Connecticut State Medical Society Physicians’ Health and Education Fund

Young Physician Leadership Program

The Connecticut State Medical Society – Physician Health and Education Fund (CSMS-PHEF), in alliance with the New Haven County Medical Association (NHCMA) and the Yale New Haven University Healthcare System (YNHH) prioritized the need to offer young physicians training to develop into future physician leaders. This requires developing the Young Physician Leadership Program. An initial survey was conducted with more than 200 house staff in Connecticut demonstrating that less than one quarter were confident in their knowledge of health policy, and nearly all would be interested in learning about health policy topics and physician leadership. This program will develop, implement and evaluate a year-long curriculum to ready young physicians as leaders and policy advocates that support the integrity of the physician-patient relationship.

The Young Physician Leadership Program will carry CME and GME credit for the entire course (estimating 18 credits), including the self-study and follow-up evaluation portions of the program. The follow up survey after completion of the course will evaluate attitudes toward and comfort with health policy, advocacy, and leadership in comparison to baseline questions asked prior to the course. It is anticipated that the curriculum will be developed in a way to lead the participants through an experiential venue starting with a basic understanding of health policy and organizational behavior in a multicultural context, advancing to leadership through role playing and other exercises with peer and expert feedback. The proposed program will provide for the ongoing professional development of resident and fellow physicians in the healthcare arena specific to leadership, management, and advocacy.