of left field, if I think they are interesting or entertaining. This month's favorites… [...]
Interview with Jeremy Blanchard from Language of Caring
One of my favorite pastimes is to listen to interviews on podcasts like the Tim Ferris Show (of The 4-Hour Workweek fame). I also like to read written interviews such as the recent one by Physician on Fire with Jim Collins. After starting this blog, I began to wonder if an interview might be of interest to my readers. One of the subgroups of my audience is physicians who are just starting or [...]
4 Crucial Steps to Take Before Choosing a Management Career
I was about 5 years into my medical career. It was a busy and exciting time. I finally felt confident in my clinical skills and I was ready to immerse myself in a new subject matter. I had not yet considered a management career. My partners and I had started a pension plan and we were making regular contributions. But none of us really knew how we should invest our [...]
VITAL Physician Executive Additions: Top Picks and Resources
One of the things I enjoy is checking out the websites, blogs and podcasts recommended by my favorite bloggers. I also like to check out their book recommendations. So, I am using this post to announce Vital Physician Executive additions: two new pages. The first is a list of Top Picks. This is a list of the best of the blogs and podcasts that I regularly scan and/or consume. I think [...]
Why Demoralize Your Employed Physicians Over Tail Coverage?
I was sitting across the table with a new family physician recruit for the third time. He was a particularly challenging recruit to work with, but we really needed family physicians. We had added several physician assistants and nurse practitioners and we needed qualified primary care physicians to collaborate with them. We were back to discussing tail coverage. I had explained to the candidate that it was our practice to require tail coverage [...]
Do the Right Thing
Brenda was having her usual busy day. She had just started her morning coffee and was getting ready to leave the house. As she glanced at her schedule, she saw that she had agreed to meet with her siblings that afternoon. They were supposed to discuss their elderly parents. There were issues that needed to be clarified before proposing some options about future living arrangements. It was going to be [...]
Christmas Morning Thoughts and Stories
I remember the old movies depicting the chaos and excitement of children waking up early and rushing to check the Christmas tree for presents, just as the sun comes peeking over the horizon. Then, the parents slowly, but happily, wake up and join the children on Christmas morning. Compared to our house, with 10 (yes, TEN) children, those scenes resembled a solemn funeral procession compared to the cyclone that hit our house at [...]
Hospital Quality Improvement Mirrors Strategic Execution
I started this series describing an approach to execution of management goals described in the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling. The design of the WIG (wildly important goal) was described in detail. But what comes next? Let’s imagine that your team has selected a WIG. And the goal is written in the format of “from X to Y by when.” [...]
How to Go From Goal Setting to Execution
I made it a habit to meet with my directors on a monthly basis to update them on news from the senior executive team and CEO. We used the opportunity to prepare for our annual budget and set management goals. There was always some trepidation about execution of our goals, as our annual bonuses were linked to achieving them. During the year, we also used those meetings to assess our progress in [...]
The Monthly Favorites – December 2016 Edition
Rather than lecture you on some aspect of hospital leadership or management, I have decided to share some of my monthly favorites from the blogs that I read regularly. The topics will generally be about leadership. However, since I follow a number of personal finance blogs written by physicians, I will share some of those, too. And there may be a few that are completely out of left field, if [...]
4 Tactics for Building Trust and Inspiring Your Team
It was both exciting and intimidating to participate in weekly operational and strategic meetings as a new member of the team. One of the first things I observed was how the CEO was building trust among the team members at almost every meeting. I was the newly appointed vice president for medical affairs (VPMA). I had convinced our CEO that is was time to add a formal physician leader to [...]
Why Hospital Leaders Need to Prepare for Workplace Violence
I didn't consider workplace violence to be a top priority at my hospital. I'd hear about staff injuries from patients in the emergency room and intensive care unit, but they seemed sporadic and isolated. Later, I began to hear about the fears that the nursing staff was expressing about the aggressive behavior of visitors and patients in those locations. Then my daughter started working as a social worker at a large [...]
My Fascination With Physician-Authored Blogs
I was inspired to start writing my blog after reading several other physician-authored blogs. Some have been around for years. Others are relative newcomers, like mine. Blogs (or “web-logs”) started out as a place to write a diary or journal. Many were rather light-hearted. Some written by physicians have become very serious, with descriptions of memorable clinical encounters or important health industry news and commentary. Others have become a source of [...]
