48. MD/MBA: A useful combination in Canadian specialty medicine?

Abstract

The practice of medicine has changed greatly in the face of rapidly changing technology, limited or controlled funding and heightened patient expectations. In the early 1990s curricula for the management education of residents appeared. The Social Needs Working Group identified competencies grouped under the manager role as a major weakness of residency training in Canada. Recent graduates in the United States and Canada found they were unprepared for the increased responsibility of office management, contract negotiation and healthcare administration. 
 The popularity of masters degrees in business administration (MBA) has grown exponentially. At the same time the number of medical professionals completing MBAs in Canada is still small by comparison, as opposed to the United States where MD-MBAs are more prevalent. The utility of MBAs is still in question in Canada. The effects on practice patterns of Canadian residents completing an MBA is also unknown.
 The following workshop aims to allow participants to experience the format of case-based learning applied in many MBA programs. The cases will also highlight the unique approach a business mind can bring to current issues within medicine. The usefulness of an MBA will also be explored through small group exercises and testimonials. The process of applying to and funding this degree will be elaborated.
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