Learning to Lead: Reflections from the Tideswell‐AGS‐ADGAP Emerging Leaders in Aging Program Scholars

Abstract

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.

Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging Special Interest Group: Cultivating a growing community of Geriatrics leaders

“…The Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging (ELIA) Program of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP), were designed to address these challenges. Tideswell offers a year‐long leadership development program to ensure that emerging clinical, education and research leaders in Geriatrics are well equipped to shape the future of healthcare and related social systems for older adults 2 . The Tideswell program is unique in that it includes Geriatricians, as well as non‐Geriatricians from various fields (e.g., Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Oncology) who have embraced the field of Geriatrics.…”

“…Tideswell offers a year-long leadership development program to ensure that emerging clinical, education and research leaders in Geriatrics are well equipped to shape the future of healthcare and related social systems for older adults. 2 The Tideswell program is unique in that it includes Geriatricians, as well as non-Geriatricians from various fields (e.g., Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Oncology) who have embraced the field of Geriatrics. Since 2015 eight cohorts graduated a total of 190 alumni.…”

Chief to Chief: Reflections on Cultivating the Next Generation of Geriatrics Program Leaders

“…For those accepting chief positions earlier in their career, the Tideswell, American Geriatrics Society (AGS), and Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs (ADGAP) Emerging Leaders in Aging Program "leverages existing leadership skills for clinical, research, policy and educational initiatives in aging." [17][18][19] Other programs might include the ADGAP leadership training preconference session at the AGS annual scientific meeting or the AGS/ADGAP-sponsored new chief mentoring program. 20 The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine ® (ELAM ® ) program trains 54 women academic leaders annually in "an intensive one-year fellowship of leadership training with extensive coaching, networking and mentoring opportunities aimed at expanding the national pool of qualified women candidates for leadership in academic medicine."…”

Leadership Lessons: Developing Mentoring Infrastructure for GEMSSTAR Scholars

“…As an example, surgeons often must meet specific board certification requirements related to their surgical skills (eg, maintain a case log) that can make it harder for a young investigator to devote the requisite time to a new investigator award. In addition, we believe peer‐to‐peer networking across disciplines would be enhanced by the creation of self‐organized “pods” of GEMSSTAR scholars, as has been done in the Emerging Leaders in Aging program …”

“…In addition, we believe peer-to-peer networking across disciplines would be enhanced by the creation of self-organized "pods" of GEMSSTAR scholars, as has been done in the Emerging Leaders in Aging program. 16,17 Team Science…”