The Medical Fusion Conference Accelerator Sessions

Our next Medical Fusion Conference is just a few months away and we've changed up the Medical Fusion Conference website and added a blog to it.  This Medical Fusion Conference blog will be focused mainly on the event, but we'll post more general information on the site from time to time.

In an effort to get the word out about our event, I've started a video blog to highlight some of the important features and topics of the Medical Fusion Conference.

In the first installment of this video blog I discuss a unique feature of the Medical Fusion Conference-- the Accelerator sessions.  These sessions are scheduled at the end of the first two days of the Medical Fusion Conference and allow conference participants to spend considerable time with the Medical Fusion faculty.

Here's the video describing the Accelerator sessions and why I believe they are so important:

I've also posted a quick video clip of one of the Accelerator sessions to demonstrate how these sessions work "in vivo."  Notice in this video clip that each faculty member sits at a table and participants have direct access to them.  These Accelerator sessions last 1.5 hours and are scheduled for the end of the first two days of the event.

If you are interested in not only learning about various niche areas within medicine but also building a network of mentors and peers who can help you build towards your career goals, there is no better resource than the Medical Fusion Conference.  We hope many of our Freelance MD readers can join us at our next event this November in Las Vegas.

Kilimanjaro & CME

Climb Kilimanjaro for your CME?

In the summer of 2009 I was working in my local Emergency Department when my cell phone informed me of an incoming text.

"At 14,500 feet. Preparing to summit tomorrow. All is well," read the text.

"Great," I thought, "and here I am dealing with sniffles and low back pain."

The text had come in from the face of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent of Africa and one of the famed "Seven Summits."  The sender was my good friend Dr. David Townes who was helping lead a group of physicians to the summit of Kili for an ExpedMed CME event.

I was happy for Dave and excited for the CME participants, but also insanely jealous.  

Kilimanjaro is one of those romantic "must do" experiences for adventures around the world.  It stands just over 19,000 feet in northeastern Tanzania and rises independently from the plains of the surrounding region.  Mentioned by famed writers like Hemmingway (The Snows of Kilimanjaro), this magnificent peak towers over the African landscape and is the backdrop to many classic safari portraits.

I am pleased to say that Dave and the rest of the ExpedMed CME group made it to the top of the mountain in 2009.  The participants enjoyed it so much, we swore we'd lead another group back to Kili in the near future, but of course, as often happens, months turn into years and no new ExpedMed Kilimanjaro climbs were scheduled-- until now.

In the spring of 2012 we have scheduled another CME climb up Kilimanjaro.  The dates are March 24-April 6, 2012 .  Our outfitters are once again our esteemed friends at Tusker Trail.  Details of the CME trip can been seen at this Tusker link.

Find more information including pictures from the last Kili CME climb can be found on the ExpedMed Kilimanjaro CME Adventure page under the 'Events' tab above. 

Go the F**k to Sleep: A Bestselling Book

If you read the June 20, 2011 issue of Publisher's Weekly, you'd have seen that the #1 hardcover nonfiction bestseller is a book titled Go the F**k to Sleep.  Why is that?

Well, there are a lot of things that create a bestselling book.  The author's connections and media presence (this is called "platform"), the book's content, key opportunities for exposure and sometimes dumb luck. 

Another thing that makes a book a bestseller is that it "resonates" with people.  This is probably a key factor in Go the F**k to Sleep's success.  The book is about what some parents refer to as "the witching hour."  That time of night when you are exhausted and so are your kids.  But, instead of calmly ending the evening on a peaceful note, chaos ensues.  Night after night.  Until, at some point, your kids grow up...or at least grow mature enough to enjoy a peaceful end to the day. 

Time magazine's review of Go the F**k to Sleep reported that the "deliciously vulgar treatment of the dreaded bedtime hour went viral".

What I think is important about the success of this book is not the content, but the fact that it has touched on a topic that really resonates with people.  Books that do this--regardless of whether they are a memoir, self-help guide, or any other genre--have the potential to break out and become a bestseller.

Getting The Most From Feedback As A Physician

What physician leaders can do to improve their effectiveness.

So, you thought you were doing okay on the job—but your performance review is not what you expected.  Or you finally land the new job you wanted at big pharma—and then you experience your first 360° review.  How do others perceive you on the job?  How do the views of your manager, direct reports, and peers compare to how you perceive yourself? 

