Interview Series #3: Gary Sloan
Interview with Gary Sloan, Medical Center CEO
Credits: San Ramon Rotary Auction for Education
In our third installment of the Quark Interview Series, we are honored to invite Mr. Sloan to share about his experiences with hospital administration in the medical field.
Gary Sloan currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for the San Ramon Regional Medical Center and has worked for Tenet Health System for over 28 years. Prior to that time, Mr. Sloan served as CEO of Doctor’s Medical Center-San Pablo/Pinole and received a Masters degree in Health Services Management and Hospital Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.
What does a day-in-the-life of a medical center CEO look like and how is it different from, let’s say, the CEO of a tech startup?
I like to say that hospitals are similar to a small city. The CEO of a medical center is an intensely human endeavor that involves interacting with health care professionals, families and patients. Hospital CEOs are charged with the responsibility of setting a vision and goal for the organization, managing professionals who ensure capable and competent personnel are hired to perform life-saving work, ensuring that quality care is delivered at the bedside, and maintaining the financial integrity of the hospital.
The health care industry is very regulated, so the CEO must address regulatory and compliance related issues to insure that the hospital is operating within federal, state and local legal requirements. Most importantly, the CEO must inspire to make a difference in the lives of others, provide extraordinary service and insure high quality care in a cost effective manner. I find nothing frankly more rewarding than being a hospital administrator. You have to know a little bit about a lot of different things. No day is the same. There is always some new and different challenge that you have to address.
What inspired you to pursue a career in hospital administration?
Before college, I had worked at the bedside in a hospital as an orderly and an emergency room technician for my summer vacation job every year since my 15th birthday. I had initially planned on becoming a physician but pursued a career in Law instead. After being accepted to law school, I quickly realized that there were simply too many lawyers in the world and began to reexamine my approach. It was during that time that I returned to my position at the hospital and began speaking to a career counselor, who opened up the possibility of my pursuing a career in hospital management that would place me in the hospital environment that I loved, while truly make in difference in the lives of people living in my community. I did the research, met some hospital CEOs and was inspired by the breadth of knowledge and influence an Administrator has on an organization. From there it was a matter of going to graduate school and launching a very interesting and rewarding career path.
What educational path do you believe will best complement, build, or strengthen the skills required by a professional in your field?
Hospital administration involves a wide range of skills. Many of my colleagues were business majors, sociology majors, nurses, and those with various science degrees. I think the underlying commonality of these pursuits is the ability to critically analyze, problem solve, interact with people, articulate ideas. So for undergraduate work, virtually all majors will do these things. Working as a volunteer or employee in a hospital will help expose anyone interested in pursuing this profession. A Master’s Degree is a must and I believe that the Master’s program should have a robust internship opportunity in a hospital during your training.
How hard would you say it would be for a medical student to transition into management instead?
There is a greater number of physicians and medical students who are transitioning to health care management, and I believe that this is a very good mix of skills. I would caution that physicians tend to work with one patient at a time and are socialized as such while hospital managers tend to work through groups.
Lastly, what are some tips you would recommend to students who are interested in pursuing hospital administration or health services management?
#1 Maintain an Open Mind
My advice to students interested in health services management is to appreciate that such opportunities extend beyond a hospital. Outpatient services, clinics and ancillary services as well as insurance companies all require health managers capable of directing people toward a common cause. I suggest that anyone pursuing a career in the field to become familiar with the type of organization you might manage one day.
#2 Seek a Well-Rounded Education
Secondly, seek a well-rounded education focusing on component parts of the job including economics, finance, organizational development, epidemiology, and law.
#3 Do Your Research
Thirdly, know that the job is not as easy as it looks. It is not anything like what is portrayed on television or popular culture. It is a serious job with many stressors and demands on your intellect, personal skills and communication skills. When you select a graduate school, be sure to research about the alumni and meet with them in your first year of your training to form your network for future job opportunities.