Shape Your Hospital Performance Measures and Boost Your Reputation
I remember the first time our CEO announced to our board of directors that we had received the Top 100 Hospital designation. I believe the award was “owned” by Solucient at the time. It actually came as a shock because we were not expecting it. I was VPMA back then. We were just vaguely aware of the hospital performance measures it used. The CEO and board were very proud of [...]
Why Both a Coach and a Mentor Are Vital to Your Career
Don was about 15 years my senior. He was an awesome mentor. We met while working on projects for the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) Committee on CME Accreditation. This committee was responsible for approving intrastate providers of AMA Category 1 CME. A Mentor To Me Don was the chair of the committee prior to my being appointed to it. So he had been involved in CME for many years. [...]
Regrets and Nostalgia on Thanksgiving Day
I'm making myself crazy. I'm working on Thanksgiving Day, seeing a trickle of patients (about one per hour). This is to be expected. But I am beating myself up because I am overdue for my next blog post (in my internal schedule it was due to be published a day or two ago). In actual fact, I had about 70% of a post ready to go two days ago. But [...]
How I'm Using SMART Goals for 2017 and You Can Too
For this post, I thought I would discuss SMART goals and use them for my blog for 2017. It is quite common for each executive in a healthcare organization to create management goals for the coming year. Then the CEO and the senior executive team discusses and approves them. All of the divisional goals are ultimately presented to the Board of Directors. Your directors will create their goals as well, as we [...]
Become a Physician Leader and Save the Medical Profession
In the 1950’s, one-third of hospitals were run by a physician leader. By 1982, less than 3% were physician-led. That number is running about 6% now. And the healthcare industry has been in the throes of major changes. One of the consequences has been the growing employment of physicians. The expansion of this employment model is having serious negative effects on our profession. Physicians have become commoditized. Today, we seem [...]
Resources for the Emerging Physician Leader
Looking back, I may not have taken the most obvious route to becoming Chief Medical Officer. But the journey was fairly sequential. And there were several resources that helped me to feel confident as a physician leader. There is more need today than ever for skilled physician leaders. There are several specific steps that hopeful executives can take to enhance their competencies. But each physician will need to determine his or her own [...]
From SWOT Analysis to Inspired Goal Setting
The end of the year was looming. I sat with my directors in a brainstorming session. We had previously walked through a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). We had identified dozens of ideas in each category of the analysis, using the process that I described in When To Use a SWOT Analysis. Now how would we proceed from SWOT analysis to goal setting? This was an annual ritual. But [...]
Use Root Cause Analysis Approach to Fine-Tune the Job Interview
Recruiting new staff is a big challenge. I have found the job interview to be especially unrewarding. It is time-consuming. And the results are often disappointing, in terms of finding the best team members. I am no HR guru, and no expert on the use of screening programs for hiring. But I have been involved in interviewing and recruiting many new employees for my practice and the hospital where I worked as CMO. [...]
How Being Early Builds Success
In addition to blogging on a regular basis, I am a practicing family physician. I work in an urgent care clinic as medical director and clinician. As I arrived early for my shift this morning, I thought, “you know, there are many advantages to being early.” My commute is rather long (over an hour each way). On 2 or 3 occasions I have been severely delayed due to major accidents on [...]
Stop Making These Business Email Mistakes
Office email had become a major aggravation for me. Along with the occasional helpful or important message, I was wading through dozens of useless and bothersome emails whenever I had a spare moment. I was deleting dozens of messages that added nothing to my effectiveness as chief medical officer. Many of the incoming emails were rambling or outright confusing. Some left me wondering about their purpose: to inform me? ask for advice? [...]
What's Driving Physician Obsession with Compensation And How Can You Help?
Employed physicians are very concerned with their contracts and compensation. What sometimes seems like a legal formality to employers, is a document (employment agreement) that basically defines the legal boundaries of their professional lives. Newly employed physicians often ask me how to maximize their incomes under their current employment agreements. As an administrator dealing with employed physicians, it is easy to become cynical about this topic. It seems as if some [...]
