University of Maryland Business School Continues Executive Education Leadership with Maryland State Medical Society Partnership

College Park, Md. – March 9, 2009 — The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced a partnership with MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society to deliver The Business of Practicing Medicine: A MedChi/Smith School of Business Program for Physicians. Targeted toward the association’s more than 7,000 physician members, the 16-session, eight-month program will leverage the Smith School’s world-class faculty and research to cover core business concepts essential to building a high-performing healthcare practice.

The Smith School was recently ranked No. 3 in the United States for its intellectual capital byBusinessWeek magazine and is widely recognized as a world-leading source of business management education and research.

“I’m very pleased that MedChi has selected the Smith School as its exclusive partner for this unique program,” said Hugh Courtney, associate dean of executive programs at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “It is an opportunity for two world-class organizations to come together and help Maryland's physicians substantially improve their practices and ultimately deliver better, more cost-effective care to their patients. The Business of Practicing Medicine program is a great example of the Smith School's approach to custom executive education. We partner with the region's most influential organizations and bring together the best in academic research and thoughtful practice to help those organizations address their most pressing needs.”

Participants in the program will each receive a certificate of completion from the Smith School after successfully covering core concepts that include: finance and accounting, marketing, operations, information technology, negotiations, business law, human resources and strategic management.

“I am extremely excited that MedChi and the Smith School will offer the Business of Practicing Medicine program starting this fall to physicians across the state,” said Murray A. Kalish, MD, president-elect of MedChi. “During my term as president of MedChi, I want every one of the 7,000 practicing physician members in Maryland to learn how to manage their practices as well as they practice medicine. Each of the courses that will be offered was selected with three goals in mind: to improve their patient’s experience, to help them build and run a successful practice in the current economic environment, and to help them bring opportunities to their practices.”

The Business of Practicing Medicine: A MedChi/Smith School of Business Program for Physicians will start September 2009 and continue through May 2010. Sessions will meet twice a month for a total of 16 sessions at the MedChi building in downtown Baltimore. The cost to MedChi members including books and materials is $4,800, or $3,200 with early registration by June 1, 2009. The program is also open to non-MedChi members at a price of $5,600. For more information or to register visit the Web site.

About the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 13 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, MS in business, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations on three continents — North America, Europe and Asia.

About MedChi
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society serves as Maryland’s foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health. It represents over 7,000 physicians practicing in more than 50 medical specialties statewide.