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Dr. Amir Ghaferi, Professor of Surgery & Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and President & CEO of Physician Enterprise Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, shares his experience establishing a bariatric surgery program at the VA, and how leadership roles have shaped his career. He dives into his research on quality and surgical care, highlighting the importance of fostering high-reliability systems in healthcare. Additionally, Dr. Ghaferi provides insights into the financial side of surgery, explaining revenue models like the dollar-per-RVU approach, tracking performance against budgets, and the value of a team-based approach to financial planning. The conversation concludes with advice for aspiring leaders, emphasizing emotional intelligence, adaptability, and the courage to embrace new opportunities.

Takeaways

• Dr. Ghaferi's journey highlights the importance of adaptability in career paths.
• Establishing a new program requires both passion and perseverance.
• Building coalitions is essential for successful healthcare initiatives.
• Leadership roles can significantly shape one's career trajectory.
• Research in health services can bridge gaps in surgical care.
• A culture of high reliability is vital for improving patient outcomes.
• Budgeting is a critical skill for surgical department management.
• Collaboration among healthcare teams is key to effective patient care.
• Budgeting is a collaborative effort involving multiple expertise.
• Budgeting is more of an art than a science.
• Tracking performance requires understanding the story behind the data.
• Re-forecasting budgets is essential for accuracy.
• Emotional intelligence is key for future surgical leaders.
• Leaders should embrace opportunities and challenges.
• Saying yes more than no can lead to personal growth.