I am a full time hospitalist in an academic center, and my husband is a SAHD. Recently our division chief, let us know he was stepping down. I have been helping with some of the administrative tasks and thinking related to this position such as scheduling and developing proposals for coverage needs to the Department Chair. Originally, I thought there is no way I would do it. Then I thought I should consider it. Then I decided no again. After all my own thinking, the division chief contacted me to ask if I was interested.

I have been really torn but as time goes on I'm leaning more clearly in one direction. The position would require me to ultimately be responsible for scheduling, evaluations, hospitalist meetings, coverage issues such as illness or leave (not covering myself necessarily but making sure it's covered), disciplinary issues, mentoring and counseling in regards to promotion, and a monthly division chief meeting.

Below are my major positives and negatives of taking or not taking the position:

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Taking the Position-
Positive
1. good for promotion
2. protected time --> decreased clinical time by 14%
3. with protected time and less clinical time more flexibility with family needs/activities
4. continue doing activities I'm currently doing with some compensation

Negative
1. stress of being in a managerial position
2. responsibility that may outweigh compensation (won't know until I'm doing it though).
3. managing peers who are at the same or slightly further point in their career (We're a young group.)
4. politics

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Not taking the Position:
Positive:
1. no risk that the stress and responsibilities will outweigh the compensation
2. no stress of being in administration

Negative:
1. continue doing what I'm currently doing for the division with no compensation
2. continue other administrative responsibilities unrelated to the division with no compensation (I would drop these responsibilities if I took this position.)
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To add to the picture, I currently have 2 children who are about 4 years and 2 years. We are planning on having more children very soon (as best you can plan anything in life.) Our plan is for my husband to go back to work when our youngest child is school age.

The decision ultimately comes down to what's best for my family. My career is important to me but not to the detriment of my family. I just don't know what will be best for me and my family. Every time I think I've decided, I start going the other direction. I started this post feeling one way. After writing it, I'm wondering if I should go the other way.

I know it's hard to give input without knowing all the details, but any input is appreciated. If anyone has been in this position, I would appreciate sharing your experience with whatever you decided. Please feel free to let me know what else I haven't thought about. Thanks.

Congrats on being considered for the position! I don't know what you should do, but I was wondering about a couple of things:

Your clinical time will be decreased by 14%. Do you think your administrative time will increase by more than that 14%? If so, do you have extra time to spend at work?

Why is the current chief stepping down?

Will you have support from the administration to run the division as you see fit, or will they pressure you to cut corners for financial reasons?

Thanks for your questions.

Sounds like a good opportunity, work-wise, and do-able with your family situation. Of course, it is hard to know exactly what will be involved until you are in the situation. Good luck!

Sounds like you are leaning towards it and an excellent opportunity for growth, congrats!

I would reiterate the 14% thing-I took a teaching position thinking it would allow more flexibility and I am actually working way more than the amount of time I get compensated for. i enjoy it, so it isn't onerous, but it wasn't what I expected....so I would try to figure that out as best I could, the other thing you wrote that raised red flags is the 'covering for emergency/illness'-how often does that happen? Extra shifts could wreak havoc with family life!

The 14% is what keeps my head spinning.

I will meet with our chair this week. If we can't come to an agreement about some common goals, then it probably isn't a good fit.

The emergency coverage is the groups responsibility with coordination from me. Certainly, it can be a headache, but not just for me. I think I may try to develop an approach to mitigate personal responsibility. We've talked about it before. Maybe something where two people are on back-up for a month and responsible for emergency coverage.