You may think of yourself in terms of your good intentions and potential to take on more responsibilities.  You may also be thinking about your self-confidence, expectations for growth and development, and personal values.  But others are thinking in terms of your behaviors, your reputation and track record, their expectations of your performance, and your “perceived” values.  How do you deal with feedback from others regarding your leadership—and what can you do to be more effective?

Keep in mind that great leaders drive better results.  They convey a sense of purpose that motivates others, they build the best teams, and they are good role models.  Simply put, a great leader is someone others would be willing to follow.  How can you use feedback to make your good performance even better?            

Helpful Tips               

• Have an open mind
• Take time to understand
• Show appreciation
• Follow through
• Turn good to great       

 Things to Avoid

• Asking others to publicly explain their feedback
• Over-reacting
• Acting too slowly
• Focusing only on the low scores

After you get your feedback, follow these three simple steps.  First, analyze your feedback results.  Seek first to understand what you are hearing—and how it relates to your job.  As a former boss taught me years ago, “Feedback is a gift.”  It’s like an open-book test—and will guide you to actions you can take to improve your performance.  Second, ask yourself the “Questions to Consider” listed below.  You will need to have an open mind—and be honest with yourself.  And finally, spend some time in reflection.  As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Love your enemies—for they tell you your faults.”                                      

Questions to Consider When Analyzing Feedback

Understanding the feedback

• Have you received this kind of feedback (this particular message) before?
• What would your closest friends tell you about this?
• What other observations have you or other people made that relate to this?
• Is there a specific work relationship that you think might be helpful to work on?
• Is this something you feel you can change?

 Exploring the Importance of the Feedback

• Have you worked for a leader who needed to work on this type of area (difficulty or improvement opportunity)?  How did it affect you?
• How does this issue relate to your effectiveness as a leader?
• What is going to help you deliver better results?
• What will make you a truly extraordinary leader?

 Generating Ideas

• Which of your skills would be most helpful to you in working in this area?  (How can you leverage your strengths?)
• What have you done in the past that you thought was really effective in this area?
• Can you think of exemplary leaders around you that are particularly good in this area?  What have you observed them doing?  Do you think any of them would be willing to serve as a mentor for you?
• Whose opinion do you really respect on this?  Would they be willing to help?

Focusing on a weakness is appropriate, when the weakness is a potential derailment factor.  Strong negative data on an important issue can cripple a person’s leadership effectiveness.  

The Most Common Derailers

• Inability to practice self-development (specifically by failing to learn from mistakes).  In most cases, it is not a matter of can’t—it is won’t.
• Lack of core interpersonal skills
• Lack of openness to new or different ideas (resulting in a failure to innovate or lead change).  Some people simply get stuck in their ways. 
• Lack of accountability (failure to focus on results)
• Failure to take initiative.  Don’t assume that what got you where you are today will take you where you need to be in the future.  You will need to take action to continuously improve your performance and leadership potential. 

Change Requires Practice

Frequently, people underestimate the difficulty of change.  A key to developing a new skill is finding a way to practice.  Look for opportunities to broaden your exposure to your business and consider engaging a mentor.

Summary

• Great leaders make a difference.  
• Spend more time building your strengths.  
• Companion behaviors provide new pathways to leadership effectiveness.
• If you have a derailment factor, work on it.

Leaving MD Behind

"How do you answer when someone asks what you do?"

For the past few months, I've been thinking about how to answer this question when I leave my job at ACPE by the end of the year.  I've been trying out various answers to see what makes me feel most comfortable, and doesn't cause a puzzled look and create a lot more questions from the questioner. 

After more than three years as CEO of ACPE, having accomplished the goals the Board and I set at the start of the recession much faster than we thought possible, I decided it was time to spend more days at home in New Mexico, finish some projects that have been on hold for years, and work part-time - not full-time - in health care.  Leaving my staff in Tampa, who have been so vital to our success during some of the most difficult years in the American economy since the Great Depression, will be the hardest part. 

Many people couldn't understand why anyone would decide to leave a great job when things are going well.  Answering "I want to try a new challenge" doesn't make sense to some, but it's what's pulling me to make the change.  The word "pull" is very important.  As I thought of the days spent away from our home in the mountains of New Mexico, what I was missing in personal relationships, building a network of friends, neighbors, and creative people in my home state, and the time to scratch some itches, I realized that it was time to take the next step in my life experience.  

