Washington University School of Medicine recognizes the importance for today’s leaders in medicine to train and prepare the next generation of leaders in academia, clinical education, and administration. For those residents interested in exploring leadership, we are able to provide outstanding mentors from an internationally recognized faculty.
Faculty Mentorship
Leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by education, training, practice and experience over time. Our faculty have the experience to be renowned leaders in medicine and academia and will serve as crucial mentors to all residents and, more intensely, with residents interested in pursuing leadership roles.
Leadership in Education and Administration Program (LEAP)
The Leadership in Education Administration Program (LEAP) seeks to provide early training in leadership to enhance success at subsequent stages of residents’ careers. LEAP represents formalized mentorship and curriculum to those residents who want to explore leadership in academic clinical medicine and education.
This program is open to any resident, regardless of prior experience. We tailor our leadership program to develop and maximize your individual skills.
Most residents typically will enter LEAP as PGY1s. However, the program can be individualized to residents entering at any year of training.
LEAP program structure
LEAP is structured to provide leadership training and opportunities across all years to individuals in both the general adult psychiatry program (4 years) and the child and adolescent psychiatry program (5 years). The program is composed of two phases, details of which can be found below.
Phase 1: Exploration
The first phase of LEAP occurs during PGY1 and 2 and is designed to allow residents to explore a career in leadership.
In addition to mentoring and didactic time, residents can devote one PGY2 elective block (approximately 1 month) to exploring projects and/or research in clinical education or administration.
| PGY | Time on LEAP Elective | Didactics, Courses, Meetings | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly advisor meetings Leadership course | Identify project mentor Create career development goals Identify a LEAP interest | |
| 2 | Optional (up to one elective block) | Advisor meetings Mentor meetings Leadership course Individualized coursework | Further development of career goals Develop specific LEAP project |
Phase 2: In-depth training
The second phase is a more intensive program that begins in PGY3 and runs the rest of residency training. It is designed for those residents who, after Phase 1, have decided to continue pursuing a career in leadership in education administration.
This second phase provides for in-depth training, including a formal project, career mentoring, and didactics. Residents can have one hour a week of their third year dedicated to LEAP efforts.
| PGY | Time on LEAP Elective | Didactics, Courses, Meetings | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 hour weekly protected time | Advisor meetings Mentor meetings Leadership course Individualized coursework | Further development of career goals Carry out LEAP project |
Adult program
Residents staying in the general adult program will then have 4 months of their PG4 year to finish carrying out their projects.
| PGY | Time on LEAP Elective | Didactics, Courses, Meetings | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Up to 33% FTE | Advisor meetings Mentor meetings Administrative psychiatry seminar Leadership course Individualized coursework | Solidify career goals Completion of project Present results at national meeting (optional) Publication of results (optional) |
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows
Those residents who decide to pursue training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Washington University can continue to be in LEAP.
| PGY | Time on LEAP Elective | Didactics, Courses, Meetings | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Advisor meetings Mentor meetings Leadership course Individualized coursework | Further development of career goals Carry out LEAP project | |
| 5 | Advisor meetings Mentor meetings Administrative psychiatry seminar Leadership course Individualized coursework | Solidify career goals Completion of project Present results at national meeting (optional) Publication of results (optional) |
Joining LEAP
LEAP is a training option available to all residents. Applicants do not have to apply separately to LEAP as it is not a specific training track with a separate ACGME number.
In order to have time to meet with a mentor and, optimally, plan for the second year of rotations, residents typically join Phase 1 of LEAP in the first year. There is no maximum number of residents who can take part in LEAP nor is there a minimum educational requirement.
In order to continue into Phase 2, residents must submit a detailed project and career development plan, which has to be approved by the supervising faculty before entering into Phase 2.
Applicants to the residency program who are interested in LEAP are encouraged to indicate such interest at the time they apply so that we can be prepared to discuss the interest during the interview process.