05: Physician leadership in healthcare

Show Notes

In this episode I interview Dr. Terry McWilliams. Terry has had a fascinating career in medicine. He will share many aspects of his career with you in the interview. There are many valuable lessons and excellent insights on all phases of his career and many physician careers.

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Terry has been a healthcare consultant with HSG based in Louisville, KY for the past five years. He discusses his decision to become a healthcare consultant following his tenure as the Chief Medical Officer for Newport Hospital in Newport, RI. Was this a decision filled with hours of painstaking research or a serendipitious opportunity that presented at the ideal time? You will have to listen to the interview to learn that answer.

Terry has been very happy with his decision largely related to the positive impact he has been able to have in the healthcare organizations he has served as a consultant. His knowledge of the principals in the consulting company, from his years in the CMO role, and his faith in the organizations philosophy had made him comfortable from the “other side of the table.”

In retrospect he realized that his CMO role was the perfect preparation for his current role as a consultant. The biggest negative — the travel, 2 to 3 days a week on average. He also misses seeing the finished product and the sustainment of the work.

Terry remains the only physician, in fact the only consultant with any type of clinical background, working for the company. Due to his expertise the company has expanded its offerings to healthcare organizations, including MACRA & QPP and clinical transformation. His viewpoint is valued by his colleagues during inhouse meetings and discusssions.

HSG provides consulting services in the eastern half of the US. Their clients range from small critical access hospitals to large academic centers. The primary focus of the company is on mid-range medical groups and ambulatory practice transformation, compensation model develop, and strategic planning. The strategic planning can focus on the larger healthcare organizations and systems.

Terry also walks us back through his early career in the Navy, which began when he was in medical school and accepted a health professions scholarship. Following an internship year after medical school Terry was assigned to his first tour as the General Medical Officer (GMO) aboard a sub tender. Terry describes the tremendous leadership opportunity of his first tour as a doctor who was “more than wet behind the ears.” His responsibility included over 500 sailors and 30 healthcare personnel he led.

He had many more fascinating experiences in the Navy, including several overseas tours. He and his wife eventually settled in Newport in the 1990’s where he finished his naval career.

He describes the transition to civilian medicine and administrative medicine. He never gave up clinical medicine until assuming the consulting position. Assisting in the OR and serving as the Naval Academy prep school’s team physician kept him “grounded” in the clinical world.

Terry and I also discuss his formal leadership training, both within the Navy and civilian life. We discuss his thoughts on advanced degrees, certification, and his decision to pursue a course of study that led to a Masters degree in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall University.

Terry’s perspective on the future of physician leadership in healthcare organizations and some sound advice for younger physicians that are interested in administrative roles round out the interview.

Terry’s advice: remain open to possibilities and take advantage of them early in your career.

Terry and his wife still live in Newport, RI. He is able to travel to his clients from home, attend virtual meetings from his home office, and travel to Louisville for on site meetings once a month.

I am very appreciative of the time Terry took to record this podcast with me. I hope you each enjoy the episode. Thank you.

Additional Resources

HSG: Building High-Performing Physician Networks Healthcare Consulting for Today’s Healthcare Solutions HSG builds high-performing physician networks so health systems can address complex changes with confidence

Master of Jursiprudence Seton Hall University

American Association for Physician Leadership

American Association for Physician Leadership Education for Physicians and Organizations

American College of Healthcare Executives Education Events by Date

Jefferson College of Population Health is the first college of its kind, providing graduate education supported by evidence-based research, scholarship and publications.

Navy Medicine: The Official blog of the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA