The Academy is a unique educational experience, providing participants with graduate-level leadership and business instruction. A collaboration between WellStar and the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, the Academy brings business acumen, communication skills, leadership skills and team training to physicians and advanced practice professionals. Participants spend 10 Saturdays over seven months with Coles faculty and WellStar senior leaders improving their ability to serve key medical staff and System roles across WellStar.
The Kouzes and Posner tenets of leadership are used as a foundation for the program. Participants learn to “model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart.” Participants use a Leadership Practices Inventory to assess their current levels of leadership performance and chart a path for improvement. They learn that self-knowledge is a key to high-level performance. Consistent, world-class performance requires attention to fitness, nutrition, rest and attitude. They learn that good communication requires listening and noticing much more than speaking.
During the final session of the program, the group participates in a healthcare business simulation where they compete with each other to use resources, manage growth and leverage quality to provide world-class care in a successful business model.
Sept. 1 is the application deadline for the next Academy, which begins Sept. 15. For more information, contact Don Campbell, M.D., at don.campbell@wellstar.org or visit the Physician Leadership Academy under the Organizational Learning tab on eSource.
