Is it common nowadays for a Medical Doctor to have an MBA?

Question

Is it common nowadays for a Medical Doctor to have an MBA?

Answer 1

I think it is becoming more common. I had one doctor suggest I do it. I think it is probably more common in doctors who own a private or small group practice to help them manage the business aspect of things. A far more common degree for this purpose whould be a Masters of Healthcare Administration. It is also offered as a dual degree program at my school.

Answer 2

Yes, it is as Serge said. Medical insurance and managed care contracts are more complex, payment options are more varied, and a group practice needs a good business person to oversee these plus the other business aspects of running a practice. Personally, I think it is more efficient for a doctor to continue seeing a full complement of patients and for his practice to hire a lay practice manager. But not every doctor sees it my way, and some prefer the business aspect to patient contact. Nevertheless, I wish I had basic business and accounting courses in pre-med.

And, you could argue that a doctor with an MBA is more qualified to judge the business aspects of medicine than a lay person with a similar degree.

Answer 3

No, I'd say that's fairly unusual.

There are a lot of MD/PhDs and MD/MPHs (Masters of Public Health) and there's certainly nothing to stop anyone from getting both, but unlike those examples, you would have to be going through two separate programs to get both.

I do know a couple of people who are both MDs and JDs.

Answer 4

Yes. Some universities have executive MBA programs specifically for physicians. doctors find that they need management knowledge to run a practice. In my university I taught physicians, dentists, and lawyers, and professors in our executive MBA programs. Look at the Official MBA Guide to find schools suitable for doctors.