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3 SKILLS THAT MAKE PHYSICIANS
EXCELLENT IN BUSINESS
By Sylvan Waller, MD – Sylvan Waller is an emergency medicine physician, entrepreneur, and advisor interested in how innovation can improve
healthcare for everyone. Follow him on Twitter at @SylvanWallerMD and visit www.sylvanwallermd.com for more information.
Let’s get one thing straight: You already have kick ass skills you have learned and practiced all your life that you
skills as a physician, skills that are valuable outside of may not even realize you have. These skills have made
clinical care settings. So whenever my physician friends you successful in your medical career and are also
turn to me for advice on making a transition in their fundamental to success in the business world.
career, I have to remind them: It’s not about learning new
skills, it’s about translating your existing skill set to new 1. You have been trained for leadership. We know
business applications. Think digital health startup CEO, the mantra “physicians are the captain of the ship.” In
chief medical officer, health care consultant. It’s all
possible, and it’s easier than you think. the business world, you’re ready to bring that leadership
First, let’s talk meta-skills: these are the big picture
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experience to the table. As you grow in your new career,
you will be working in larger and larger teams, but the
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