A Multi-Institutional Survey of Leadership Competencies: A Targeted Needs Assessment

Leadership and nontechnical skills are essential for anesthesiologists, yet structured leadership education remains inconsistent. We surveyed 124 anesthesiology trainees and junior faculty across six programs to identify leadership priorities and preferred teaching modalities. Respondents rated communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving as most important, whereas business knowledge, scholarly communication, and teaching were valued less. Case-based learning and small-group discussions were preferred modalities for teaching. These findings highlight anesthesiology trainees' and junior faculty members' perceptions of leadership competencies they consider most important and can inform the development of leadership curricula that align with learner-identified priorities while addressing evolving academic and community healthcare demands.