Leadership Development Opportunities
Explore leadership and professional development opportunities sponsored by family medicine organizations other than STFM. These range from longitudinal fellowships to intensive in-person training sessions to online professional development. They are organized by career stage.
Any Career Stage
ABFM Visiting Scholars Program
Sponsor: American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)
Audience: All Members of the Family
Link: https://www.theabfm.org/research/visiting-scholars-program/
Description: ABFM sponsors a Visiting Scholars Program for both physicians and other professionals interested in primary care research, training, or practice. The Visiting Scholars Program is intended to offer you the opportunity to learn about the ABFM and conduct research over a two to four week period with ABFM’s Research Department. Scholars work directly with ABFM staff on original research projects that align with their own interests and support the mission and goals of the ABFM.
Building Research Capacity (BRC)
Sponsor: North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) and Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: Chairs, administrators, aspiring chairs, research directors, and research change agents in a residency program
Link: https://www.adfm.org/programs/building-research-capacity-brc/
Description: BRC is a joint initiative between ADFM and NAPCRG in cooperation with STFM and AFMRD.
All family medicine departments and residency programs seek to build and sustain research and scholarship capacity appropriate to their own goals and situation—their own ways to contribute to the scientific advancement of practice and the field.
In common to all this is building a culture of curiosity and inquiry that leads to publishable work that is feasible and gratifying to clinicians, educators and researchers.
That’s where BRC comes in.
BRC provides opportunities for all departments and residency programs (and the individuals within them) to engage family medicine leaders, researchers and each other. Mutually beneficial interactions under the BRC umbrella build research capacity along with the actual accomplishment of published and presented research and scholarship.
Family Medicine Health Equity Fellowship Program
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians and Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors
Audience: AAFP members with strong interest in health equity issues
Link: https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/prevention-wellness/social-determinants/aafp-health-equity-fellowship.html
Description: The AAFP Health Equity Fellowship is designed to develop family physicians into leaders who have subject matter expertise in the social, institutional, and cultural influences that impact health. The fellowship is a vital part of the Academy’s work to create leaders across the specialty who can address health inequities at the system and community levels. These fellows will facilitate change to improve their local communities and primary care.
Grant Generating Project (GGP)
Sponsor: North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG)
Audience: Faculty members who are interested in pursuing investigator-generated independent research on topics of interest to primary care
Link: https://napcrg.org/programs/grantgeneratingproject-ggp/projectdesctipion/
Description: Established during the 1995–1996 academic year through the efforts of the NAPCRG Committee on Building Research Capacity, the GGP seeks to equip family medicine and primary care researchers with the skills they need to successfully develop and submit grants for research funding. Once learned, these skills continue to help generate new funds for family medicine research and training, year after year.
Robert L. Phillips Jr. Health Policy Fellowship
Sponsor: Robert Graham Center
Audience: Students, Residents & Senior Faculty
Link: https://www.graham-center.org/rgc/scholars-fellows/fellowship-program/about.html
Description:
The Robert L. Phillips, Jr. Health Policy Fellowship is a 1-year, full-time, in-person fellowship program with combined experiences in scholarly research, medical education, and clinical practice. Located in Washington, DC, fellows have a unique opportunity to interact with local and federal policymakers as an integrated part of the program. Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to the institutions in the DC community.
The year begins with exposure to primary health care policy data, research methodology, and data analytics. Fellows are involved in research from conception through dissemination. Elements of research portfolio are tailored to the fellows interests and skill set. The fellow is introduced to various local and national organizations that explore health policy research, implementation, and community leaders that apply primary care research. Fellows may work with several partners, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, and the Health Resources Services Administration. Some fellows may explore working with congressional staff or members of professional organizations on one pagers and health legislation.
Senior Faculty
AAFP Leadership Conference
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Audience: Current and aspiring family medicine leaders and chapter staff
Link: https://www.aafp.org/events/aclf-nccl.html
Description: This leadership conference, which takes place over 3.5 days each year in Kansas City, is for current and aspiring family medicine leaders and chapter staff. Two parallel tracks are comprised of the Annual Chapter Leader Forum and the National Conference of Constituency Leaders.
The Annual Chapter Leader Forum (ACLF) track is a leadership development program for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring chapter leaders, and chapter staff. ACLF features targeted breakout sessions on board governance, legislative and advocacy issues, membership strategies, communication efforts, and trends in family medicine among other topics.
