Faculty Taking the LEAD

The second cohort from the yearlong Leadership Education and Academic Development (LEAD) Program for Mid-Career Faculty celebrated its graduation.

Twnty-eight clinical faculty members at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine celebrated their graduation from the yearlong Leadership Education and Academic Development (LEAD) Program for Mid-Career Faculty. To the cheers of department chairs and past graduates, the second cohort to complete the program presented capstone projects, fielded questions and received their plaques.

“Every level of an organization requires leadership to move the mission forward,” said Latha Chandran, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., executive dean for education and policy and professor of medical education and pediatrics at the Miller School. “We are investing in our faculty and providing them with opportunities for leadership. With training, our faculty will be prepared to take on and creatively solve challenges in academic medicine.”

These newly minted leaders have set their sights on addressing institutional problems.

One such leader is Mariano Kanamori, Ph.D., associate professor of public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He worked with three others on their capstone project, aiming to finally equalize outcomes in cancer treatment by investigating the use of artificial intelligence and social network analysis to bring Latino and Black cancer patients to clinical trials at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“We plan to make this happen,” Dr. Kanamori said. “We want to bring the social network model to cancer research using AI. It has been implemented with HIV, and we want to expand it to cancer.”

Solving Institutional Problems

Five capstone projects emerged from this program class. Teams of faculty were tasked with tackling institutional challenges chosen by the school: well-being/advancement, well-being/belonging, work/life balance, working/learning environment and innovation.

“We took problems we found in surveys as institutional issues to solve,” said Dr. Chandran, who is also the Bernard J. Fogel Chair of the Department of Medical Education. “We are investing in our faculty, but they’re giving us ideas to solve the problems in the institution. It’s hugely satisfying.”

It was also gratifying and encouraging for the participants.

Dean Ford with Dr.  and Dr. Latha Chandran at the LEAD graduation ceremony
Dr. Joan St. Onge (left) shared institutional knowledge during LEAD monthly meetings.

“This program has been an extremely important experience because I have been able to make new connections and to collaborate,” Dr. Kanamori said. “I am very grateful to the program for creating and investing in the leaders of tomorrow.”

Graduate Kassandra Bosire, M.D., assistant clinical professor of family medicine at the Miller School, echoed the sentiment. Dr. Bosire, who worked on the well-being and belonging capstone project, appreciated working with colleagues from different departments. 

“We had different experiences and people from diverse backgrounds, so we were able to easily tackle situations and create diverse solutions,” she said.

Shalom Saar, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical education at the Miller School, facilitated the program and was recognized with a certificate of appreciation. She expressed great pride in the cohort. 

“Clearly, from the five presentations, we see the love and commitment and care you all have for the institution,” he told the graduates. “This cannot stop here. It has to go further. You are now role models. By the way you act and interact and lead, you send a powerful message that we can overpower challenges.”

Sponsored by the Department of Medical Education and the Office of Faculty Affairs, the program was launched in 2019 to train associate and full professors. In addition to the capstone projects, the program entails three-hour meetings on the fourth Friday of every month to discuss leadership topics like mobilizing people and resources, leading organizational change and building teams.

Joan St. Onge, M.D., M.P.H., senior associate dean for faculty affairs and professional development and professor of medical education at the Miller School, offered advice on their projects and shared her institutional knowledge during monthly meetings. The next cohort begins at the end of January and will meet for 18 months, with faculty receiving training on the business of medicine for the first time.

A Leader’s Advice

It’s only fitting that the Miller School’s leader offered a keynote address packed with advice.

Henri Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, spoke about the need for leaders, not managers.

“Managers are going to take inventory of the problems and take those problems to someone else,” he said. “Leaders are thinking about creative solutions and addressing the challenges we have.”

Dean Henri Ford speaking from a lectern at a UHealth event
Dean Ford stressed that leadership’s most essential trait is service to others.

Leadership is not about seeking power or influence, he told the graduates. “It’s about service to others,” he said. 

Dean Ford closed by imparting five guiding principles: there is no substitute for excellence, maintain absolute integrity, seek work-life balance, hire the best people (and stay out of their way) and don’t take yourself too seriously.

“Make sure you have the best people on your team, and inspire them and empower them,” he said. “As leaders, our job is to make sure they have the tools necessary. Live vicariously through the success of everyone else.


Tags: Dean Henri Ford, Department of Medical Education, Dr. Joan St. Onge, Dr. Latha Chandran, medical education