Interview with Dr. Leelee Thames

This week, Dr. Leelee Thames, the Chief Value Officer at Novant Health, is our guest. She is the third University of Tennessee physician executive MBA graduate to join us. During our interview, she will explain why she loves her job.

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Leelee completed her medical degree at Texas A& M College of Medicine and her anesthesiology residency at the University of Oregon Health and Science University.

During her residency, she also completed an NIH-funded research fellowship in systematic and comparative effectiveness reviews for the development of evidence-based guidelines. She completed the UT PEMBA in 2015.

Our Sponsor

We’re proud to have the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, as the sponsor of this podcast.

The UT PEMBA is the longest-running, and most highly respected physician-only MBA in the country. It has over 700 graduates. And, the program only takes one year to complete. 

By joining the UT Physician Executive MBA, you will develop the business and management skills you need to find a career that you love. To find out more, contact Dr. Kate Atchley’s office at (865) 974-6526 or go to nonclinicalphysicians.com/physicianmba.

Dr. Thames’s career has progressed rapidly. Over a relatively short time, she advanced from practicing anesthesiologist to medical director, chief medical officer, and VP for quality, to her current role as CVO. She explains what attracted her to those roles, and how she demonstrated her competence as she progressed.

Being A Health System Chief Value Officer

Dr. Thames describes the importance of finding appropriate mentors. Leelee obtained her executive MBA seven years ago. She explains why she decided to get the MBA and how it has helped advance her career.

After spending time with health plans, I was really intrigued with this opportunity to work for a health system and really focus on care transformation and moving the organization towards value-based care.

She also outlines what she does as CVO, and why she prefers working in a health system. She closes by giving her advice for other physicians hoping to move into a health plan or health system leadership role. 

Summary

Physicians can accelerate their career progress by actively pursuing more challenging roles. It may also require a willingness to relocate. If you’d like like to contact Dr. Thames, the best option is to find her on LinkedIn.

NOTE: Look below for a transcript of today’s episode that you can download or read.

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