2010 May | Vista Blog

Tonya Harmon manages all the marketing activities for the Search and Consulting Division. She is responsible for developing promotions for each open opportunity and optimizing its presence on over 10 physician specific websites. In addition, she manages any other marketing campaigns from direct mail and email to journal advertisements in order to successfully recruit the right candidates for each open opportunity. Tonya also organizes sourcing efforts and sources qualified physicians for our client's opportunities.

Archive for May, 2010

Professional CV – a must for every physician

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Whether you are a locum tenens physician or a physician looking for permanent opportunities, it is important that you create a curriculum vitae that highlights your experience and background. Make sure that you dot your “I’s” and cross your “T’s”. Here are some of the common details that we tend to overlook but are key to a great CV.

1. Keep your CV up to date.

* Nothing says “I’m interested” better than an up-to-the minute CV. Feature details that demonstrate your fit with this specific job.

2. Break information into sections and list accomplishments in each section chronologically.

*Starting with the most recent activity and include month/day/year for all dates. If you have no experience in a particular area, leave it out.

3. Make sure there are no gaps.

* Any gap in time must be explained. If you backpacked through Europe for three months, spell it out in your CV. Otherwise, it will generate a red flag in the mind of the reviewer and you will have to provide an explanation. It can slow things down or potentially hurt your chances for a position.

4. Use a font that is easy to read and use a minimum of 12-point type size.

* Use an all-purpose font that is easy to read and holds up when faxed. Arial and Times New Roman are good choices. Non-standard fonts may not be loaded on all computers, so a person who has received an electronic copy of your CV may not be able to read it. At the very least, the computer will substitute another font and mess up your formatting. Avoid the use of all capital letters and excessive bold, italic or underlining. Use a minimum size of 12-point type.

5. Customize your cover letter for each opportunity, highlighting your interest and qualifications specific to each position. Also, be sure these qualifications are listed in your CV.

* Add a few details that make it obvious you are interested in a specific job. This is critical when you are applying for a permanent position.

Posted in Industry Updates |

New Zealand demonstrates commitment to locum doctors

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

We were interested to learn recently that the Medical Council of New Zealand is taking steps to ensure that international medical graduates arriving in New Zealand receive improved on-the-job support to help them settle into the New Zealand health care system.

The Medical Council will be recognizing services that have quality systems in place to ensure locum tenens and other international medical graduates are well supported and supervised when they begin medical practice in New Zealand. Services that meet these standards will be dubbed approved practice settings (APS).

In a recent press release from the council, Chairperson Dr. John Adams said, “The bottom line is that the APS is designed to ensure patient health and safety, whilst at the same time offer IMGs structured support and guidance when beginning medical practice in New Zealand.”

“We believe the APS offers IMGs who are new to New Zealand improved support from their colleagues and senior doctors,” Dr. Adams continued. “It will encourage a team approach to supervision, and will encourage greater collaboration across District Health Boards, with recognition of services that span more than one site and regional models of service delivery.”

We applaud this additional step in making New Zealand a welcoming, rewarding locum tenens destination. Add this to the welcoming colleagues from around the world, the sustainable pace of life, and the warm, appreciative patients, and New Zealand becomes an even more attractive location for your next great locum tenens adventure.

Posted in Industry Updates, Travel Tips |

Finishing in 50 states! A note from a locum tenens psychiatrist

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Dear Friends at VISTA!

Big news! As of May 2, when I finished the Providence, Rhode Island Marathon, I have run, walked, limped, etc. the requisite 26.2 miles in all 50 of our fine states! I’ve been at this pursuit since 2001, when I turned 60 and decided I needed to get in better physical shape. On one of my early marathons I learned of the “50 States Marathon Club,” which I qualified to join after finishing 10 states. I joined and got the T-shirt! It has been a fun association and continuing motivation to keep running. I have now earned the privilege of wearing the much coveted shirt that says, “50 States Finisher.”

Ironically, I achieved something else in this lovely city, and it closes another gestalt. Providence College is where I received my pre-med degree in 1964!

As you can imagine, my wife, Eileen, and I have shared great traveling adventures as we chased these marathons all over this crazy country. It all started when we ran the Honolulu Marathon in 1978. After that, we ran five more Honolulu Marathons together over the years. She had a faster time than me every year, by the way, except for the time she slowed down so we could cross the finish line together. There is good reason why Honolulu is one of the most popular marathons in the world. It is beautiful, friendly, fun, and shows off their great Aloha spirit. It is my most favoritest!

Here are some highlights of our sojourn:

Boston 2004, 88 degrees at the start! (I call it the Hotathon);
New York 2003, 2 million fans lining the course;
Chicago 2006, 34 degrees and windy (what else?)
Ketchikan, AK 2004: 40 runners total, we ran over two mountains
Swan Lake, South Dakota, 2006: A small event, flat, remote! ( even won a ribbon for first in my age group)
Lincoln, Nebraska: Flat! Started off in an electrical storm. Thunder for a starting gun!
Avenue of the Giants, California, 2005: A glorious run through the redwoods, with the pileated woodpeckers drumming in the springtime.
Richmond, VA, 2008 on my 67th birthday.
Extra-Terrestrial Midnight Full Moon Marathon, Nevada, 2009. Ran through Area 51! No aliens sighted, but I wondered about a couple of the runners.
Acadia National Park, Maine, 2007…….in the autumn foliage along the carriage paths.

I especially want to thank my patient wife, Eileen, who has been my “roving aid station” on most of these marathons, showing up along the course to give me love and caring, encouragement, ice water, M&Ms, Red Bull, Gatorade, Wavy Lays, Mentos, Tylenol, and anything else to keep me going for a few more miles!

EILEEN!!

What next? The Bay to Breakers is in San Fran in eight days; my first Canadian marathon, on Vancouver Island (Ucluelet) is on June 12th; hopefully I’ll do the Berlin Marathon in September; and the tough Marine Corps Marathon 10-31-10 in DC. If I can get a place, I’ll run the London Marathon next April. Registration opened and closed on May 4th while we were flying back from Boston, all 125,000 places!

Thank you all very much for all your good wishes for good luck in the past. They have helped me tremendously to get where I am today.

Tags: locum tenens, psychiatrist
Posted in Stories from VISTA Physicians |

VISTA Staffing Solutions | Locum Tenens

Archive for May, 2010

Professional CV – a must for every physician

New Zealand demonstrates commitment to locum doctors

Finishing in 50 states! A note from a locum tenens psychiatrist

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