The National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) track is a leadership and policy development track for underrepresented constituencies, including women, minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender physicians. NCCL allows aspiring leaders to create powerful platforms for change and influence AAFP policies and positions as well as build leadership skills to use in practice and the community. In addition to sessions on leadership, communications, advocacy, and media training, NCCL offers a dedicated business track to train members on the resolution development process.
ABFM Lewis Sigmon, MD, Senior Visiting Scholars Program
Sponsor: American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)
Audience: Senior Faculty, All Members of the Family
Link: https://www.theabfm.org/research/visitingscholar.aspx
Description: This program is an extension of the ABFM Visiting Scholars Program with additional financial support and the additional expectations of an authoritative product. Individuals at more advanced stages of their careers with significant research experience or expertise may qualify as J. Lewis Sigmon, MD Senior Visiting Scholars. Sigmon Scholars are expected to produce a substantial product for publication as a result of their experience.
ADFM Annual Conference
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: Chairs/Division Head, Senior Department Administrators
Website: https://www.adfm.org/meetings/future-meetings/
Description: This February meeting is held for chair and senior administrator representatives of ADFM member departments. Individual associate members are also allowed to attend as are other invited leaders (see ADFM Senior Leaders program). The conference offers chair and senior administrator development in areas critical to the multiple missions of departments of family medicine. The program typically includes plenary sessions with outside speakers, sharing of best practices/innovations from members, and opportunities for networking and communication between chairs and administrators.
ADFM LEADS Fellowship
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: Senior Faculty, Mid-Career Faculty
Link: https://www.adfm.org/programs/leads-fellowship/
Description: The ADFM LEADS Fellowship is a year-long program (February to February) which provides academic leadership development for those considering chair or other senior leader positions as a potential career direction. The program includes a Fellowship project, shared with colleagues through a venue at the ADFM Annual Conference; formal mentorship from a current chair advisor; and participation on the ADFM Chairs’ listserv during the fellowship year and one year thereafter. It also includes participation in two back-to-back ADFM Annual Conferences (these take place a Wed – Sat in February, dates and location dependent on year) and some extra workshops and webinars throughout the year.
ADFM Senior Leaders Program
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: Senior Faculty
Website: https://www.adfm.org/programs/interest-in-sr-leadership-programs/
Description: The Senior Leader Program is a leadership development opportunity for leaders in Departments of Family Medicine who are not Associate Members of ADFM to attend the ADFM Annual Conference with their chair, with requested attendance at some conference “optional” events. This opportunity is intended to strengthen not only individuals' leadership skills but leadership in Departments. It exposes participants to innovations and benchmarks in all missions - patient care, teaching, and research across the country, and imparts training in core skills necessary for academic leadership. The Senior Leader must be nominated by the Department Chair. To be eligible for nomination, the individual must have been in departmental leadership for 2 or more years. Requests for nominations for this program are sent around to the Department Chairs in November/December preceding the February meeting.
ADFM Interim Chair Hotline
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: New Department Chairs
Link: https://adfm.org/programs/new-plus-interim-chairs-programs-and-resources/
Description: The ADFM Leader Development Committee has a “hotline” service for those who have been asked to become interim chairs in the near future or have been in the interim chair role a short time and have not yet been connected with an advisor, but have immediate questions related to the chair job. Those with immediate questions related to taking a chair position or to being interim chair are asked to contact Amanda Weidner (aweidner@adfm.org)
ADFM New Chairs Advising Program
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: New Department Chairs
Link: https://www.adfm.org/programs/chair-programs-and-resources/
Description: Interested early career chairs (1–3 years) are paired with a more experienced chair advisor (5 or more years, preferred). The pair commits to check-ins and communication on a regular basis, at least quarterly for 2 years, and to meeting in person at the Annual Conference and other venues where both parties are present. Specific goals/objectives for the advising relationship are identified at the beginning, including a general goal of providing/receiving advice and approaches to problem solving/management dilemmas. The advisor may also serve as a facilitator for relationships with others for specific expertise or input, if needed.
National Institute for Program Director Development Fellowship
Sponsor: Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD)
Audience: Program Directors, Senior Faculty
Link: https://www.afmrd.org/nipdd-faculty-the-academic-council
Description: This professional development program, led by an esteemed Academic Council, is a nationally recognized fellowship open to a limited number of participants each year. NIPDD participants must be members of AFMRD.