When neighbors, new acquaintances, or airplane passengers ask me what I do now, I usually reply, "I run a company in Florida".  That works.  If I say, "I'm a physician", the next question is, "What's your specialty, or where do you practice?"  Answering "I don't practice", or "administration" doesn't usually contribute to an interesting conversation.  It's awkward.

Most everyone has a stereotype for what a physician should do: take care of patients.  Like many of the authors and readers of the FreelanceMD blog, we don't fit that stereotype.  We find challenge and excitement doing something other than that.

Since I plan to do more writing, maybe I should reply, "Freelance writer."  The label that feels most comfortable, creative, and stimulates my energy most is "stonemason".  It's a hobby that's turned to an obsession after 30 years.  I've been studying the piles of boulders and stones that have been sitting in my yard for the past year, knowing exactly where each one will go in the stone projects that are underway at home.  Now I'll have the time to actually do it - not just think about it!

It's hard to take steps away from your professional role as a physician.  I don't need my MD to define who I am.  It's taken me awhile to get to this point in my career.  No wonder, with the not-so-subtle expectations of our medical training, family, and friends, who expect us to fit a certain mold. 

My wife is getting used to hearing me say "stonemason" when a new acquaintance asks what I do.  She just smiles, and enjoys the lively discussion about the art of stonemasonry that follows.   

15 Blogs, Websites & Message Boards For Physician’s Assistants

By Lois Hughes PA-C

Several publications predict the job opportunities for physician’s assistants to grow dramatically in the coming years. Doctors need assistants for the baby boomer generation, whether it’s for physical therapy or aide in the doctor’s office. Take your time researching accredited learning institutions online and in your area to find a program that fits your schedule and works with your lifestyle.

Top Blogs and Websites for Physician Assistants

These blogs and websites will give you a look at how to enroll in a quality physician’s assistant program and what to expect once you’re on the job.

1. Physician Assistant Path This blog thoroughly explains the different jobs a physician’s assistant can have. Because laws vary state by state, it’s essential to read different physician assistant blogs to get an idea of the pre-requisites and certifications needed by a PA in your area .
2. American Academy of Physician’s Assistants This blog of the AAPA explains physician’s assistant online degrees, plus the training and certification you’ll need in your state. .
3. Physician Assistant Site One of the many things you’ll learn at this blog is the list of top 20 schools for being a physician assistant. While there’s no formal ranking for this department, this list takes into account the size of the physician assistant program at these universities and colleges. At some learning institutions, the physician assistant program is referred to as doctor’s assistant.
4. Cert Physician Assistant If you’re just beginning your journey at becoming a physician assistant, this blog is a great place to start. It goes into depth regarding the day-to-day duties of a physician assistant and talks about the re-certification process which takes place every two years after becoming a physician assistant.
5. Princeton Review – Physician Assistant This career section of the Princeton Review gives you a look at what you’ll experience on the job. Physician assistants have a round of clinicals and takes a look at the many careers you can have as a physician assistant such as nursing or a lab tech.
6. YouTube – Career Spotlight: Physician Assistant This video shows you what being a physician assistant entails. PAs practice medicine, but do it under the supervision of a MD. This video also breaks down the differences between a PA and nurse practitioner.
7. Health Policy Wonk This brilliant and informative blog delves into health politics. It’s an interesting look at the life of a PA working as an independent health policy analyst. For PAs seeking their doctoral degrees, this site is a must-read.
8. Kevin MD This well-respected medical site talks industry news and the changes that are taking place that may affect the doctor/physician assistant relationship. A recent industry name change for the position, referring to physician assistant as physician associates has caused a buzz at online medical communities.
9. Life of a PA Whether you’re looking for how clinicals work or what to expect in rotations after you’ve found a job, this blog is one of the best on the web for understanding what a PA does every day. The blogger does a great job of showing you how being a PA works and occasionally posts jobs.
10. Physician Assistant Blog Before enrolling in a PA program, this site suggests having some medical background, as well as BA. In most cases, this BA will be in a science, but those with a bachelor of arts can also apply for a PA program.

Physician’s Assistant Message Boards and Forums

Interact with other physician’s assistants at these message boards and forums. Learn about sitting for your exams and how to go about the job hunt in your area of expertise.

