Entering the medical field is one of the best ways to ensure that you earn a great salary and enjoy a wide range of professional benefits. However, eventually you may want to take your career further. Becoming a corporate medical director is one of the steps that is the pinnacle of a health care career, and it offers a lot of rewards for those who take the time and energy to reach that point.
It’s a job that will take time and energy to reach, however, and you’ll want to spend time learning more about the position so that you can reach your career goals. Keep reading to find out more about what this position involves and what it requires.
What Is a Corporate Medical Director?
A corporate medical director is a medical professional who works in a leadership role. Instead of overseeing administrative issues like scheduling or budgets of the entire facility, these professionals focus on clinical care and clinical leadership along with some management duties related to their department. They’re usually a physician or other medical professional who has taken their career to the next level through proper training and education, and they will have a major impact on the quality of care that a facility provides.
Job duties of a corporate medical director will include the following:
- Develop and implement policies related to the clinical treatment of patients in a facility
- Implement procedures designed to improve the level of care provided
- Oversee training, continuing education, and on the job education for staff in the facility
- Review facility to ensure that it is in full compliance with all regulations and laws related to it
- Recruit new employees and staff members
- Help supervise staff in their daily activities
- Award promotions to those who are deserving when a position opens up
- Discipline employees as needed
- Set budgets within a department
- Work to maintain the highest level of care available for patients
Essentially, these are departmental leaders who oversee all aspects of the specific department they’re a part of. They report to upper management and health administrators as needed, and may visit conferences and seminars as well.
Characteristics
Your on the job experience and your education will have a lot to do with your ability to thrive in this position, but some personal traits will have an impact as well. Being strong in the following areas is important.
- Organization – This leadership role will require good organization, and it’s important that you are able to manage lots of information, paperwork, and responsibilities.
- Good Communication – You will also need to be able to communicate with your superiors and your employees in order to excel in this job.
- Stress Management – The position can be stressful at times, and it’s important that you are able to work well under pressure and thrive in stressful situations.
Nature of the Work
The job is primarily office based, and most of your time will be spent handling office related tasks. However, you’ll also need to attend meetings and visit with different areas of the facility in order to gauge what is happening and what can be improved. Attending conferences and seminars is common in this career as well.
Corporate medical directors exist in all health facilities, and employers include hospitals, medical research centers, pharmacy companies, nursing facilities, and more. There are many opportunities, and it’s a job that is very in demand.
Education and Training
In order to become a corporate medical director, you’ll need to already be a medical doctor of one kind or another. Becoming a physician or other health professional is the first step, and there are several paths to doing so. After earning a degree, you’ll need to obtain a minimum of 10 years of experience in the medical field and in the specific type of facility you will be managing. Maintaining board certification in your area of medical practice is required as well, and in most instances taking the time to become a certified medical director will help tremendously as well.
Salaries for these professionals are among the highest in the country. Those who work as corporate medical directors usually earn about $200,000 per year or more, and salaries can exceed even that high number depending on experience, employer, and field of specialty.
