Lawrence M Schecter & Associates is uniquely qualified to address the specific needs of physicians in evolution from clinical practice to executive leadership roles. Our coaching and mentoring services have been designed to assist individuals and teams meet the distinct challenges of these transitions. For hospitals and healthcare organizations we provide the expertise necessary for the development and implementation of innovative medical staff and quality structures and we are particularly adept at mediating physician-hospital conflicts that can arise with new paradigms and business models.
Extended History
Dr. Schecter hails from Philadelphia, the land of cheese steaks and hoagies. He developed his love of surgery soon after graduating from Dickinson College and entering Hahnemann Medical School. After serving as an Air Force Flight Surgeon he trained in General Surgery in the Veteran’s Administration and UCLA systems. His affiliation with UCLA lasted throughout his medical career as both a teacher and administrator in the UCLA health system. Larry received numerous teaching awards and his experience teaching has proven to be the perfect foundation for his most recent career transition to professional coach.
Larry practiced General Surgery in Santa Monica, California for 30 years. During that time he took on multiple leadership positions including Chairman of Surgery at both St. John’s Hospital and Santa Monica Hospital. Although he was a widely recognized and respected surgeon, Larry’s love of teaching and his leadership skills led him towards larger administrative responsibilities culminating in an appointment as Chief Medical Officer of Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine.
With the completion of his illustrious career as surgeon, administrator and leader in the medical community, Larry and his family moved to the Northwest in 2003 when he became Chief Medical Officer of Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, WA, a large tertiary regional referral center. In Everett he created a highly successful Physician Leadership Development program that was later incorporated throughout the greater Providence Health and Services System He was the architect and leader in the development of a unique and innovative re-structuring of the medical staff at Providence Everett which has become a model for many other institutions.
The affiliation of Providence Health and Services with Swedish Health System led Larry to become the Chief Medical Officer of the newly formed Western Washington Region of Providence. His experience, knowledge and people skills were well suited for the clinical integration efforts required of such a large affiliation.
The combination of teacher, mentor, innovator and humanist made Larry’s transition into coaching and consulting a natural evolution. He completed a intensive year long training and certification program at The Hudson Institute of Coaching in Santa Barbara, California and quickly thereafter earned his certification in the International Coach Federation
Larry now dedicates himself to the development of physician leaders through direct coaching and is a consultant for both public and private sectors of the healthcare industry. A particular “sweet spot” is Larry’s ability to manage and resolve conflicts between individuals and organizations.
