Should I get a Master of Business Administration? The anesthesiologist with education training: training options and professional opportunities

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Many physicians want to know whether they should get a Master of Business Administration (MBA), what type of program is best, and what career paths exist. RECENT FINDINGS: It is commonly (incorrectly) assumed that a physician successful in clinical practice can easily transfer to managing/leading an organization. To be effective, the MD/MBA must bridge the cultures of the business world and medicine. Often just a single management course is sufficient to give the physician the knowledge they seek. MBA programs come in many forms and require choosing from a range of time commitments. Leaving a good clinical job in favor of the less-defined course of an MD/MBA can be daunting. Although a wide spectrum of opportunities are available, the MD/MBA may have to start over professionally, most likely with a pay cut, and will have to 'work their way up' again. A stigma exists for MD/MBAs because they are often perceived as caring more about business than about patients. Many MD/MBAs eventually choose to stay in full-time medical practice because financial and geographic stability may be more easily attained. SUMMARY: The MBA is a good idea for the physicians who enjoy the intellectual challenges of business administration and proactively plan their own career.