The American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) is proud to announce the release of a new book, Managing the Maze: A Handbook for Residents and Fellowship Physicians Navigating Decision Points Post-Training.
This new handbook, by Edward R. Sweetser, MD, fills a critical void in resources available to help graduating residents and fellows navigate one of medicine’s most challenging yet under-supported transitions through the complex maze of post-training career decisions.
Each year, approximately 35,000 physicians complete their specialty and subspecialty training, facing overwhelming decisions about practice settings, employment contracts, licensing, and credentialing — often with little guidance beyond scattered online resources and expensive consultants.
“After five decades in medicine, I have watched countless talented physicians struggle through this transition,” says Sweetser, former chief medical officer at Mountain View Regional Medical Center. “They are brilliant clinicians, but no one teaches them how to evaluate practice opportunities, negotiate contracts, or navigate licensing requirements. This handbook provides the roadmap I wish every graduating physician had.”
Addressing Three Critical Challenges
The handbook tackles the three most significant problems facing graduating physicians:
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Practice Setting Navigation: The book provides a detailed analysis of various practice models — from traditional private practice to hospital employment and emerging hybrid arrangements — with frameworks for evaluating each option against personal and professional goals.
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Contract Negotiation Mastery: An extensive section demystifies employment contract terms, highlighting potential pitfalls and providing negotiation strategies that can save physicians thousands of dollars and protect their career flexibility.
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Licensing and Credentialing Precision: Sweetser provides critical timing guidance for state licensing and hospital credentialing processes to ensure physicians can begin practicing and generating revenue on schedule.
Unlike existing resources that address these topics separately across multiple websites and publications, Managing the Maze provides comprehensive, integrated guidance in a single handbook.
“This handbook eliminates the need to hire expensive recruiters or consultants for basic guidance,” Sweetser explains. “It empowers physicians to make informed decisions independently while knowing when professional consultation is truly necessary.”
Expert Credentials
Sweetser’s credentials uniquely position him to provide this critical guidance. A Georgetown University School of Medicine graduate who completed orthopedic surgery residency at Georgetown University Hospital, he has experienced virtually every practice setting throughout his career — military service, multi-specialty group practice, private practice ownership, and hospital employment.
His administrative experience includes earning a master’s degree in health services administration and serving as chief medical officer. Currently serving on the board of trustees at Mountain View Regional Medical Center, Sweetser has maintained continuous involvement in physician education and mentorship throughout his career.
Table of Contents
PrologueIntroduction: Residency/Fellowship Is Coming to an End — What’s Next?Chapter 1: Considerations for Practice OpportunitiesChapter 2: Determining the Right Practice OpportunityChapter 3: Tips for Making ContactChapter 4: Navigating the Site Visit and Following UpChapter 5: Evaluating the Employment ContractChapter 6: The Medical Licensing ProcessChapter 7: The Credentialing and Privileging ProcessChapter 8: Making the MoveChapter 9: Transition to Attending PhysicianChapter 10: Coding, Billing, and Driving RevenueChapter 11: Financial Considerations as You Start Your PracticeChapter 12: Work-Life Balance vs. BurnoutChapter 13: Social Media Pros and ConsChapter 14: Keeping Abreast of Challenges and ChangesChapter 15: The New Frontier of AIChapter 16: Physician Side Gigs: Opportunities for Additional IncomeEpilogue
Appendices
Appendix A: Physician Recruiting FirmsAppendix B: Physician Locums FirmsAppendix C: Best and Worst States for Physician PracticeAppendix D: Major Physician EmployersAppendix E: Law Firms and Other Organizations that Specialize in Physician ContractingAppendix F: Physician Salary Ranges by SpecialtyAppendix G: Coding Books and ReferencesAppendix H: Burnout Causes and Percentages (Medscape 2024)Appendix I: Resources for Physician Side GigsAppendix J: Telemedicine Companies
About the American Association for Physician Leadership
The core philosophy of the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) is that leadership is learned. AAPL is focused on the personal transformation of all physicians, and through them, the organizations they serve. With the goal of improving patient outcomes, workforce wellness, and a refinement of all healthcare delivery, AAPL has remained the only association solely focused on providing professional development, leadership education, and management training exclusively for physicians. Since its founding in 1975, AAPL has empowered more than 300,000 physicians across 35 countries — including CEOs, chief medical officers, and physicians at all levels of healthcare. www.physicianleaders.org
Contact:
Elliot Jones408475@email4pr.com (813) 636-2842
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SOURCE American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL)
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