MD MBA options

[Bougie]

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Just wondering if anyone out there has a joint MD MBA degree. As a CA-1 somewhat dismayed by the gloom-and-doom picture everyone paints these days about medicine and anesthesia in particular, it seems to me that this would provide more options down the road. Medicine is becoming more and more like every other big business. Could a joint degree make it easier to land positions such as ICU director, chief medical officer, etc, etc, if everything goes to heck in 10 years? Thanks, this forum rocks.

 

[aredoubleyou]

Medicine is becoming more and more like every other big business. .

I think we (as in those new to medicine) are just finding out that medicine is and has been "big business" for many years. If business is interesting to you, then maybe an MBA is a good idea for you. But I really don't think the sky is falling just yet.

 

[VolatileAgent]

as someone who already has an mba, i'd say don't do it unless you are really interested in business. it will make you more marketable to some practices, but most really don't care. so, it all depends on what you want to do in the long run. personally, i love practicing anesthesia. i intend to concentrate on doing this over the next several years. probably, at some point as i become more senior in private practice, my business training will come in handy. but, you will equally have time to get a business degree once you're out practicing if you want.

bottom line: will it help? maybe but probably not. will it hurt? absolutely not. more training, no matter what it is and if it's applicable to your field, is always a good thing. but, most people would rather spend their time doing other things. fact is, if you have an mba you'll likely get relegated to some part of managing a practice, something you may not have a particular interest in. so, don't do it just to do it or out of fear. you'll be miserable while you're in night school doing something that doesn't really interest you instead of being with your friends/family.

 

[Bougie]

Good advice Volatile. Did you get your MBA before or after residency? Any other MD/DOs out there involved more with the management aspect rather than the clinical aspect of anesthesia? Advantages? Disadvantages? Private vs. teaching hospital roles? Thanks.

 

[VolatileAgent]

well before. anesthesia is a second career. there is a glut of mba's out there, so i don't know how much this would really help an anesthesiologist in his/her career, per se, unless you got your mba from a top 25 business school, which i did not. again, not necessary unless you specifically want to go into management.

if you are still interested, mt. sinai is one program that offers a combined mba/anesthesia-residency program. from what i remember adam levine saying when i interviewed there, there has traditionally not been a lot of interest in that track. that may speak volumes about perceived "necessity" of an mba for an anesthesiologist.