2024 Fall Institute Day 1: A World of Opportunities

The 2024 Fall Institute, hosted by the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL), kicked off with an enriching agenda designed to engage and educate more than 350 physician leaders at various career stages.

This morning’s atmosphere was electric as physicians from across the nation took a break from their demanding schedules to network, learn, and advance together. AAPL President & CEO, Peter Angood, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, MCCM, FAAPL(Hon), welcomed the attendees, setting the tone for the day.

Opening Keynote: "The Life-Cycle of the Physician Leader"

The highlight of the morning was the keynote address by Anthony Slonim, MD, DrPH, CPE, FAAPL. A seasoned physician leader with over 25 years of experience, Slonim shared his professional journey, offering invaluable insights into personal and professional growth.

An active AAPL member since 1998, he is a Certified Physician Executive and Fellow. He has served as the inaugural Editor-In-Chief of the Physician Leadership Journal since 2017 and is a former AAPL Board Member. Slonim is a highly accomplished, quadruple board-certified physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, and adult and pediatric critical care. He also holds a Doctorate in Public Health and Health Policy and is a passionate advocate for patient health. Slonim currently serves as a professor at the Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine, where he continues his clinical practice, teaching, and research.

Slonim began his keynote by emphasizing the significance of a day. From historical events and professional achievements to a loved one’s birthday, days leave an impact, and each presents us with new opportunities. He recounted a pivotal moment in his career: “On March 9, 2022, I woke up as the President and CEO of a five-hospital health system. On March 10, I was terminated.”

No one thinks career-altering changes will happen to them. But these challenges are possible at every career stage and the ability to prepare, adapt, and thrive in the face of adversity is what defines successful leadership. Slonim shared that part of navigating these challenges is acknowledging and accepting that they could happen at any time. He advised physician leaders to remain resilient by identifying their values and continuously pursuing their goals, regardless of career stage.

Slonim encouraged young physician leaders to explore the world of opportunities that await them. From academic and clinical practice to executive roles in medical and venture capital groups, a physician’s path to leadership is endless. He emphasized that a physician leader has approximately 13,500 days of opportunity to make a difference for their organization, team, patients, family, and themselves.

He stressed the value of ongoing education and participation in professional organizations like AAPL, which helped him earn credentials, build his resume, and expand his network. “Talk to one another. It makes all the difference,” he said. “Those relationships endure over time and they’re so, so valuable throughout your career.”

He reminded attendees to prioritize self-care, family, and team well-being while advancing in their careers. “Too often, our identity gets wrapped around a role, and when the role is gone, you have to recreate who you are and what you do,” he said. “Lead with care and compassion; remember to invest in the people around you because at the end, they may be the only ones to help support you.”

Slonim shared that after his termination, it was the relationships he built with his team, family, and friends that helped him remain resilient. He encouraged attendees to discover what drives them and stay true to their values, even in adversity. “You can’t rest on the date, you have to move forward and look for ways that you can continue to make a contribution,” he said. “I’ve got another 2,755 days of opportunity left; I’m going to use them until I run out”

Educational Course Highlights: Post-keynote, attendees engaged in educational courses to enhance their leadership skills. These courses covered a range of key topics:

• Aligning Objectives with Performance: Instructors shared techniques to align strategic goals with operational performance by fostering data-driven cultures to enhance profitability.

• Enhancing Emotional Intelligence: Leaders developed action plans for integrating greater self-awareness, optimizing interpersonal strategies, and enabling effective negotiation and influence.

• Leveraging Personal Strengths: Attendees personalized their leadership development plans by leveraging their strengths to elevate personal, organizational, and patient outcomes.

• Mastering Team Dynamics: Leaders improved their ability to build relationships at every level of the healthcare industry by assessing interpersonal dynamics, identifying communication styles, and collaborating across teams.

• Navigating Health Law: Instructors provided a comprehensive understanding of healthcare laws including medical error liability, managed care contracting, patient rights, and equal opportunity. They also shared techniques to negotiate contracts, handle conflicts of interest, and ensure medical compliance.

Communities of Practice: In the afternoon, like-minded attendees gathered in Communities of Practice to network, discuss common concerns, and share solutions. During this time, attendees built a supportive environment to discuss:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,

• Informatics (AI),

• Leadership Development, and

• Women in Leadership.

Conclusion: As the first day concluded, attendees relaxed and networked at the Welcome Reception, reflecting on their courses and engaging in discussions that inspired the further advancement of healthcare delivery.

The opening day set a high bar for the remainder of the week. With a blend of wellness activities, insightful presentations, educational sessions, and networking opportunities, the atmosphere was buzzing with new inspiration.

Stay tuned for more updates as dedicated physician leaders advance together at the 2024 AAPL Fall Institute.