Charting a career in health care management: boxing the compass.

This article describes how one health care executive charted her career course to achieve the advanced management competencies defined by Longest. To achieve success in the new and complex world of integrated health care delivery networks, aspiring executives are encouraged to develop a broad base of knowledge and experience that capitalizes on their unique skills, talents, and interests, rather than pursuing a narrowly defined linear career ladder. The importance of management team competency and selection of educational preparation are highlighted in the context of examples of advanced management competency development.