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What is an associate medical director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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Associate medical directors are healthcare professionals who work in a leadership role to oversee the medical operations of an organization. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement policies, procedures, and quality standards to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care. Associate medical directors also provide clinical guidance and support to physicians and other staff members, oversee the recruitment and training of medical personnel, and participate in strategic planning and budgeting.

ScoreAssociate Medical DirectorUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $212,257

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 8.11%

Black or African American 11.07%

Hispanic or Latino 14.63%

Unknown 4.27%

White 61.20%

Gender

female 67.64%

male 32.36%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an associate medical director?

Pros

  • High salary

  • Leadership and management experience

  • Opportunity to impact patient care and outcomes

  • Ability to mentor and train other medical professionals

  • Exposure to various departments and roles within healthcare organizations

Cons

  • High levels of stress and responsibility

  • Long hours and demanding workload

  • Pressure to meet targets and goals

  • Administrative tasks can take away from clinical work

  • Exposure to legal liability and malpractice lawsuits

Associate medical director career paths

Key steps to become an associate medical director

  1. Explore associate medical director education requirements

    Most common associate medical director degrees

    Bachelor's

    37.3 %

    Associate

    15.4 %

    Doctorate

    13.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate medical director skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients18.55%
    PET12.29%
    Appeals11.24%
    Customer Service5.15%
    Medical Oncology5.01%
  3. Complete relevant associate medical director training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate medical directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate medical director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate medical director resumes.
  4. Gain additional associate medical director certifications

    Associate medical director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific associate medical director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for associate medical directors include Medical Assistant and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research associate medical director duties and responsibilities

    • Lead successful JCAHO accreditation efforts, including audit preparation and follow up.
    • Establish office protocols and aggressively manage patient A/R to maximize reimbursements.
    • Manage payroll, order supplies, review and update standard operating procedures and organizational polices.
    • Perform first aid and CPR as needed.
  6. Apply for associate medical director jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate medical director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first associate medical director job

Zippi

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Average associate medical director salary

The average associate medical director salary in the United States is $212,257 per year or $102 per hour. Associate medical director salaries range between $123,000 and $365,000 per year.

Average associate medical director salary
$212,257 Yearly
$102.05 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do associate medical directors rate their job?

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Associate medical director reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Dealing with people making directions good salary

Cons

I don’t like mostly sitting


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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