FAQ For NonClinical Physician Careers

We've compiled a list of the most often asked questions from initial inquiries, introductory meetings and during engagements. However, if your question isn't addressed here, simply ask. Click here to email directly to us. We'll usually respond within 24 hours, and if we believe your question has more universal appeal, we'll post it to this page.

The Economy is booming, won't I be better off just staying in practice?

Not necessarily. Segments of the economy are doing well, but the future is uncertain, and healthcare continues to operate under a threatening cloud. The only "safe" places today are indispensable places. That's the key to career change, making yourself indispensable. Plus, consider this, physician incomes have averaged about a 1% increase annually over the past 20-years. Executive compensation has averaged eight to 10%.

We have a new administration... should I wait to see what it does?
Here is the bottom line... the bottom began to fall away in terms of physician control, physician incomes and physician business versus employment status 30 years ago. No administration has even addressed those issues, and they are now so deeply entrenched in policy, it's unlikely any administration will effect significant changes. Physicians' incomes have literally been flat since the early 1990's while hospital and insurance executives have tripled and quintupled - or more. You don't have time to wait.

To that point, what kind of income should I expect?

Good question. When I began this business I expected most physician executive compensation to be in the range of a well-paid primary care physician. If you read the question above, you get some sense of the disparity in annual increases between physicians and executives. Today. I expect physician executives... or perhaps better said, Executives who happen to be Physicians, to simply earn the commensurate scale within a company. That means, well-paying companies may offer salaries between $350k-$500k, smaller organizations may be in the $200k to $350k range, and some opportunities will certainly be at lesser levels, think education and other industries that simply don't traditionally have high pay ranges. But, further to that point, do not expect the consistency you see in medical practice. Internists nationally make about the same income, as does every other specialty. In business, each company, each industry is unique and job titles are usually indicative only of internal parity and equity, not external.

Why can't I find a recruiter to work with me... that's how I got my clinical job?              

Recruiters are looking for people with specific qualifications for employers. One of those qualifications is almost always 3-5 or 5-7 years of experience. You probably don't have that, and most organizations simply won't take a chance on a newbie. Most jobs today that are seeking a physician executive are replacing a departing employee... an employee with experience. Even if it's a new job, it's probably not the first time it's been done - so experience is key. And, as a recruiter friend of mine commented, "Bob, do you think any company will pay me $30,000 to $50,000 to find them an executive with no experience?"

Who do you work with?

third_Evolution works only with physicians: MD, DO, DDS, DVM, MBBS.

What does this cost?

My fees are divided into three main categories and spread over many months; however, for most clients working with me from initial Career Diagnosis (step one) through completion (that may be either a new job, new career path or a new and improved practice) you should expect the total fee to be about two to three weeks net income for a primary care practitioner, or about two to four weeks income in your new mid-upper to upper executive job. But again, I contract one phase at a time. There is no obligation to move from one phase to the next.

Who pays your fees?

This question goes to the heart of what I do. You're probably used to working with recruiters, whose fees are paid by the organization they are recruiting for. I work for you, and my fees are paid by you, my client. Further, my interest is in you, your overall success and happiness. My job is not to place you, but rather to help you find or create the right career opportunity to meet your short and longer-term goals and objectives.

What can someone with a medical degree and several years in practice do?

We believe a medical degree is a tremendous education unto itself. When combined with residency and practice, we see a person capable of anything for which they have skill and passion.

Sometimes we've recommended skill or credential development plans for our clients that have included board appointments, volunteer activities and other opportunities to build their resumes - that is, to create experience.

If you are still in the educational process, medical school or residency, opportunities are most certainly available. Again, assessing your skills and the right career "fits" are essential initial steps.

Do I need an MBA, MPH, or some additional degree or credential?

No...However, most physicians like to learn, and they are very good at it. So obtaining another degree can seem like a natural next step. But again, no, almost always I recommend against it. First, it takes time. Second it is costly and third, even with the degree you have none of the requisite experience most executive positions demand. Take the time and the money and create experience. You'll be much further ahead.

What if i am just graduating from Medical School or completing residency?

This is the fastest growing segment of my business, and more and more people are electing either not to enter a residency or not to start a practice. Many organizations value a medical education for what it is, an excellent scientifically-based learning experience, strong on critical decision-making and the consumption of vast amounts of information. People know you're smart, a good learner and a hard worker with a highly analytical mind. You have more options than you'll imagine.

