Perceptions of Health Care Executives on Leadership Development Skills for Residents After Participating in a Longitudinal Mentorship Program

Despite the fact that physicians are being asked to lead and enact change to improve a myriad of quality of care measures, there is little focus on leadership skills development during their training. One strategy to address this gap is to focus on trainees during graduate medical education, specifically those residents aspiring to careers as physician leaders in quality. The authors designed a leadership curriculum for self-selected residents who are pursuing a certificate in health care leadership in quality. Residents were surveyed and focus groups were conducted with health system executives who participated in the curriculum as part of an evaluation designed to inform improvements in the program and to provide guidance to others who direct physician leadership training programs. The findings support the need to invest in young physician leaders who are focused on quality with the ultimate goal of improving population health in the ever-changing health care environment.