Physician Executives: A Resume Can Make the Difference
By Stephen Davis I have participated in many physician CEO and physician executive recruitments recently, and quite often applicants who relied on a traditional CV...
By Stephen Davis
I have participated in many physician CEO and physician executive recruitments recently, and quite often applicants who relied on a traditional CV to communicate their qualifications for the position didn’t come across as physician leaders. Though we receive many robust and impressive CVs detailing a candidate’s education, administrative titles and clinical, research and teaching credentials, we aren’t always able to determine what leadership impact—to market share, operations, quality, clinical outcomes and financials— the candidate had made throughout his or her career.
These experiences confirm my long-held belief that aspiring physician leaders need to take a lesson from the business world and fortify their CVs with executive resumés when they compete for healthcare leadership positions.
How a Resumé Differs from a CV
A CV typically includes only a chronology of a candidate’s vital statistics. It is a list of accomplishments, without context or quantification. It assumes the reader will know the complexity in size and scope of the organizations where the candidate worked previously, and will understand the responsibilities held by the candidate based on the job titles listed.
A resumé doesn’t make the same assumptions about the reader. It includes details about a candidate’s career and the responsibilities held throughout. It is written to convince the reader that a candidate is able to perform the duties of a position and, more important, solve the specific problems or meet the challenges the hiring organization faces. The resumé is the document that most organizations will rely upon to discern what a candidate can do for them.
Why it’s Important to Have a Resumé
Enhancing a CV with a carefully constructed resumé is becoming increasingly important as ambulatory and outpatient arenas grow in importance for healthcare organizations, and physicians are sought to fill leadership positions in these institutions. To capitalize on the growing demand for physician leaders throughout healthcare, physicians should be ready to interview for leadership positions, and that begins with knowing how to prepare a strong executive resumé.
Best Practices to Follow
An effective executive resumé should “sell” the leadership, strategy and operational experience of a physician executive. The structure of the resumé is important, and generally includes the following sections:
The Professional Summary highlights the candidate’s qualifications for the job. In a short paragraph, it provides the reader a synopsis of the candidate’s professional qualifications. The professional summary often includes a list of a candidate’s core competencies related to the position sought. For example:
Accomplished Medical Executive
A collaborative, strategic Chief Medical Officer of an integrated healthcare system, with superior business skills and experience. Committed to safe, high-quality healthcare and champion of XYZ’s pursuit of a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Built and managed a highly successful practice with 13 physicians and 26 CRNA’s. Effective contract negotiation skills have resulted in over $20MM savings to XYZ. Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology with 30 years of clinical experience.
Core Competencies
- Bullet 1
- Bullet 2
- Bullet 3
Professional Experience details the work history of the candidate. Each entry includes (1) the organization name, location and a brief description of organization size and scope, (2) title, dates held and brief summary of roles and responsibilities, (3) bulleted list of operational and strategic accomplishments. Continuing the example above:
XYZ Healthcare, City, State
XYZ is an integrated healthcare system with 2 acute care hospitals, a heart institute, home care and long term care. XYZ, in city, state, is a 310-bed facility and XYZ, in city, state, is a 146-bed hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, 2013-Present
Paragraph on roles and responsibilities of the position.
- Accomplishment 1
- Accomplishment 2
- Accomplishment 3
Educational & Board Certification provides a list of degrees granted and certifications awarded, as illustrated below.
Degree, University, City, State, Date
Certification, Certified date
These are some of the basics. Though very important, a resumé doesn’t eliminate the need for a CV. A CV should still be a part of a candidate’s presentation package, but the addition of a carefully written resumé will boost an aspiring physician executive to the next level.
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