How to Serve Your Community And Learn Business Skills
I have found that volunteering in various community activities can provide meaningful lessons for physician leaders. I think it is especially useful to work on a nonprofit board. Doing so provides real value to your community while enhancing several important skills. A Touching Letter About fifteen of us were sitting around the conference room table. The hospice executive director was reading a letter from a client's daughter. The daughter wrote about how thankful [...]
Effective Teams Crave Conflict
When I first joined the executive team at my hospital as its VPMA (vice president for medical affairs), little did I know that conflict would become a welcome part of the job. One of the most challenging aspects was learning to contribute more openly in weekly strategic meetings. I had some exposure to strategic planning meetings as a hospital board member and on various committees in my state medical society. But this [...]
Attitudes You Should Drop Now to Succeed as a Leader
As physicians, we easily fall into the trap of blaming outside influences (e.g., insurance companies, regulators and big hospital systems) for our daily frustrations. We become quietly resigned to long hours and declining payments. Paradoxically, because we write “orders” we also become accustomed to having things our way in our offices and hospitals. But as emerging physician executives, we must reject these attitudes in order to successfully lead. The Surprise I was meeting with one of [...]
Six Signs of Lack of Trust in the C-Suite
A primary skill that a new physician executive needs relates to working in teams: to effectively lead teams and to be an able team member. Lack of trust will kill the effectiveness of an executive team. If team members aren't comfortable with expressing their truths, the team will perform poorly. The definition of trust that we used in our executive team followed the definition given by Peter Lencioni in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A [...]
Health System Physician Employment Is Still Growing
Physician employment by hospitals grew 49% between July 2012 and July 2015, according to the Physicians Advocacy Institute. Many formerly independent physicians have sold their practices and become employed. A high percentage of newly trained physicians are also signing with hospitals and health systems. physician employment contract “Let's call it quits.” I said. “We've been negotiating this agreement off and on for three years.” The CFO looked at me: “I'd [...]
Six Steps for Delivering Outstanding Patient Safety
patient safety Patient safety can sometimes be a nebulous concept. Like quality, it is difficult to define, but most of us recognize it when we see it. I was standing in a conference room, trying to explain to a group of vocal physicians why we needed to approve a Code of Conduct for the medical staff. It was one of our quarterly medical staff meetings, so there were a [...]
The Need for Vitality
There are a lot of personal attributes that physician leaders need to foster in themselves and encourage in others: Accountability Integrity Passion Patience Discipline But there is one that I think is often neglected: Vitality Vitality is defined as “the power to endure or survive; mental or physical vigor; energy.” But vitality is not as easily maintained as some other leadership attributes. […]
Physician Leaders: Four Reasons to Seek a Business Degree
A common question arises when considering a career change to a non-clinical position. If you're seeking work as an administrator, you may be thinking: “Will I need a business degree?”. It seems that more physician leaders have an MBA, MHA, MMM or MPH (an MPH is not actually a business degree, but a significant number of physician executives seem to have one). A business or management degree is definitely not a requirement for a career [...]
Five Reasons to Become a Hospital Executive
I was very anxious to hear the results of the election. I was nearing the end of my second year of family medicine residency. I had adjusted to the stress of changing clinical rotations every 4 to 8 weeks. I was starting to feel more confident with the clinical material. But I was drawn to leadership opportunities. At our program, the chief resident was elected by the other residents. I “ran” for the [...]
Physician Salaries and OIG Risk
I have been following news reports about recent OIG (Office of Inspector General) investigations related to physician compensation. These investigations have resulted in fines related to alleged Stark Law and FCA (False Claims Act) violations. There seems to be more activity recently, including investigations in response to whistle-blower lawsuits. Here is my take: Hospitals and health systems that use survey data (such as MGMA and AMGA) to set compensation levels for [...]
My Apologies
When I started the Vital Physician Executive, I promised myself to post at least twice a week. Since June of this year, I have kept that promise. I am now in the middle of a long-awaited vacation. And I embarrassed that I was not proactive enough to create enough posts to be published during my absence. So, in place of my usual post, I offer a list of interesting physician-written blogs that [...]
