Physician Executives

Medical school prepares you to be aphysician, not a leader. As a result, doctorsoften lack the business skills theyneed to work in team-oriented environments.According to Martin Hickey,MD, former CEO of Lovelace HealthSystems and past president of theAmerican College of Physician Executives(ACPE; www.acpe.org), that's 1reason doctors don't often rise throughthe medical management ranks. Thereare physicians who have a natural inclinationtoward leadership, however,Dr. Hickey says, and they should beencouraged and trained through masters'programs in management or throughorganizations like the ACPE. In his experience,trying to be a doctor who thinkslike a business executive is the wrongapproach. To succeed, Dr. Hickey saysthat he had to become a business executivewho thought like a doctor.