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Developing Tomorrow's Leaders: A Medical Student Distinction Track in Health System Transformation and Leadership.
Luan Lawson1, Donna Lake, Suzanne Lazorick
1L. Lawson is assistant dean of curriculum, assessment, and clinical academic affairs and associate professor of emergency medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. D. Lake is clinical associate professor of nursing, Graduate Nursing Sciences and Leadership Concentration, East Carolina University College of Nursing, Greenville, North Carolina. S. Lazorick is associate professor of pediatrics and public health and health services researcher, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. T. Reeder is associate professor and executive vice chair of emergency medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. J. Garris is executive director, Redesigning Education to Accelerate Healthcare Initiative, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. E.G. Baxley is senior associate dean for academic affairs and professor of family medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
Medical schools can improve health systems science (HSS) training through innovative distinction tracks. The Leaders in INnovative Care (LINC) Scholars Program enhanced scholars' knowledge and confidence in health system transformation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Systems Science
- Leadership Development
Background:
- Medical education reform is crucial for addressing complex healthcare challenges.
- Existing health systems science (HSS) curricula have gaps in preparing students for evolving healthcare needs.
- There is a need for innovative approaches to train future physicians in health system transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and implementation of a distinction track in health system transformation and leadership.
- To evaluate the impact of an immersive summer experience within the Leaders in INnovative Care (LINC) Scholars Program.
- To assess the effectiveness of the LINC Scholars Program in enhancing HSS knowledge and confidence.
Main Methods:
- The Brody School of Medicine established the LINC Scholars Program, a distinction track with an eight-week summer immersion.
- Selected scholars received foundational knowledge and practical application in health system transformation.
- Two cohorts, totaling 15 scholars, participated in the summer immersion in 2015 and 2016.
Main Results:
- Participants showed significant improvements in HSS knowledge and confidence.
- Scholars actively engaged in ongoing quality improvement (QI) projects within the health system.
- All scholars presented their work at various professional meetings, demonstrating successful application of learned skills.
Conclusions:
- A distinction track with an immersion component can effectively pilot innovative HSS curriculum elements.
- The LINC Scholars Program successfully prepared a group of learners with advanced expertise in health system transformation.
- Future efforts should focus on longitudinal assessment of HSS knowledge, behavioral impact, and organizational outcomes.