What is your process?

We follow a clinical model you'll be familiar with. We begin with a diagnostic process you might equate it to an H&P you'd perform on a new patient. This phase occurs over two days at our Denver, Colorado office. We first collect objective data via the Birkman Method. We then collect subjective data through a series of exercises and interviews. From the data we construct your career assessment. Once we agree on our assessment we develop your initial action plan and timeline. All this occurs during your two day visit.

Following the Career Diagnosis/H&P we help you put your plan in place. The first step in plan implementation is developing the tools you'll need for your career change. Whether you're following a non-clinical career path or seeking to regain your joy in medicine, documentation, materials and strategy are necessary. This is when it happens.

Campaign Management is the third phase of the career change process. Simply put, we manage patient compliance through ongoing support.

Many clients come to rely on our advice and counsel as a component of their ongoing career development and management. We have clients we've worked with for years. You decide the frequency if you wish regular input or you can simply call or email when you have a question.

What is your success rate?

Good question, because what is success? Our measure of success is when a client follows our advice and, based on his/her initial diagnosis, secures a job, new career, or improved practice. By that measure, about 95 percent of the physicians we've worked with on a comprehensive program are successful.

How long should the process take?

Total length of time depends on may factors:

  • The extent of the "change" from your current activity and your knowledge and skill base.
  • The working time you can devote to the process.
  • Market demand for your 'next move.'

However, we generally predict nine to 14 months for a non-clinical move.

Your name says, "Non-Clinical Careers, but you talk about practice development as well

Nearly 100% of our clients arrive focused on leaving clinical practice, a non-clinical career. However, through our diagnostics we sometimes discover that clinical practice is the most desirable and appropriate result - it just needs to be different, changed from what it presently is.

If that's the result, and that's what you, our client, wants, then that becomes the focus of our process. You might want to read this article - Physician Centered

Tell me more about staying in practice.

Again, I suggest you read the Physician-Centered article. It's a very simple concept, "if the physician isn't happy, then nobody in the practice is happy." The focus is to help you be happy in your practice.

Physician practice is like other businesses in that it has a character and a culture. Often physicians are unhappy because the "culture" doesn't fit or match them. Changing that culture can redefine your practice so not only are you happier, so are your staff and your patients.

I want to know more about the Birkman. Where can I find additional info?

http://www.birkman.com- copy and paste this link in a new browser URL address line.

Have you worked with my specialty?

Yes! We've worked with just about every specialty.

Interestingly, what we've found from years of research is it's not the specialty but the Birkman information and the subjective "history" we take that tells us the most about a physician's best nonclinical focus.

Do you have contacts in my area or the area I wish to relocate to?                           

Perhaps, but, when we speak of contacts, we're talking about people you know, people you want/need to know and people I know. While I have contacts throughout the U.S. and abroad, your contacts and those you want/need to know will usually prove to be more important. That's why I have successful clients throughout the U.S. Location is not a limiting factor when working with third_Evolution.

How much time does this take? What's my commitment?

Different components of our process take different amounts of time from you and from us.

The Career Diagnosis, true to it's clinical namesake, is mostly our work. And it's accomplished during an intensive two-day meeting with us at our Denver office.

For the Initial implementation phase, the second step, you should expect to spend an hour or two per week over our targeted four- to six-week window.

Campaign management just depends on how busy you want to and can be, linked to the market.

Do you work with medical groups as well as individuals?

Yes, we work with individual physicians, medical groups, medical societies and organizations, other providers - in private, corporate and academic models - just about any individual or group whose focus is serving or working with physicians.

Also, we do public speaking as well as consulting engagements.

And, about 20% of my work is BootCamp™ or MiniCamp™ with about 80% being with individual, Comprehensive, clients.

How do I get started?

Most new clients begin with an email or a phone call. We want to learn about you and we want you to ask us your difficult questions. If it appears we'll be able to help you, we have a brief contract to execute and then suggest you book your travel.

Email - rfp@thirdevo.com 

Complete initial info request form -
HERE

Call or Text us - 720-339-3585

What are your hours/days available?
We work seven days a week in order to meet the scheduling needs of our clients.

Also, we come to you if necessary. Ask us about our on-site meetings.