Those accepted for a NIPDD fellowship will engage with and learn from seasoned program directors, family medicine educators, and other family medicine leaders. The NIPDD fellowship uses a one-of-a-kind, adult learning model to enhance knowledge, attitudes, and skills and to equip participants to become effective residency program directors.
New Chairs Workshop at the Dept of Family Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) and the University of Missouri, Columbia
Audience: New Department Chairs, Senior Leaders
Description:
Recognizing the importance of clinical leadership in family medicine, MU’s Department of Family and Community Medicine conducts an annual 3-day workshop for new family medicine chairs. The primary goal of the workshops is to prepare new chairs for the challenges, expectations, and responsibilities of their role.
MU has hosted more than 120 new chairs at this workshop, which was initially held from 1991 and 1998, and then reinstituted in 2012. The Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM), the national organization of academic family medicine departments has partnered with MU in this second iteration making it an even more valuable professional development experience for new family medicine leaders.
Senior Department Administrators
Administrators' Peer Partner Program
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: New Department Administrators
Link: https://www.adfm.org/programs/administrators-peer-partner-program/
Description: In 2017 the Administrators’ Steering Committee implemented a mentorship program, below is an overview of the program, the process and the peer partner mentor/mentee roles. The goal of this program is to match seasoned ADFM Administrators (2+ years in a department) with new ADFM Administrators (< 2 Years) in DFMs to assist with the transition to a DFM Administrative Role and to improve specific knowledge, skills and abilities related to the role of an administrator. Additionally, the program aims to facilitate a better understanding of the ADFM culture for new administrators.
Mid-Career and Junior Faculty
AAFP Leadership Conference
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Audience: Current and aspiring family medicine leaders and chapter staff
Link: https://www.aafp.org/events/aclf-nccl.html
Description: This leadership conference, which takes place over 3.5 days each year in Kansas City, is for current and aspiring family medicine leaders and chapter staff. Two parallel tracks are comprised of the Annual Chapter Leader Forum and the National Conference of Constituency Leaders.
The Annual Chapter Leader Forum (ACLF) track is a leadership development program for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring chapter leaders, and chapter staff. ACLF features targeted breakout sessions on board governance, legislative and advocacy issues, membership strategies, communication efforts, and trends in family medicine among other topics.
The National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) track is a leadership and policy development track for underrepresented constituencies, including women, minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender physicians. NCCL allows aspiring leaders to create powerful platforms for change and influence AAFP policies and positions as well as build leadership skills to use in practice and the community. In addition to sessions on leadership, communications, advocacy, and media training, NCCL offers a dedicated business track to train members on the resolution development process.
ADFM LEADS Fellowship
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM)
Audience: Senior Faculty, Mid-Career Faculty
Link: https://www.adfm.org/programs/leads-fellowship/
Description: The ADFM LEADS Fellowship is a year-long program (February to February) which provides academic leadership development for those considering chair or other senior leader positions as a potential career direction. The program includes a Fellowship project, shared with colleagues through a venue at the ADFM Annual Conference; formal mentorship from a current chair advisor; and participation on the ADFM Chairs’ listserv during the fellowship year and one year thereafter. It also includes participation in two back-to-back ADFM Annual Conferences (these take place a Wed – Sat in February, dates and location dependent on year) and some extra workshops and webinars throughout the year.
ACOFP Future Leaders Conference
Sponsor: American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
Audience: Residents and New Physicians in Practice for One to Five Years
Link: https://www.acofp.org/continuing-education/events/future-leaders-conference
Description: The Future Leaders Conference brings together family medicine residents and new physicians in practice with FLC faculty alumni. This program is designed to strengthen your leadership skills, broaden your network, and position you for long-term success in family medicine.
James C. Puffer, MD/American Board of Family Medicine Fellowship at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
Sponsor: National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)
Audience: Junior Faculty, All Members of the Family
Link: https://nam.edu/our-work/health-policy-fellowships-and-leadership-programs/puffer-abfm-fellowship/
Description: The overall purpose of the Puffer/ABFM Fellowship at the NAM is to enable talented, early-career health policy and science scholars in family medicine to participate actively in health- and medicine-related work of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) and to further their careers as future leaders in the field. In considering qualifications for the Puffer/ABFM Fellowship, preference will be given to candidates who have a demonstrated interest in and focus on health quality and health services and have an MD, PhD, or DO This program is supported through an endowment from the American Board of Family Medicine. The Puffer/ABFM Fellowship is part of the NAM Fellowships for Health Science Scholars program.
