growth, bottom-line growth, profit margin, contribution margin — all
of the concepts financially oriented professionals use every day. My
graduate degree gave me the background needed to make more
informed and second-level-thinking decisions.
I'm using that baseline knowledge to create more financial trans-
parency in the OR, so we can make decisions about supplies and
equipment based on hard data instead of emotions. For example, we
used to stock surgical staplers that cost $10,000 per box and that
expired every 6 months. Some surgeons balked at limiting the stock
on the shelves, even though the staplers are used for very few spe-
cific cases that can be scheduled well in advance. We've shifted to
ordering the devices on an as-needed basis and have saved thou-
sands of dollars. Grad school trained me to think much more about
those factors and to identify creative cost-saving solutions.
Improved productivity
I'm more aware of managing my time wisely, because I juggled
my career and schooling for more than a year. Better time manage-
ment has taught me the importance of delegating some of my respon-
sibilities, instead of trying to take on everything myself. Those trust-
building workshops? I asked the hospital's new perioperative staff
educator to handle putting the program together and she did a
tremendous job. In the past, I would have been the one writing count-
less e-mails and placing phone calls to organize the event. Delegating
work requires trust, and trust can be built intentionally. Thanks to my
MBA, I'm evolving from individual contributor to force multiplier and
supportive leader by empowering the people around me.
OSM
Dr. Stehr (wolfgangstehr@berkeley.edu) is a surgeon at UCSF Benioff
Children's Hospital in Oakland, Calif. He received his MBA from UC
Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
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Business Advisor
BA
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