Medical Administration Specialty Profile

Medical Administration is a unique medical specialty choice that combines both medical and senior management skills. This training program prepares and positions candidates for executive level opportunities in:

  • public and private health care services management (e.g. as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer or Director of Medical Services);
  • state and country health system administration and leadership;
  • clinical governance and credentialling;
  • medical insurance;
  • medical workforce planning, policy and development;
  • biotechnology - research and education;
  • commercialisation, health informatics and information systems;
  • university medical education and post graduate research; and
  • consultancy or contracted services provision

amongst other opportunities.

To be successful in this area, you need to be a qualified medical practitioner, have demonstrate strengths in leadership and business management, and have a desire to lead and manage medical services to make a difference in the wider health services industry. Students wanting to become a specialist in Medical Administration may apply to be a candidate of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators after three years of post-graduate clinical experience (which may include the internship year). Some doctors decide to apply for candidacy after completing another medical specialty training program and making a career decision to move into management.

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Medical Administration Training Program

Training Program

Medical Administration training is conducted by The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA). There are 3 different classes of RACMA membership: Fellowship: This is the most senior category, and denotes recognised Australian Medical Council (AMC) specialist recognition status. It... more

Application process

A minimum of medical undergraduate education in a recognised university, medical registration in Australia and New Zealand, and three years of clinical experience (which can include the intern year) is required to apply for candidacy. To become a Fellow, candidates... more

Length of training

The training is equivalent to three years but may be undertaken over a longer period of time with approval from the College. The average time taken to complete the program is approximately four years. The College will consider applications for... more

Cost of training

Costs of Training (as at 08/08) CategoryNet Fee ($)GST ($)Total ($) Member Application1,000.00100.001,100.00 Candidacy Application600.0060.00660.00 Advanced Standing1,820.00182.002,002.00 A CANDIDATE TRAINING PROGRAM FEES Fee TypeNet Fee ($)GST ($)Total ($) 1. Candidacy Application600.0060.00660.00 2. Advance Standing Assessment1,820.00182.002,002.00 3. Training Registration Fee550.00tax free550.00... more

Availability/Competition for training positions

There is no restriction for the number of trainees in the fellowship training program. There has been a decrease in the number of deputy or junior medical administration positions over the last 2 years according to a 2006 report produced... more

Flexibility in Training

You can complete the training program part time, as long as it is completed over a six year period. You may also take a break from the program, with College Council approval.... more

Medical Administration Case Study

Dr. Erwin Loh

Dr. Erwin Loh

Name: Dr. Erwin Loh

Career stage: Consultant

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Medical Specialty: Medical Administration

Why did you decide to become a medical administrator?

I graduated from the University of Melbourne Medical School in 1996. Like a lot of other doctors who have gone down the road of medical administration specialisation, I initially started out training in another medical specialty, in my case, paediatrics and psychiatry, with the aim of becoming a child psychiatrist. After passing the initial first-year examination as a psychiatry registrar, I decided to commence studying for a law degree, with the idea that I would eventually dabble in forensic...

What do you like about medical administration?

Medical Administration is a very challenging medical specialty and it is unlike any other. First of all, your “patient” is really the hospital or health service itself, and the “diseases” that we have to diagnose through the recognition of signs and symptoms, and treat using our clinical and management skills, are really all the problems and issues that can arise out of running complex health systems....

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Medical Administration Workplace

The workplace

Medical managers have a varied workplace. Most medical managers turn their focus to liaising with senior clinical staff, health administration personnel, government agencies, Boards and other key governance bodies. Medical managers are involved in strategic planning of services and executive... more

The doctor-patient relationship

Medical managers generally have less direct patient contact than those in the traditional clinical specialties. Medical managers focus on looking after the health of whole populations and ensuring safety and patient outcomes through effective clinical governance, planning and overseeing the... more

Intellectual content

Medical managers are required to have a solid knowledge base in all areas of medicine, as well as be up to date with the latest research in business administration and patient safety. The core competencies of the specialty of Medical... more

Lifestyle and Practice Options

Medical managers commonly work in a hospital environment during regular business hours and are remunerated at specialist senior medical staff level. At the moment, there are awards in different States specifically for specialist medical administrators, but in some States medical... more

Medical indemnity

Medical Administrators have their own specialised medical indemnity category with medical defence organisations. Although they do not have direct patient contact in most cases, some medical administrators are clinician managers and maintain a substantial clinical load – in these cases... more

News Archive

 

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