Administration

A Day In the Life of a CFO

Manage the finances of a mulit-company healthcare organization.  This includes budgeting, financial reporting, investments, payroll, payments, billing & collections, supply chain, contracting and business development.  Develop key strategies around growth of services or geography. 

Educational Pathway

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Financial Services followed by a Master's degree in Business Administration (6 total years of college) 

Characteristics/Skills

Problem solving, math, communication

Pros and Cons 

Pros: New challenges routinely, get to make a difference at the company/in the community, lead people. 

Cons: high stress, public scrutiny and endless projects!

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

Challenge: Making the right decisions as to when to take on a new job, or stay and compete for a promotion.  Good consult with my spouse and friends to make an informed decision. 

Resolution: Consulting with family and friends to make an informed decision.

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

Hard work is needed to succeed in this role and you need to be willing to learn.  It is great if you have a mentor (boss or otherwise) who you can bounce ideas off of.  Finally, take chances in your career - move up even if you don't have all of the skills. 

A Day In the Life of a Director of Revenue Cycle

Manage, Direct, and Coordinate revenue handled by a team doing patient scheduling, registration, financial counseling, billing, collection, coding, and medical records operations. 

Educational Pathway

Business school, college/university for healthcare administration, and healthcare certifications in revenue cycle management. 

Characteristics/Skills/Inspiration

Wanted to make a difference in healthcare from an administrative role and provide for my family 

Pros and Cons 

Pros: Rewarding serving your community

Cons: Dealing with regulatory rules that impact ways to fairly serve your community and dealing with insurance payer behavior 

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

Challenge: Biggest challenge is insurance payor behavior 

Insurance payor = the entity that pays for services rendered by a healthcare provider. 

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

Finish college, stay focused on goals, don't miss opportunities that help your goal such as internships 

Extra Notes/Interesting Facts

Keep up with healthcare industry news, law changes and how it may impact your goals.  Connect with your colleagues at other hospitals sharing experiences, successes and options 

A Day In the Life of a Physician Executive

Meetings!  Managing physicians, staff and leadership team. Setting strategy and monitoring performance against goals. 

Educational Pathway

College: Neurobiology, 4 years. Med School: 4 years. Emergency medicine residency 2 years. Internal Medicine residency 3 years. Executive MBA, 2 years. 

Characteristics/Skills/Inspiration

I didn't know I was fit for this career. It seemed a natural fit. Key attributes: Curiosity. A love of science. Resilience. Strong communication skills. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros: The power to heal / relieve pain and anxiety. Financial security. Respected. 

Cons: Very stressful. Very long journey with delayed reward. Student loan debt. 

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

As a physician leader working up in organizations, I faced a lot of toxic people along the way that tried to knock me down. I needed to keep a strong sense of self-confidence and strong relationships with supportive friends, family and colleagues. 

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

It is a very long journey, with high stress but high reward. Do anything you can to reduce your student debt along the way. If you really want to be a physician, keep applying top medical school. Many students do not get in the first time. Talk to as many physicians as you can about their experience. 

A Day In the Life of a Sr. Compensation and Benefits Specialist

Produce, advise and implement the organization's compensation program and the benefit plans. Make suggestions on revisions to the compensation plan or procedures and administer all benefit plans. Assist employees and retirees with questions, completing forms and enrollment of benefits. 

Educational Pathway

I graduated high school and went into Army for three years. I have never gone to college. 

Characteristics/Skills/Inspiration

I enjoy working with numbers and helping people. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros: helping employees and our retirees (they are my customers), work for great organization 

Cons: Healthcare is 24/7 - 365,  No traveling 

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

Supervising employees is the biggest challenge. Make sure to ask lots of questions during the interview process. Treat all employees how you want to be treated and treat them equally, if you bend the rule for one you need to bend it for all. 

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

Make sure your career is something you enjoy. When you enjoy what you do it doesn't seem like a job. 

A Day In the Life of an Executive Recruiter/Managing Partner

My primary responsibilities include identifying and pursuing new business through direct marketing, building and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers at hospitals and health systems, and managing the end-to-end recruitment process for search assignments. I source and screen candidates, conduct interviews, and ensure effective communication with clients and candidates throughout the hiring process. 

Educational Pathway

After high school, I attended the University of Maryland and after four years graduated in 2009 with a degree in Economics. Initially, I wanted to work in finance and applied to several investment and asset management firms. However, this was during the height of the Great Recession, and opportunities for recent graduates were scarce. About a year after graduation, I took an entry-level sales position. Shortly thereafter, I joined an executive search firm, where I began recruiting in healthcare and have been doing so ever since. My degree in Economics doesn't and never really has correlated with my career. 

Characteristics/Skills/Inspiration

I got into recruiting in 2013 and quickly realized I had a knack for it. I really enjoyed the work and was fortunate to find success early on. This piqued my interest in the non-clinical side of healthcare—areas like financial and operational management and all the behind-the-scenes activities that keep health systems running smoothly beyond the clinical aspects that most people associate with hospitals. As for the characteristics and skills needed to be successful in this profession, beyond the obvious ones like strong communication and interpersonal skills, persistence, and a thick skin, success requires being inquisitive and a lifelong learner. Adaptability is crucial, as well as having a genuine passion for the quality of your work and what you do. Clients and candidates can tell when you genuinely care compared to someone who does not. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros:  Strong earning potential.  Impactful work—placing senior leaders who make significant contributions to organizations. Opportunity to meet, work with, and network with professionals across the country, building a large professional network.

Cons: Hours and work-life balance. Initially, you need to make a lot of cold calls, and it takes time to achieve success. Can be high-pressure at times 

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

One of the biggest challenges I've faced is maintaining balance—staying grounded through the ups and downs of this profession. Developing this emotional intelligence took time, but it’s crucial for long-term success. 

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

Find something you are passionate about and become good at it. At the same time, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to make a change if something isn’t for you. Often, what young adults think they want to do in their careers doesn’t end up being the right fit. Don’t hesitate to make a change if necessary. Your life will be much easier and more fulfilling if you find a career that you truly enjoy and find meaningful.