1st University of Southern California Capstone Complete.

The University of Southern California's Marshall Business School hosted its first Capstone course in July in Los Angeles.

Seventeen physicians completed the eight-day Capstone earning the Certificate in Medical Management. Immediately following the Capstone, the students begin the final year of work toward the Master of Medical Management degree.

USC's curriculum encourages entrepreneurial development, arming graduates with the skills and focus to excel as leaders in their current organizations or of new health care ventures.

During the Capstone, participating physicians worked together to create detailed business plans to guide them in developing new projects or resolving existing problems for their employers. Additional coursework toward the MMM will continue to center on these "real-world" applications of new skills and knowledge.

The students were very engaged in the entrepreneurial nature of the program. You could see this in the business concept presentations of the last day. We can't wait to see the process unfold further!

Jody Tolan, director of the USC Capstone and MMM program

Physicians who completed the first USC Capstone are: Marvin D. Corvig, MD; Christopher G. Fichtner MD, CPE; Asit R. Gokli, MD, CPE, FACEP; Thomas E. Lammertse, MD; Alexander Lupenko, MD, Stuart A. Menaker, MD; Walter W Mills, II, MD; William F. Mills, MD, CPE; Richard A. Morin, MD, CPE; Michael A. Patinas, MD, CPE, FACP; Kevin H. Ruggles, MD; Kumar M. Saran, MD; M. Leonide Sipski, MD, PhD; Marvin Stein, MD, FACS; Yvonne E. Stratton, MD; Steven E. Szehenyi, MD; Richard J. Wyderski, MD.

USC's next Capstone is scheduled for March 8-16, 2002.