Utilizing Complexity Leadership Theory to Promote Faculty Mentorship and Resident Leadership

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Leadership Development
• Complexity Leadership Theory

Background:

• Effective leadership skills are crucial for resident physicians.
• Existing leadership training programs may not fully address the complexities of modern healthcare environments.
• Complexity leadership theory offers a framework for understanding and developing adaptive leadership capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate a structured faculty mentorship and resident leadership program.
• To apply principles of complexity leadership theory to enhance leadership training.
• To assess the impact of the program on faculty mentorship experiences and resident leadership self-perception.

Main Methods:

• A 5-part bi-monthly resident leadership series was designed using a logic model based on complexity leadership theory.
• Senior faculty mentors guided junior faculty in developing interactive workshops for residents.
• Validated surveys assessed faculty and resident perceptions; qualitative comments were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Both faculty mentors and resident mentees reported favorable experiences with the program.
• Enabling components of mentorship, such as approachability and expertise, were highly valued.
• Residents' self-perceived leadership skills showed improvement across most domains, though not statistically significant. Participants desired more interactive sessions and longitudinal mentorship.

Conclusions:

• A structured faculty mentorship and resident leadership program based on complexity leadership theory was successfully implemented and positively received.
• The program's enabling mentorship components were particularly appreciated.
• Future iterations should incorporate participant-suggested administrative changes, including enhanced leadership opportunities and more longitudinal relationships.