Careers With Dds/mba?

[Stroszeck]

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I'm interested in getting an MBA along with my DDS (the school gives the MBA free fo charge, so I figure why not) I was wondering if there is any type of starting position that a person can take in an organization or anything fresh outta school with those two credentials, as opposed to just becoming a dentist. I've had A LOT of trouble finding info on the subject, from potential jobs to starting salaries etc. Any info would be HIGHLY appreciated.

PS There are a few other people on this forum who have PM'ed me concerning the same thing, so you'd be helping them out as well. Thanks.

 

[50dent]

i was also curious about the insurance company jobs available to dentist/mba

 

[dentalman]

Hmmm.... Why go to dental school if you want to run an insurance company, or dental supplies company, or who knows? Last time I checked you don't need a DDS for that. Having a business background will help with your own business, however.

 

[darius99]

what school offers this?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I'm interested in getting an MBA along with my DDS (the school gives the MBA free fo charge, so I figure why not) I was wondering if there is any type of starting position that a person can take in an organization or anything fresh outta school with those two credentials, as opposed to just becoming a dentist. I've had A LOT of trouble finding info on the subject, from potential jobs to starting salaries etc. Any info would be HIGHLY appreciated.

PS There are a few other people on this forum who have PM'ed me concerning the same thing, so you'd be helping them out as well. Thanks.

Hello,

I have known some people with DDS/MBA but they don't use their bussiness degrees. I can see the usefulness of having the MBA in cases where you would work in a company where your job is marketing or doing research for dental products. You can call major healthcare companies and inquire about jobs for dentists with emphasis on reasearch or marketing aspects. I cannot say for sure but the salary won't be what you would like compared to private practices though... DP

 

[darius99]

well what about getting the mba in order to learn better business (i.e. practice management) skills? would that be worthwhile?

 

[Dutchboy]

My question would be how would you find the time on top of your dental school load to fit in the MBA classes? Do you think your grades in your dental classes would suffer by going after your MBA?

 

[dentalman]

Yes! I don't see how it would be possible the first two years. Maybe years 3 and 4.

 

[ncalcate]

well what about getting the mba in order to learn better business (i.e. practice management) skills? would that be worthwhile?

I think getting an MBA to learn practice management skills is unnecessary. If you look at some of the topics covered at MBA programs - corporate finance, branding and advertising, global trade, etc.- most of these are geared towards individuals who will be working for corporations, not a small healthcare provider running his/her own practice. Your needs (as a future practicing dentist seeing patients) are almost entirely different. You're unlikely to encounter a situation in private practice in which you need to rely on what you learned in your classes on exchange rates and international trade. So if your objective is to be a practicing clinician, I don't really see the value of a traditional MBA.

 

[dentalman]

Very well put. You would be better off spending that money on buying a practice from someone who could teach you the skills of practice management. The dental office is so specific, there aren't really any traditional courses that will help solely with that. Having said that, I took accounting and a management class in undergrad. Accounting was BORING, but good, and management was a lot of common sense stuff and B.S. with essay writing.

 

[dut99002]

Not all MBA programs force you to take the international classes, etc. You can focus on general management, marketing, or even entrepreneurship. Those might come in useful if you have your own practice. I'm not speaking from experience though, just what I know about business schools and their programs.

 

[PD3]

While I am only a prospective dentist, I do have an MBA. I had professors tell me that they have had several practicing dentists pursue their MBA to improve their practice.

 

[drem2006]

One of my former professors in dental school had an mba. He said it was a waste of time. It hasn't helped him at all in dentistry.