While the value of physician leadership is widely recognized, a new survey by Jackson Physician Search and the Medical Group Management Association reveals that leadership development is often sidelined in medical training in favor of clinical skills.
The report, "Developing the Next Generation of Physician Executives," is based on survey responses from more than 300 physicians and healthcare administrators in August 2024.
Here are five key findings:
1. There's a strong physician interest in leadership — 67% of physicians expressed interest in pursuing leadership roles. Among them, 69% were motivated by the desire to have a voice in organizational decisions, 49% wanted to make a broader impact in the community, and 42% sought to build and sustain organizational culture.
2. Many are interested in departmental leadership. The most appealing leadership positions include departmental leadership (64%), advocacy roles (43%), and executive management at the clinic or hospital level (42%).
3. Gaps in training remain a barrier. Despite interest, only 18% of physicians receive any executive or business training during medical school, and just 21% of healthcare organizations offer formal leadership development programs for physicians.
4. There's limited structure in internal recruiting. While 66% of organizations hire physician leaders from within, only 38% have a formal process for identifying and selecting candidates. Additionally, 71% of respondents cited candidate acquisition as the biggest challenge in recruiting physician leaders.
5. Support for external leadership development isn't always available. About half of healthcare organizations cover some of the costs for external leadership development. Among those, 80% cover continuing education, 59% offer direct reimbursements, and 46% provide dedicated paid time off for such training.