BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To optimize health and well‐being for all older people, we must collectively develop leaders to pioneer models of care, educate the healthcare workforce, advance research, and engage the community. METHODS The Emerging Leaders in Aging (ELIA) program was created to train a multiprofessional cadre of leaders focused on the health and well‐being of older people. ELIA uses the social change curricular framework and addresses knowledge of self, community, and engagement with change. Program impact measured included scholar satisfaction, confidence related to curricular domains before and after the program, project progress, and scholar productivity. RESULTS Four cohorts of 65 scholars in seven health professions from 24 states were selected for the year‐long 55‐hour program. Overall satisfaction from members of the first three cohorts who have completed the program (n = 46) was 4.86 (scale = 1–5), and scholar confidence increased from 5.8 to 8.0 (scale = 1–9) (p < .001). These scholars reported 85 presentations, 63 publications, and 21 awards subsequent to training. All scholars described the importance of a program focused on early and mid‐career leaders in health and aging. DISCUSSION The ELIA program leverages longitudinal, distance mentor communities, and project‐based learning strategies. It has improved confidence and skills in emerging leaders who commit their efforts toward the care of older persons. Programs like ELIA are critical to preparing a healthcare workforce to optimize care for all as our health needs and expectations change with age. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:437–442, 2019.

The Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging (ELIA) Program is a 1‐year leadership training program focused on developing a sustainable pipeline of leaders in aging who are poised to lead initiatives that will optimize the health of older people. The Tideswell ELIA Program is jointly administered by the American Geriatrics Society, the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, and Tideswell at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), a program within the Division of Geriatrics at UCSF. The ELIA Program prepares early to midcareer healthcare professionals in aging (scholars) for their transition into key leadership roles that involve one or more areas of patient care, education, and research. The program emphasizes the understanding of one's own and others' inherent work strategies and communication styles as integral to leading programs. Approximately 15 ELIA scholars are selected annually to participate in this interactive leadership development program. We conducted a qualitative analysis of program evaluations from 2015 to 2018 scholars (n = 47) to determine effectiveness and impact. All scholars (100%) completed the end‐of‐training survey. Scholars' satisfaction with the program is high. Scholars reported heightened leadership development and improvements in leadership skills, including communication, team building, and self‐awareness. Scholars also reported enhancement of personal leadership attributes that contributed to career advancement. The Tideswell ELIA Program accelerates scholars' personal career development, positively impacts their institutions, and ultimately benefits older people. Sustaining leadership programs such as the Tideswell ELIA Program is vital to ensure a continuous pipeline of leaders skilled in both advocating for and advancing the health of older Americans. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:434–436, 2019.

No abstract