We are All Leaders: Introducing Self-Leadership Concepts Through the Lens of Improving Diversity in the Health Care Workforce

Date of Review: May, 2023

This resource from MedEdPORTAL describes a leadership workshop with a focus on the importance of diverse leadership in medicine . Groups of medical students, residents, fellows and associated healthcare professionals across three medical schools , were asked to envision themselves as potential leaders and worked through a series of relevant cases. The workshop was divided into a short, 15-minute didactic PowerPoint presentation focusing on the importance of diversity in the leadership of medical schools. In the second portion of the module, learners took the abbreviated self-leadership questionnaire (ASLQ), a validated self-leadership assessment tool. This was followed by three case scenarios designed to teach three strategies to improve self-leadership-behavior focused, natural rewards, and constructive thought. The overall goal of the workshop was to propose the idea that we are all leaders, to optimize their self-leadership skills, and to become involved to influence their schools and medical organizations to embrace diversity and inclusion.  This paper has several strengths. Firstly, it appears to have been successful in its goals with over 95% of attendees either agreeing or strongly agreeing that each learning objective was met. Second, it addresses the need for a diverse medical leadership relatively early in the medical education process and motivates people to see themselves as leaders and seek opportunities A final strength was that the curriculum was evidence based and appears highly generalizable. This workshop could be used in an early introduction to the professions or leadership workshop for students and professionals through equity and diversity programming. — Adil Menon, MD (edited by Ashti Doobay-Persaud)

Corresponding Author’s Email:

clydell.adams@uth.tmc.edu

Institution:

McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Where was the Curriculum Implemented:

Houston, TX

Outcomes that Have Been Reported for the Curriculum:

Self-reported learner attitude

Outcome and Study Design:

Pre/Post

Level of Learner Assessment

Appreciation of content/attitude assessment (self-reflection, blogging with rubric)