When you walk into a room full of campaign managers, data analysts, and communications strategists, you expect to feel like an outsider.
But sitting in the AMA’s AMPAC Campaign School in Washington, D.C.- surrounded by people planning how to run and win elections- I realized I wasn’t out of place at all.
Because everything they were teaching about running a campaign was exactly what doctors need to know to successfully run a practice.
Campaign Lessons for Independent Doctors
One of the most interesting takeaways was about trust.
In politics, candidates are encouraged to run under their professional title- because people trust doctors. “Run as Dr. Jim Smith,” they said, “not just Jim Smith.” The degree still carries credibility and authority.
In medicine, that trust is something we’ve earned- but too often, we give it away. We let larger systems and bureaucracies decide how we practice, what we can charge, and how much time we can spend with patients.
But as one of the instructors said about campaigns, “You don’t have to be the expert in everything- but you do have to be the one making the decisions.”
That applies just as much to healthcare as to politics. Because when you own your own practice, for better or worse, you’re in charge.You get to decide how you serve patients, how you grow, and what freedom looks like.
The Overlap: Campaigns, Practices, and Purpose
In a campaign, you need to:
- Know your audience.
- Communicate your differentiators clearly.
- Build credibility and visibility.
- Make smart financial decisions.
- Mobilize people to act.
In private practice, it’s the same. You need to:
- Know your patient base.
- Communicate why your care stands apart.
- Build trust and authority in your community.
- Manage costs while growing sustainably.
- Inspire loyalty and referrals.
Different worlds. Same principles.
The biggest difference? In a campaign, you’re asking for votes. In a practice, you’re earning trust.
Why This Matters Now
For me, this experience wasn’t about politics- it was about strategy.It showed me that what physicians need most isn’t more compliance or bureaucracy. It’s clarity. It’s communication. It’s the ability to think strategically about how to prove the need and desire for what we do.
That’s the foundation of the consulting work I’ll be launching soon: helping physicians build practices that are not just clinically sound, but strategically strong. Because the only way to preserve doctor-driven medicine is to understand how influence- and independence- really work.
The Takeaway
You don’t need to run for office to make a difference. But you do need to learn how decisions get made- because every regulation, reimbursement, and restriction that affects your practice started in a room like the one I just sat in.
The more doctors who understand that system, the more we can shape it. From the inside out.
PS: If you’re a physician exploring independence or looking to strengthen your existing practice, stay tuned for my upcoming consulting announcement.
We’ll be diving into exactly how to build the future of doctor-driven medicine- on your own terms.
