Going Back to School

I seem to be meeting more clinicians who are going back to school to learn about business. The problem is that medical school really doesn't prepare you for the 'real world' often encountered in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, many clinicians who are interested in pursuing non-clinical careers are looking into part-time and online business school opportunities.

I love being a student. I'm a lifelong learner and I like to read and learn about new things. Maybe I'll enroll for some classes this fall if I can justify spending all that money for the coursework. Wouldn't it be great if you could take classes for FREE? Well, in some ways you can. There are many lectures that get posted online. Look on YouTube or do a Google search and you may find something very interesting.

For example, MIT offers FREE courses here:
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

RFP

What's an RFP? If you've only been living in the clinical world, then you may not be familiar with this acronymn.

RFP = request for proposal

This common business acronymn is used when potential customers want proposals for specific projects. For instance, if a customer needs to find a vendor to provider certain services, this customer may send out several RFPs to various vendors and then select a vendor based on the proposal that gets submitted.

Want to learn more? Go here

Network on Ning: non-clinical opportunities and careers

I would like to invite clinicians and students who may be interested in various types of non-clinical careers and opportunities to join this FREE (but private) network:

http://nonclinical.ning.com/

This network is open to physicians, PAs, nurses, NPs, pharmacists, technicians, and students in the healthcare field. It's a great way to meet others and share ideas. Since the network is private, only members will be viewing your information and comments that get posted.

RSS

Have you heard of "RSS?" Depending on who you talk to, RSS can mean different things. For those of us who live in the Web 2.0 world, RSS means: Really Simple Syndication. Others may call it Rich Site Summary.

So what's the point? Well, if you want to stay up-to-date with news from different sources, one of the easiest way is to subscribe to different RSS 'feeds' and use an RSS reader or RSS 'aggregator' to know what's going on.

For example, I subscribe to different FDA RSS feeds so that I can stay current with recalls, press releases, and other important FDA news. How do I do it? Well, I subscribe to the RSS feeds that are listed here:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/rss/

Give it a try and join the RSS world! You can even subscribe to this blog by using an RSS reader.

Med schools asked to shun drug firm freebies

The Assn. of American Medical Colleges also wants schools to ban or limit drug industry programs such as speakers' bureaus. Free lunches, pens or trips to resorts from drug companies should not be accepted. A report by the Assn. of American Medical Colleges calls for these and other restrictions to limit drug and medical device companies' interactions at the nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals. The report's recommendations seek to free the educational environment of industry marketing activities, put buffers in place when industry funding is accepted, and distance physicians and trainees from sales representatives' influence, medical leaders said.AAMC Chief Scientific Officer David Korn, MD, said the recommendations were prompted by concerns that industry funding is increasingly eroding the objectivity and integrity of medical education...

So what do you think?

Discuss on Sermo

Networking with Physician Executives

If you wish to network with other physician executives, I suggest signing up for the ACPE online discussion board. Better yet, join the ACPE and network with others who may have similar backgrounds or interests. Meet medical directors, chiefs, chairs, department heads, CMOs, VPs, and other executives who work in various clinical and non-clinical settings.

Dash Express GPS

If anyone is interested in purchasing a GPS unit for the car, consider the Dash Express

I've been a beta tester for Dash, so I don't get paid by them, but I have walked through part of the development process. I am very impressed by this unit and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a new device.

You'll have internet connectivity on the Dash Express GPS. This means you can search on Yahoo and receive live traffic data from the internet. The device updates itself. The Dash uses GPRS and Wi-Fi to maintain its internet connection. The traffic data comes in very handy if you commute. You can send addressess from your computer directly to your device.

What's more, the Dash allows 3rd party applications! This is a unique feature and I'm curious to see what types of applications will get developed.

Had a great time in Boston!

I had a great time visiting Boston! It was so good to visit MIT, walk through the campus and see some old classrooms. It was also great to see old friends and eat some good food. We went to the Top of the Hub and I earned some OpenTable: Boston Restaurants points for dining there. The weather was beautiful and it was fun to take the T everywhere. Nothing beats eating at Faneuil Hall and watching the performers and entertainers.

Thanks Alice and Phil for your hospitality and being so generous with us!