20. Dr. Amir Ghaferi

Send us Fan MailDr. 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.TakeawaysDr. 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.