Dr. Alvin Ring

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Knowing your work can impact the health of others is very exciting and rewarding. My medical diagnostic work helps determine the most effective treatment for a patient. The administrative aspects of my job give me the opportunity to collaborate with others to meet the needs and challenges of running a top notch medical facility. Working as a team is important to our success.

I am currently the chief pathologist and medical director of the laboratories for Silver Cross Hospital, a 300-bed general hospital with a staff of 90 laboratory employees. I am also a clinical professor of pathology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

In my job as a medical director, I oversee the laboratories and interact with nurses and other doctors to interpret tests and specimens. That is the scientific part of my work which requires a degree in medicine. On the administrative side, I work with nonphysician administrative directors and high-level personnel relative to the implications of my work on the hospital..

Here’s a bit of what we can cover in our PivotPlanet session(s):
• How to set goals and timelines for pursuing a career in medical related fields.
• How to stretch to reach goals using education and research.
• The importance of learning all you can about your desired career and your own values.
• The importance of having alternative plans – i.e. a career as a medical director or administrative director.
• How to find people and organizations that can assist you with the above and obtain a mentor if possible.

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I have served as a medical director for hospital laboratories for more than 30 years and continue to enjoy the challenge of interpreting laboratory findings and diagnosis of surgical biopsies. I also find great joy and excitement seeing my students and residents gaining knowledge and advancing their careers.

Working in the field of pathology has given me the opportunity to be creative and the chance to do research and to teach. I have published four books and many articles in my field. Being able to contribute from both a medical perspective and administrative perspective has allowed me to understand how the two components of a hospital interact to function effectively on behalf of the patients and the organization.

I have received a number of national awards during my career. In 2011, I was awarded the College of American Pathologists Lifetime Achievement Award presented for broad and positive impact on patient care through the specialty of pathology. I am recognized in Marquis Publications’ “Who’s who in American education”, Who’s who in medicine and healthcare”, Who’s who in science”, Who’s who in America”, and Who’s who in the world”.