Leadership as a catalyst for advancing social accountability in health professions education: AMEE Guide No. 187

Social accountability (SA) has become a key principle for health professions education, urging institutions to align their actions with the health priorities of the populations they serve. Despite its importance, many schools struggle to implement SA effectively, often due to fragmented leadership development and a lack of institutional frameworks. This AMEE Guide positions leadership as a strategic, system-wide driver of social accountability. Drawing on global case studies, established leadership models, and institutional evidence, it explains how leaders can translate SA from mission statements into measurable outcomes. The Guide introduces the SA values and links them to leadership practices. It offers practical recommendations across three levels: individual competencies, institutional mechanisms, and systemic enablers. The Guide highlights leadership models and demonstrates their application through detailed examples from institutions worldwide. By integrating leadership theory with practical strategies, the Guide provides a pathway for academic leaders to embed SA into their institutions' core practices through inclusive governance, responsive curricula, community partnerships, impact-driven research, and ongoing cultural change. It equips educators, deans, faculty developers, and policymakers with the tools needed to foster leaders capable of transforming medical and health professions education into a force for equity and social good.