Using immersive externship experiences within medical education to bridge the physician-administrator divide

The composition of early trainee medical education is highly influential as it shapes the future of medicine and healthcare. Despite being frequently neglected, education about and exposure to hospital administration should be important aspects of medical student learning. Understanding how health systems coordinate and optimize functions of different departments to enhance patient care is a critical component of being a physician. In this Personal View, we share the tangible impact that a short immersive experience with hospital administration can bring to not only enrich medical student education but also influence their future perspectives and interactions within healthcare systems. Early integration of these learning opportunities has the potential to improve the physician-administrator relationship within hospitals and encourage innovative collaboration to provide more patient-centered and financially sustainable healthcare.