Leadership Training in Pediatric Residency Programs: Identifying Content, Characterizing Practice, and Planning for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Leadership Development
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Physicians often assume leadership roles with insufficient formal training.
• Current pediatric residency competencies may not fully encompass essential leadership abilities.
• There is a need to identify and address gaps in leadership skill development for pediatric residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify high-value leadership skills crucial for pediatric residents.
• To evaluate the extent of dedicated leadership skills training within pediatric residency programs.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi process was employed to establish a core set of leadership skills.
• A national survey of pediatric residency program directors assessed the importance of these skills and current training.
• High-value skills were defined as those rated "extremely" or "quite important" by at least 90% of respondents.

Main Results:

• Six high-value leadership skills were identified: time management, feedback reception, effective communication, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution.
• A significant gap exists, with only 19% of surveyed programs offering dedicated teaching for all identified high-value skills.
• National consensus exists among program directors regarding the importance of these leadership competencies.

Conclusions:

• Despite widespread agreement on the significance of specific leadership skills, pediatric residency programs inadequately provide dedicated instruction.
• The identified high-value leadership skills offer a framework for enhancing future educational initiatives in pediatric residency programs.
• Addressing this training deficit is crucial for developing effective physician leaders in pediatrics.