Residents and Medical Students
Appointment to Organization of Resident Representatives (ORR)
Sponsor: Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Audience: Residents
Website: https://www.aamc.org/members/orr/about/
Description: The Organization of Resident Representatives provides a venue for resident physicians to have input into the development of AAMC policy, and as a leadership opportunity for residents interested in academic medicine, serving as a vehicle for professional development activities for members.
Chief Resident Leadership Development Program
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Medicine (AAFP)
Audience: Residents
Link: https://www.aafp.org/students-residents/residency-program-directors/chief-resident-leadership-development-program.html
Description: For over 25 years, this program has offered an interactive, engaging experience that provides chief residents with the most up-to-date resources, tools, and instruction to become strong leaders.
The program begins in May with an in-person meeting in Kansas City and concludes with a workshop held in the fall in conjunction with AAFP Family Medicine Experience (FMX).
Family Medicine Leadership Positions for Residents and Students
Sponsors: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), AAFP Foundation, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD), and others
Audience: Residents, Students
Description: Family medicine residents and medical students interested in family medicine have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles that give them exposure to organized medicine, health care issues, and family medicine beyond the walls of their institution and provide a great chance to learn and develop as leaders in the field. Dozens of positions are open to residents and students in broad categories including serving on boards of directors, as a national representative such as a delegate, on an advisory or editorial board, on an association committee, as a Family Medicine Interest Group Network leader, or as a liaison between a family medicine organization and another organization.
Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation
Audience: Residents, Students
Description: The year-long Family Medicine Leads (FM Leads) Emerging Leader Institute (ELI) focuses on ensuring the future of the family medicine specialty by increasing the number of family medicine leaders and provides training for this important role. We encourage all to apply who meet our definition of an emerging leader and are committed to the development of family medicine leaders who reflect the rich diversity of the specialty and the patients served.
ACOFP Future Leaders Conference
Sponsor: American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
Audience: Residents and New Physicians in Practice for One to Five Years
Link: https://www.acofp.org/continuing-education/events/future-leaders-conference
Description: The Future Leaders Conference brings together family medicine residents and new physicians in practice with FLC faculty alumni. This program is designed to strengthen your leadership skills, broaden your network, and position you for long-term success in family medicine.
Initial Certification Grant for Residents
Sponsor: ACOFP Education & Research Foundation
Audience: Residents
Link: https://foundation.acofp.org/grants-and-awards/grant-detail/initial-certification-grant-for-residents
Description: In order to relieve some of the financial burden for residents entering the field, the ACOFP Foundation is pleased to announce its call for applications for the Initial Certification Grant. This grant supports the ongoing participation of osteopathic family medicine residents in the AOBFP Initial Certification Exam. The grant will award up to $1400 for exam fees and travel expenses to residents who don’t have complete funding support from their program to be used for the AOBFP exam. Partial grants may be awarded.
Leadership Track - AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students
Sponsor: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Audience: Residents and Medical Students
Link: https://www.aafp.org/events/national-conference.html
Description: This leadership track at the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students provides several opportunities for residents and students to cultivate leadership skills. In addition to traditional educational sessions, attendees can participate in a truly interactive leadership experience by getting involved in the National Congress of Family Medicine Residents (NCFMR) or the National Congress of Student Members (NCSM), writing resolutions, debating issues, and electing candidates for national resident and student office. Additional conference programming also includes leadership topics.
Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program
Sponsor: Piscano Leadership Foundation
Audience: 4th-Year Medical Students
Link: http://www.pisacano.org/
Description: The Pisacano Leadership Foundation seeks to enhance the specialty of family medicine by identifying and promoting the development of the future leaders in the most comprehensive primary care field.
The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program offers many career development opportunities, as well as scholarship funding, to the future leaders of family medicine. The Pisacano Scholars participate in annual Leadership Skills Development Symposia (see summary) and are offered a multitude of educational programs and mentoring relationships with current leaders in the field of family medicine. These programs are designed to enhance the overall leadership skills of the Pisacano Scholars; to provide them with the historical context and scope of family medicine; and to allow the Scholars to network and form professional relationships within their field
AAFP Leadership Development Tool
Promote diversity and help match individuals with the right opportunity at the right time along their pathways toward leadership positions in academic medicine. Use this Leadership Development guide from the American Academic of Family Physicians.
