The Advancing Leaders Program, a customized course designed specifically for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS), launched last week with 21 scholars seeking to hone their leadership skills. The curriculum, specially created through the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) Foundation’s Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership, will guide the participants as they develop and practice individual leadership skills to meet challenges and issues related to management and leadership in their health care system and the larger community.

Over the course of the year-long course, the scholars will explore three key topics: leadership and leadership styles, change and change immunity, and emotional intelligence and communication.

ARHS President and CEO Chuck Mantooth and Chief Physician Executive Danielle Mahaffey, MD, recently made all physicians in the system NCMS members and worked with Kristina Natt och Dag, NCMS vice president for Leadership Development, to customize this leadership development program to serve their needs.

“The ultimate goal is to give participants the tools they need to effectively apply what they learn in working with their staff and the whole health care team,” Natt och Dag said. “This is where positive organizational change begins – with the individual.”

If you or your practice is interested in exploring leadership development opportunities through KIPL, please visit the institute’s website.