The Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai has recognized the need for geriatrics leaders to address system level change. We have assessed the educational requirements to create those leaders and launched our new fellowship track: LEAP into Geriatrics Leadership – Learn, Educate, Advocate, and Promote. The goal for our LEAP Fellowship is to give graduates the core set of geriatrics knowledge and leadership skills to lead hospitals, health systems, and quality improvement programs, as well as to assume leadership positions with payer organizations. It is our hope that LEAP will serve as a nationally scalable educational model similar to other innovative programs we have initiated, such as the Integrated Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Fellowship.
The LEAP into Geriatrics Leadership Fellowship provides opportunities for people who see themselves in academic geriatric medicine or health care leadership and offers graduates the core set of skills to run hospitals, health systems, and quality improvement programs for older adults.
Upon completion of our LEAP into Geriatrics Leadership Fellowship, you will earn a certificate in leadership. We look forward to helping you further develop your skills as a leader in geriatric medicine.
Curriculum
LEAP into Geriatrics Leadership is an innovative two-year fellowship that will help you become a leader capable of promoting changes in health care to better meet the needs of older, frail, and seriously ill adults. This fellowship is available at multiple locations throughout Mount Sinai Health System, including The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Morningside. The fellowship focuses on core cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills to gain expertise in health care leadership. We emphasize communication and leadership skills, health care policy and delivery knowledge, and programmatic development and management skills. Our two-year curriculum helps fellows learn, explore, advocate, and promote (LEAP) into geriatrics leadership. This is done through coursework, seminars, and unique experiences such as apprenticeships and mentorships with nationally recognized health care executives.
The first year of the program includes online courses, committee work, and participation in departmental activities, including:
- Complete online courses such as Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) online modules on quality improvement (QI) and patient safety (PS); and the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) online fundamental course, which covers communication, finance, negotiations, quality, and influence
- Participate in committees, including Graduate Medical Education (GME) QI and patient care committees; and department QI committee
- Attend monthly peer leadership group/learner lab: participate in debriefing of assessments; monthly interactive classroom activities; and work with Mount Sinai’s Talent, Development, and Learning division of Human Resources on leadership sessions
- Devote two months to scholarly time: interview several clinician administrators in the Mount Sinai Health System and/or outside in designated activities; and choose a QI project at an apprenticeship site
- Participate in departmental clinical meetings: attend a minimum of two meetings during the year
- Attend team building and/or leadership courses: attend at least two courses in team building and/or leadership offered by Mount Sinai
- Complete emotional intelligence assessments such as the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness (DiSC) assessment tool
In the second year of the Fellowship, you will create, present, and pilot a project proposal. You will select an apprenticeship site or a specific mentor to meet with monthly. Our fellows must complete the American Association of Physician Leadership (AAPL) online module on a developing a plan. You will attend monthly departmental QI meetings and the IHI Patient Safety Congress. You are required to complete the GME health care leadership certificate program and complete a capstone presentation at Research Day.
The fellowship curriculum consists of a variety of instructional methods like small group practice, facilitated discussions, large group presentations, flipped classroom, case studies, and experiential residencies. As a fellow, you will be assigned a health care mentor/coach who will assist you in designing, implementing, and evaluating a capstone project. Your mentor may also provide you with career guidance. You will obtain a health care leadership certificate by the end of year two.
How to Apply
The LEAP into Geriatrics Leadership Fellowship is open to candidates interested in academic geriatrics and health care leadership. Our fellows are selected through the National Residency Match Program. You must submit your application along with your supporting documents though the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).