The role of the physician executive is explored in this article using a case study approach to outline administrative performance. Based on a survey of clinician executives at University Hospital in London, Ontario, a profile of background characteristics, activities and responsibilities, and reports on physician attitudes on the merit of administrative training, qualities that make good physician leaders, ethics in health care, and the nature of physician participation in management is presented. Recommendations from this research for developing an administrative training program designed for clinician executives in a teaching hospital follow.