1. List your dream job or jobs.  In a perfect world, one day you will be a medical director.  Briefly describe what you’ll do in this role. What knowledge, skills, or abilities do you think you will need for this job?

My role as a medical director will include tasks of both clinical and administrative duties such as overseeing patient care, ensuring high standards and compliance with regulations are met and maintained, supervising medical staff, strategic planning, budgeting, developing policies and procedures, identifying areas of improvement, and cooperation with other departments of healthcare. I will need knowledge of medical principles, practices, and procedures, leadership skills, communication skills, administrative skills such as budgeting, resource management, and policy development, problem-solving skills, and a degree in health service administration, but also years of clinical experience and other degrees such an MD and DO are very beneficial. 

2. Complete the quiz at https://advance.appily.com/careers/healthcare/quiz
3. Were you surprised by the results of the quiz compared to what you listed as your dream role?

My results were a practitioner. I am not in school right now for a career that is technically patient-facing, however, I do enjoy hands-on care and improving the quality of life for patients. Though this does not align with the dream role I have listed above, I am not surprised by the results because I do regularly consider a career in some type of practitioner role, such as a recreational therapist or radiology technician. 

1. Job Posting Number 1: Center Medical Director – Primary Care Outpatient https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/center-medical-director-%E2%80%93-primary-care-outpatient-at-echelon-search-partners-4068505736?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic  

• Annual base salary of $280,000-$300,000
• On-the-job training provided, need an MD or DO in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, or similar specialty required, current and active MD licensure in the state of employment required, a minimum of 1 year of clinical experience in geriatric, adult, or family practice setting preferred, board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, or similar specialty preferred, board eligibility required, maintain certification in a terminal specialty, and BLS certification from AMA or American Red Cross required.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite products, independently provide care for patients with acute and chronic illness (older patients), appropriately seek consultation from specialists when needed, responsible for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, education, health promotion, care coordination, and documentation of patients, lead care team, lead weekly meetings, monitor, manage, mentor, and coach PCP’s assigned.

2. Job Posting Number 2: Regional Medical Director at HarmonyCares https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=b5ec29cf852a79c4&utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic 

• Does not disclose salary-compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate.
• MD or DO from an accredited medical school required, active medical license required, 5+ years of hospice care, palliative care, or home-based primary care required, experience in medical leadership and clinical innovation expected, maintain a valid driver’s license and good driving record, active CPR certification, completed accredited residency program, ABMS or AOA board certification, 1+ years of leadership/supervisory experience, and experience for caring for patients in their home setting.
• The role includes hands-on clinical care and administrative leadership responsibilities, coordination with others for operational, financial, and clinical performance of clinical teams assigned with the business strategy, vision, mission, and values, of HarmonyCares, developing and maintaining close working relationships, providing oversight and leadership of patient experience and total cost of care/institutional utilization, assist leaders with management, recruiting, retention, performance management of teammates, provide in-home primary care services, and assist to enhance and improve initiatives.

3. Job Posting Number 3: Permanent – Medical Director | Primary Care https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/permanent-medical-director-primary-care-richmond-va-making-over-%24300-000-at-healthcare-staffing-plus-4072482400?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

• Base $280,000-$300,000+
• Board certified/board eligible in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Geriatric Medicine, MD or DO in IM, FM, Geriatrics, or a related specialty, at least 1 year of clinical experience in a geriatric or family practice setting, leadership experience preferred, and proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, ability to travel locally and occasionally regionally if needed, and manage PCPs and NP’s.

1. Think about the job postings you submitted for Part 1, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ll need.  Did these jobs match what you had in mind for your dream job? Did you find your dream job? Describe the similarities and differences. 

The jobs that I have found above did not match what I had in mind for a dream job as a medical director. I expected less hands-on patient care and more managing, mentoring, monitoring, and organizing. Which, all of these postings did include leadership qualifications and skills, however, all of them focused on caregiving, mainly to older patients (there were some pediatrics postings as well). However, this did not turn my head, I do enjoy patient-facing and hands-on care, and I am surprised that this career can include a lot of that. Nonetheless, I do not think I have found my dream job in these postings.

2. From the 3 job postings you found, choose one job you want the most, and use the list of skills required for the job of interest. Identify skills you already have and identify skills you are still building or need more experience performing. Discuss options to sharpen or learn the skills you will need to gain.

From the job postings I provided above, the one I would want the most is job posting #1: Center Medical Director – Primary Care Outpatient. I have my BLS certification and I am a certified PBT, though that is not something listed in their qualifications, I believe that it can put me at an advantage when finishing schooling requirements and so forth. I would need to obtain a graduate degree and a year or more of clinical experience. I would also need an MD license, and board certification, and gain skills involving management, health promotion, leadership, mentoring, and so forth. All of these positions required some years of experience in clinical positions, so I would need to work in those roles for a while before being able to move up into a medical director title.