Dr. Kennedy
About 10 years ago, I’d just landed a new leadership position as director of quality and, whether external or self-induced, I was feeling the pressure. I wanted to succeed in the role and was eager to show the leaders who had trusted me with this title that they’d made the right decision. I wasn’t entirely green—I’d completed my master’s in health administration three years earlier and a fellowship in quality the year before, but that felt too academic. I needed training that felt immediately applicable. A Google search led me to SHM Leadership Academy. and after reviewing the curriculum, I decided to register. (I’m almost certain that the fact that it was in Hawaii was not a factor…almost.)
This meeting not only far exceeded expectations but has proven to be pivotal in my career development! I learned about meta leadership, emotional self-awareness, hospital finances, and how to use these tools to manage up—a skill I desperately needed in my role. More than that was what I learned from fellow attendees. At my table with an OB hospitalist, community hospitalists, an administrator, and a respiratory therapist, we discussed unique approaches to staffing, common challenges, and new ways to look at old problems. The experience was so impactful I took what I’d learned and used it to convince our leadership that we should invest in sending every leader through the series.
The next year, I returned for Mastering Teamwork, but this time with our team of leaders! We learned about building high-functioning teams and establishing trust and psychological safety. Since we’d traveled together, we got to start applying these tools immediately at group dinners, a fun excursion, and in the airport as we traveled home.
This tradition of attending SHM Leadership Academy continues to help us develop effective leaders who have taken on roles within our group and beyond, myself included. Now as course director of SHM Leadership Academy, I devote my energy to ensuring that other hospitalists, APPs, administrators, and other hospital-based clinicians get the tools they need to return to their institutions and lead.
Thanks to attendee feedback, the curriculum has evolved. While some topics and speakers we love remain the same (change management and ugly dogs), we’ve added content like conflict resolution for leaders and creating inclusive environments for diverse teams. We’ve also added incredible faculty like Dr. Khaalisha Ajala, who will speak on personal leadership styles, Dr. Kimberly Manning, who will share effective communication skills in leadership positions, and Dr. Jennifer O’Toole, who will explore tools on graceful self-promotion and professional development. Finally, we have added executive coaching to the Capstone course, so every participant will be paired with an executive coach to work with them as they begin leading their Capstone project. These changes are designed to equip attendees with the knowledge and resources needed to be effective leaders within their practices and beyond.
So, if you’re interested in becoming a leader, new to a leadership role, or well established in a role, but looking for ways to expand and bolster your effectiveness, register for SHM Leadership Academy. This year, it’s in gorgeous Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., from October 28 to 31. Visit shmleadershipacademy.org and sign up. I can’t wait to meet you there!
Dr. Kennedy is a clinical associate professor and chief medical officer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is also a member of SHM’s Board of Directors.