Browse By Topic and Related Items

Topic Browser

Topic: Career Development Clinical Legal News Practice Management Public Policy Quality SHM SHM Annual Meeting Trends

Related Items

• Email this article

• Filed under: Features, Cover Story, Career Development

Head of the Class

From: The eWire, 03.18.09

by Richard Quinn

Brian Tyson, MD, was named medical director of the hospitalist program at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, Calif., about a year ago, but he still can't learn enough about business drivers, communication, and leadership skills. That's why he attended SHM's Leadership Academy last week in Honolulu.

"I needed some things to work on. ...I think we all need to," says Dr. Tyson, whose HM program is operated by Cogent Healthcare. "This is that opportunity. When people have done things and run things, you don't need to reinvent the wheel. It's easier sometimes to get the keys to success from someone who’s been there."

More than a hundred hospitalists apparently agreed, joining Dr. Tyson at the four-day session. Dr. Tyson found the insights into business particularly helpful, especially because fiscal matters are not a major focus of medical school. Analyzing his managerial personality and identifying his program's strengths and weaknesses were "eye opening," as was the chance to discuss staffing and budget issues with HM directors from different parts of the country.

The leadership program offers two tracks, and the first course must be completed before taking the advanced level. A first-time attendee, Dr. Tyson says he is looking forward to completing the second part of the academy.

"Medicine is changing so much, this helps us manage our programs," he says. "Having the tools to be able to do that is absolutely necessary."