At this year’s AAFP National Conference, the annual cohort of the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute (ELI) will gather in person for the first time since the pandemic started. Brent Smith, MD, MD, MSc, MLS, FAAFP, Lead Consultant of the Family Medicine Leads Work Group, says it’s a welcome move for the 2022 class.
“While we learned a lot over the past two years, and we’ll continue to use the online world to stay connected, anyone who has served as a stakeholder in ELI has an intrinsic understanding of how much can be accomplished when you’re face-to-face at the institute,” Smith says. “It’s a two-day pressure cooker, where scholars can bounce ideas off each other and the faculty. It’s an environment of free thought and creativity.”
The 30 diverse scholars selected for the program have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership and strong potential, but have little formal leadership training or experience. Over the course of one year, these scholars will work with a mentor to complete a leadership project related to one of three tracks: Policy & Public Health Leadership, Personal & Practice Leadership, and Philanthropic & Mission-Driven Leadership.
“We look at the projects the scholars do every year, but we don’t want to lose focus on how much they grow,” Smith says. “The goal is about their growth as a leader. We want them to push themselves in ways that make them uncomfortable and force them to grow. If they fail? That’s fine. You can learn from that.
“That’s what this year is all about. In medicine, we don’t want to fail and that makes us risk-averse in other areas. In this environment, we want the scholars to be willing to try. It’s not a career-defining project; it’s a career-enhancing experience.”
An essential part of that “career-enhancing experience” is the rare opportunity to work closely with the ELI faculty and mentors. Smith says these volunteers play an invaluable role, helping to ensure that the future of family medicine remains strong and viable.
“We often think of philanthropy as a financial contribution, but it goes beyond that,” Smith says. “The treasure you give can be time, energy, knowledge, or support. We can’t quantify the value of that – we can’t put a monetary amount on it. But helping the next generation improves health care.”