The Emerging Physicians Leadership Program at Boston Children’s Hospital: A Unique Program Equipping Exemplary Mid-Career Physicians to Successfully Transition to Leadership Within the Organization

Abstract

Physician leadership is integral to achieving the highest quality of healthcare. Hospital administrative leaders rely on strong clinical advisers to uphold the core medical mission through changes in organizational management, strategy, culture, or structure. There is growing interest among physicians in being directly involved in operational and strategic decisions that affect health care delivery. This interest is fueled by rising rates of physician burnout and decreased morale stemming from reduced autonomy and self-governance. Boston Children’s Hospital’s Emerging Physicians Leadership Program (EPLP) is a two-year program geared toward mid-career physicians with prerequisite leadership training and demonstrated leadership aptitude, providing participants with tools to optimize operations and improve collaboration among hospital groups, easing transitions into leadership roles in hospital administration. The EPLP equips participants with institutional knowledge, expanded collaboration networks, and opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills in a collaborative team-based environment. The goals are to identify future hospital leaders, facilitate seamless and successful transitions into hospital leadership roles, and make the organizational structure and decision-making process more transparent.