1. Physician Assistant Forum This message board has separate forums for those already practicing and those in residency or just beginning training. There’s also a job board that posts physician assistant opportunities across the country.
2. Student Doctor This site has sections for traditional and non-traditional students. MDs and physician assistants chat about internships, residency, certification exams and studying. This is a very active forum that deserves a look if you aren’t sure what to expect when attending a PA program.
3. Clinical Advisor This forum is packed with information for the PA to continue learning post-school. The job board is helpful for those looking for a position and the site also talks about landing a job after working your clinicals and making your face familiar to doctors in your area.
4. Healthboards No matter what the discussion is, you can bet the members at this site will weigh in. These busy forums are aimed at everyone in the medical community. For the PA who is already working with patients daily, this board is an invaluable resource.
5. Chat Medical This message board has been going strong for a few years and continues to grow. The forum for physician assistants is active, but remember you must register to be able to read and browse this site.

A career as a physician’s assistant is a rewarding position that allows compassionate interaction with patients. The key is to find an accredited program and getting certification in any specialized area. Most physician assistant program takes a little over two years to complete, but you can also obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree in this area. Regardless of what training and degrees you have, all aspiring physician assistants take the same certification exam that allows them to practice and work with doctors.

Lois Hughes is a PA-C and blogs at http://www.howtobecomeaphysicianassistant.org

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Investment Strategies To Beat Inflation

In a previous post I discussed some ways you can beat inflation through changes in your workload and expenses.

At some point, however, you’ll have to make some changes in your investment portfolio.

Real Returns

Instead of working harder or longer, you can generate inflation-beating returns (known as real returns) from your investments. The goal is to preserve an investment portfolio’s purchasing power so that future liabilities, which increase at the rate of inflation, can be adequately met by an equal or greater increase in assets.

Due to the compounding effects of inflation, there is a greater erosion of purchasing power over time. Assuming a 3% inflation rate, your purchasing power declines by over half in 25 years, which is well within an individual’s investment timeframe. With just a slight increase to 4%, it declines by nearly two-thirds. In other words, it would take twice as many dollars in 25 years to purchase the same goods and services as it would today assuming average inflation, and almost three times as many dollars assuming inflation rate is 4%.

Stocks

Stocks historically have provided long-term returns in excess of inflation of about 6%, albeit with high variability. To beat inflation with stocks, make sure you invest in them for a minimum of 10 years since in the short term, stocks have had negative real returns with unanticipated high inflation the majority of the time. For most of the 1970s, and again most recently from 2000 to 2002 and 2008, the real rate of return on U.S. stocks as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average was negative, indicating a loss of purchasing power.

On the other hand, in the long-run real-estate stocks beat inflation, as shown by the fact that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) more than doubled from 1980 to 2006, while real estate stocks increased over five fold.

Bonds

Bonds fare worse than stocks with inflation, but still have achieved a long-term real return of about 2%. The interest payments from a bond include the risk assumed for anticipated inflation. With unanticipated high inflation, prices of bonds decline even more than stocks. In fact, for a period of four decades from 1940s to 1970s, the real return on U.S. Treasury bonds was negative. To mitigate the effects of inflation, make sure you buy short-term bonds with maturities less than five years.

Two types of government-issued bonds guarantee inflation protection, I bonds and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). The I bond is a savings bond which pays a fixed interest rate and on top of that adds an inflation rate based upon the CPI, so that it nearly guarantees a return that beats inflation. TIPS are government bonds whose face value periodically increases at the inflation rate. Interest payments also increase based upon the inflation adjusted face value to guarantee a positive real return.

Gold

Gold historically has been seen as a safe haven in times of inflation. As a commodity it is expected to have a return of zero after inflation. One study determined that from 1895 to 1999, the price of gold matched inflation but did not beat it. Over the past two decades, though, gold has lost its glitter. In 1980, gold was selling for more than $800 per ounce, the same price it was trading at almost 25 years later. Even after gold’s recent run-up in price, to match inflation over that time frame, gold today should be selling for more than $2,000 an ounce! By comparison, an investment in U.S. stocks from 1980 to today would have grown over 10 fold.

While there is no perfect inflation hedge, the key is mixing a variety of investments together in order to produce long-term positive real returns, since each responds to inflation differently. Physician pay has not kept up with inflation, resulting in a decline in our purchasing power. Strategies to offset personal inflation include boosting gross income by increasing workload, reducing expenses, or investing in inflation-beating investments. Each strategy has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.