Becoming a medical director is an exciting and rewarding career. You’ll be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a clinic or hospital, and you’ll be responsible for guiding the development of your team and their work. That means that you’ll need to be able to effectively communicate with your staff as well as maintain a high level of professionalism at all times.
In order to become a medical director, you should have extensive experience as a practicing medical professional. You’ll also need to have strong leadership skills, as well as excellent communication skills that allow you to interact with patients and other medical professionals.
How To Become Medical Director
There are many positions in the medical field that you can advance throughout your career. Becoming a medical director involves leading teams of high-quality medical professionals to provide the best possible care to patients. This role requires years of training and experience as a licensed healthcare professional. In this article, we explore the role of a medical director and how to pursue this career path.
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What does a medical director do?
A medical director plans, directs and coordinates medical and health services. The role is sometimes referred to as a healthcare executive or health service manager. A medical director can manage a whole facility, a clinic or a department in a hospital. In this role, one may also manage a medical practice for a group of doctors.
Some specific tasks and responsibilities include:
- Employing the best medical providers
- Supervising medical staff, including facility purchases and schedules
- Mentoring student staff
- Reviewing staff performance
- Providing guidance on new policies and procedures, approving new ones when required
- Being the link between the medical staff and the medical administration
- Monitoring the fiscal side of operations including accounting, rates, budgets and financial relationships
- Coming up with improvement strategies and tracking goals with the help of metrics
- Being responsible for regulatory activities such as crises, audits, inspections and FDA submissions
- Representing the medical setting you are managing during governing boards or investor meetings
- Maintaining records of everything that has to do with the facility
- Keeping up-to-date with new regulations, technology or changes in healthcare laws
Average salary of a medical director
The national average salary of a medical director is $226,233 per year in the U.S. Salaries range from $84,000 to $435,000 per year. Level of experience, employment type and medical specialty may impact potential earnings.
How to become a medical director
A medical director has to manage everything from accounts to schedules, technology and investors. Accordingly, this role requires a certain level of education, experience and certifications. Here are the steps you need to become a medical director:
- Earn a medical degree.
- Complete medical training.
- Pursue board certification.
- Become licensed to practice medicine.
- Consider earning voluntary certification.
- Gain clinical teaching experience.
1. Earn a medical degree
Medical directors must be licensed doctors—and earning a medical degree requires approximately eight years of postsecondary education. Complete a relevant bachelor’s degree, such as a pre-medical track science program. Then, attend medical school to learn the medical science foundations necessary to practice and gain hands-on clinical training under the supervision of practicing medical professionals. Once you finish your time in medical school, you will have earned a Medical Doctorate (MD) or become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
2. Complete medical training
After medical school, complete the required internship and residency programs. Your internship allows you to gain practical experience, training and providing care within your medical specialization.
In your residency, you spend at least three years working alongside other members of a healthcare team to diagnose and treat patients. While in residency, you may interact with your facility’s medical director, gaining advice and guidance.
After completing both your internships and training, you can consider other internships for more advanced mentored training in your specialty.
3. Pursue board certification
Medical directors typically need a board certification in family medicine, emergency care or occupational health. As a medical doctor, you may also be required to earn board-certified credentials that demonstrate your knowledge in a particular medical field.
The American Board of Medical Specialties is the recognized leader for specialty certification. To earn these certifications, you are often required to have a certain number of years in practice in addition to having to pass an exam.
4. Become licensed to practice medicine
All medical directors are required to have a valid medical license—a permit to work in a medical setting. The license has to be valid in the state where you are applying for a job. The certification and licensing process typically occur during your residency training.
To get your medical license, you must take certification exams provided by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. After that, you must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Once you do this, then you can apply for a license to practice medicine in the state you want to work in.
If you want to pursue this advanced role, you must remain in compliance with state and board regulations. You must also pursue any necessary continuing education and training required by your board and licensing institution.
5. Get experience
You typically need to work as a licensed doctor for many years before you are qualified as a medical doctor. Many employers prefer medical director candidates to have at least 10 years of practice experience. It will take you about 20 years to become a medical director.
6. Consider earning voluntary certification
Though it is not mandatory to hold a Certified Medical Director in Long Term Care (CMD) certificate, it can be an asset. CMD can prove that you attained credentials in both clinical settings and managerial settings, both of which play important roles in the job of a medical director.
To earn a CMD, you must earn the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM) certification, participate in fellowship programs, continue your medical education and participate in courses in medical direction approved by the ABPLM and sponsored by the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
7. Gain clinical teaching experience
Having teaching experience can be an asset to those interested in becoming a medical director. As a clinical teacher, you help students and medical trainees develop clinical skills and refine their bedside manner while acquiring practical knowledge. Clinical teachers serve as mentors in training hospitals and clinics as well as in medical wings specializing in medical training.
To become a clinical trainer, you may be required to have a certain number of years practicing medicine and be board-certified in your specialty.
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FAQs about how to become a medical director
The following is a list of frequently asked questions about becoming a medical director:
What is a medical director’s schedule and work environment like?
Most medical directors serve in this position part-time while working as a doctor in other facilities or private practice. However, medical directors are required to be available regardless of the day or time and are often on-call.
Generally, a medical director’s job is in an office setting. You may need to attend meetings and, at times, even go to the floor and assist other practitioners.
What skills and qualities do you need to become a medical director?
Managing a medical setting comes with substantial responsibility. The following is a list of key skills that will help you land the job of a medical director:
- Have a firm grasp and extensive knowledge of medical law
- Show strong leadership and organizational skills
- Be committed to constantly learn
- An eye for detail to maintain organization in a large setting
- Strong verbal and written communication
- An ability to show empathy
- Outstanding presentational skills
- Proficient in related technology
- Possess analytical skills to be able to adapt to new laws and respect regulations
- Great interpersonal skills