Tactics to Cultivate Direct Reports
In the last post, I talked about the Five Intentions I believe every physician executive should have for their direct reports. The intentions are to: Inform Assist Mentor Maintain accountability Evaluate In Part 2, I want to provide some specific actions that can be taken to fulfill those intentions and cultivate your direct reports. […]
Five Intentions For Direct Reports
As presented in a previous post (The Three Domains of the Physician Executive), one of your primary roles as a physician executive is to interact with your direct reports (DRs). These are directors, managers and others over whom you have direct responsibility. This oversight generally includes the following duties: They report to you. So they have a solid line relationship to you on the organizational chart. You may have recruited and hired [...]
More on Understanding Relative Value Units (RVUs) in Employment Agreements
Some of you emerging executives may become involved in recruiting new physicians and negotiating contracts. For those, I am providing the following discussion about the use of worked relative value units (wRVUs) in that process. I previously posted an introduction to the topic here: Physician Employment Agreements. Suppose that your organization is offering the following salary proposal: two years at a fixed salary, followed by a third year in which it converts to a fixed component [...]
4 Tactics to Engage Physicians
I posted an article on LinkedIn recently (Administrators: Trust Your Physician Partners). It addressed the need to engage physicians. It was in response to a short article in Becker's Hospital Review by Michele Molden. The gist was that physicians are often NOT well engaged by hospitals and medical groups. It also noted that improved innovation and effectiveness were tied to autonomy and shared decision-making. I agreed that engagement is uncommon, especially for [...]
Options for a Non-Clinical Career
You've done some soul-searching. You're thinking about a non-clinical career choice. You've tried to address overwhelm and burnout, perhaps utilizing resources such as: Dike Drummond at The Happy MD American Academy of Family Physicians Physicians Helping Physicians Starla Fitch at Starla Fitch, MD Heather Fork at Doctor's Crossing You've come to the conclusion that you want to remain in healthcare, but not in direct patient care. What are your options? There are numerous alternatives for [...]
Is it Time for a Non-Clinical Career?
Those of us that elect to pursue a non-clinical career usually do so because we are pulled by the of excitement of doing something new AND pushed towards it by the pain of our current situation. The push often comes from the frustration with practicing clinical medicine: Endless paperwork Fear of litigation EMRs that add more expense and more waiting with little to show for it Non-compliant, entitled patients that blame us for the results of [...]
Why We Need More Physician Leadership
Over the past decade, there has been an explosion in the number of health systems recruiting high level physician leaders. We have also begun to see the rise of the physician hospital CEO. But we still need more physician leaders. Here is a list of reasons. Shift of Balance of Power In the 20th century, most medical care was provided by independent physicians, either individually or in groups. The number of hospitals and hospital [...]
When to Use a SWOT Analysis
As a physician executive, you will participate in strategic planning, goal setting, and project management. As a business leader, you will need to assess the risks and benefits of pursuing various new initiatives. One of the tools used by business leaders to do such an assessment is a SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The development of the SWOT Analysis (or Matrix) has been [...]
How to Slash Your Hospital Mortality Rate
Patients don't want to be treated at a hospital with a high mortality rate. Doctors and staff don't want to work at a hospital with a high rate. It's scary and embarrassing. But there is more to achieving a low mortality rate than just hiring good staff and implementing evidence-based care. Hospital mortality rankings are heavily dependent on rating agency rules and documentation practices. Rules Matter I was nine years old [...]
Being Indispensable
Is being indispensable important to you? Moving from a clinical career into management can result in culture shock. The shock can be lessened by moving gradually. You start as a medical director. You increase your management hours while gradually reducing your clinical hours. But whether you make the move gradually, or simply move into a full-time executive position overnight, there can be a loss of job security. When you're practicing your [...]
Disruptive Behavior Defeated
An ICU patient just didn’t look right. His heart rate was mildly elevated. His blood pressure had dropped a few points. This was before the we had 24/7 in-house coverage by an intensivist. His nurse called the surgeon. He was not on his best behavior. “This better be good,” he said. She explained the circumstances. He asked a few questions. “Is his urine output OK?” She responded, “Well…” “If you [...]
The Calm Physician Leader
During our senior executive retreats, we did an exercise in which we provided feedback to our team members about their admirable traits. On more than one occasion, others commented that they appreciated my ability to remain calm. Apparently, in contrast to some of the other team members, I was pretty unflappable. We live in a world of accelerating change, financial shortfalls, and looming competition. A leader that is calm in distressing situations [...]
Productivity Tool for Physician Executives
My email in box was getting longer and fuller. I didn't know what to do with all of my electronic files. I was wasting time searching for old journal articles that I had saved. So I needed a tool to catapult my productivity to a new level. I had already gone through two disasters with my passwords. The first time, my hard drive crashed and I lost my list of passwords [...]
4 Benefits of CME/QI Integration
CME Conference Most hospital physician executives are involved with continuing medical education (CME). You are also involved in quality improvement activities. You should consider being a champion of CME/QI integration. For physicians not actively involved in planning CME, it often seems straightforward: select a topic, identify a speaker, present a lecture and use a satisfaction survey to determine if the lecture was successful. As anyone involved in producing CME for AMA [...]
Physician Employment Agreements
I was working as CMO when the VP for the medical group left the organization. The CEO asked if I would temporarily take over administrative responsibility for the division. I knew all of the providers, and I enjoy working with contracts, so it made sense for me to step in. I would soon become well-versed in physician employment agreements. I quickly found that there was a significant backlog of employment agreements [...]
The Three Disappointments of a Lack of Clarity
Let’s define clarity as the quality of being understood in an exact way. No issue is more important for the physician executive than achieving and maintaining clarity. Whether with your direct reports, colleagues, or CEO, clarity is needed at every level. Remodeling Fiasco I promised my wife I would arrange to have the wallpaper in our kitchen and laundry room removed. Then those areas would be repainted. I contacted a [...]
Five Tactics for a Powerful Interview
You’ve worked part-time as a medical director, possibly completed a new masters degree and attended countless conferences produced by the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL). You’ve sent your CV to several recruiters and now it's time for an interview. This is a very exciting time. You want to make a great impression. If we were sitting down for a cup of coffee, here are a few suggestions I would make as you prepare [...]
How to Lead a Top 100 Hospital
We all want to be part of an organization that embodies excellence. And as a physician leader, you are a key to achieving that outcome. Nothing satisfies a board more than recognition as a Top 100 Hospital. A few years into my tenure as VPMA, our CEO left to take a new position, and the COO, after a search that included internal and external interviews, was chosen to lead the organization. [...]
The Three Domains of the Physician Executive
In mid-1999, I was hired as a novice VPMA (vice president for medical affairs) for my new employer, a regional medical center outside of Chicago, Illinois. I had attended many conferences devoted to management and leadership. I had worked as medical director for several different clinics. And, I consistently read the journal produced by the American College of Physician Executives (now called the American Association for Physician Leadership). I felt modestly ready to assume my [...]
Nine Maxims for Masterful Meetings
Not a Good Start I showed up in the small conference room at 1:00 PM as instructed. I had been assigned by the CEO to this multidisciplinary committee. I was the physician representative and liaison to the executive team. The chair had been assigned in a similar fashion and had added this responsibility to her many other duties as a director in the Patient Care Division. When I arrived, there was [...]
Four New Skills Physician Executives Must Learn
As I grew into my role as physician executive, it became apparent that there were several new sets that I needed to learn that were not part of my medical training. As a physician, I was trained to obtain a thorough history and perform a physical exam, to formulate a problem list and differential diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan. In so doing, like other physicians, I learned to: Communicate [...]
Five Steps for the Budding Physician Executive
Five Steps for the Physician Executve It always seemed to me that my classmates in medical school and residency were more intentional than me regarding their life choices. I generally just rode the wave of the “path of least resistance.” During my first year of medical school, many of my classmates were enrolled in the “Med Scholars” program, which meant they were simultaneously working on their M.D. degrees [...]
Hello and Welcome!
John V. Jurica, MD, MPH, CPE My name is John Jurica and I am a physician, entrepreneur, and former hospital executive. I have practiced medicine for 30 years, studied public health, started several medical practices, studied physician leadership, and worked as an integral member of a highly effective executive team. Along the way, I became a Certified Physician Executive (CPE). Welcome to my blog. Thanks for joining me. [...]
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